Mexilatinochicanhispanic. Imagine seeing that under “race/ethnicity” on forms and applications. Given some time though, it might gain popularity. Too often, people who consider themselves Latino with no Hispanic ties must be misidentified as Hispanic when choosing “ethnicity” on paper.

In the United States the debate still continues over what it means to be Latino and what it means to be Hispanic, and how they differ. Many times when Latinos and Hispanics fill out forms, both must resort to checking the “Hispanic,”or “Other” boxes.

The Hispanic and Latino communities should not be combined into a mere “Other” category. The problem of considering Hispanic to be the same as Latino lies within the influences of American culture and the beliefs behind what it means to be Hispanic or Latino.

“I always thought that languages and regions of origin were what separated Hispanics and Latinos,” Claudia Francom, a Spanish graduate student at the University of Arizona, said. “But it is such a complex subject where a lot of other factors make them different.”

Whether it is music or movies, the media tend to portray Latinos and Hispanics in a certain light that can persuade people’s beliefs on what it means to be of either ethnicity.

“Americans don’t have an idea what’s going on outside our borders,” Alberto Chamorro, a UA Spanish professor, said. “They tend to generalize and group people into the wrong categories. How would Americans feel if they all were asked if they were British?”

Maybe the U.S. could use some clarification as to what it means to be Hispanic and what it means to be Latino.

Hispanic refers to those who collectively speak Spanish, but specifically relate to the culture of Spain. Yet it is often more acceptable to use “Latino” because there are millions of Spanish speakers who are not of true Spanish descent. Hispanic is often used incorrectly to generalize those who may not even claim Spanish heritage, such as Brazilians, whose main language is Portuguese.

Latin America dates back centuries to where the originating language was Latin, of which stemmed Romance languages. The Romance languages include Spanish, French, Portuguese, and are most common among regions in Mexico, South America, Africa and parts of Europe.

Differentiating between Latinos and Hispanics may not be solved within this generation. The histories of both cultures are complex with many different factors including a difference of opinion in languages spoken, demographics and lifestyles each culture leads. Many online sites are dedicated to defining each of the terms with as much historical accuracy as possible, including Are Chicanos the same as Mexicans?

Many of the preferences are left for the individuals to decide what they want to be called. The term “Chicano” was widely popularized in the 1960s as a term for Mexican-Americans involved in activist groups, inspired by the civil rights movement in the South. Many people consider themselves Chicano as a symbol of pride and self-assertion.

As a growing culture with a greater acceptance toward diversity, people residing within the United States who label themselves as either “Latino” or “Hispanic” will not have to be a part of the “Other” group. While they may not be “Mexilatinochicanhispanics” either, understanding and tolerating is the key to change.