What Is “Latino”?

I’ve often found myself reflecting on the history of Latinos in the film, television, and entertainment industry, and it’s undeniable—we’ve been systematically underrepresented for decades. Growing up and even today, I’ve seen Latino cast members often relegated to a narrow set of roles: the seductive, curvy women, the over-stereotyped gangster, or the hardworking janitor or cleaning person. And that’s just on-screen.

When I look behind the camera, the picture isn’t any better. How many Latino Writers, Directors, Cinematographers, Sound Designers, Producers—or any of the countless other crucial roles in filmmaking—are celebrated for their work? The number is painfully low. These experiences are what inspired me and many others to create the Latino Film Club—a space designed to spark real change. We’re taking back control of how we’re represented, valued, and recognized in cinema by focusing on Education, Community, and Access.

But even as we advocate for change, I’ve realized something deeper: the term “Latino” itself carries layers of complexity that are often misunderstood or misused. Since the start of us being subjugated by countries from other parts of the world, rather the beginning of our diaspora, “Latino” has been used as a blanket term, a quick way to identify a diverse and intricate group of people. But when you ask someone what it means, you’ll likely get three very different answers—each one altering who the term supposedly includes.

5 Latino Artist Role Models Who Embrace Their Culture. Left to Right: Gina Rodriguez, Diego Luna, America Ferrera, Lin-Manuel Miranda, & Selma Hayek. (Source: CommonSenseMedia.org Click the Picture to Read More)

For some, being Latino means speaking Spanish. Sure, many of us do speak Spanish, but that’s not a definitive marker. Take Spaniards, for example—they’re Spanish-speaking, but they’re not Latino. That’s because Latino and Hispanic aren’t interchangeable terms, no matter how often they’re mistakenly treated as such. Hispanic refers specifically to Spanish-speaking people, which excludes a huge portion of Latin America—like Haiti, for instance, where the official language is Haitian Creole, not Spanish.

Then there’s the belief that Latino means people from Central and South America who speak Spanish. Again, this is incomplete. There are so many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where Spanish isn’t the primary language. Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Brazil, and Belize are just a few examples where English, Portuguese, or French are the dominant languages. Despite linguistic differences, these places share a cultural foundation rooted in Latin heritage.

And then there’s an even broader interpretation that equates being Latino to coming from any country where a Latin-based language is spoken. This definition stretches the term to include Spain, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and even Timor Leste. If we go down that road, the term “Latino” becomes so expansive that it loses all meaning.

Latino’s are Everywhere!

But to be Latino means to represent the culture and experience of the countries that collectively represent modern Latin America.

So, what does “Latino” really mean? By definition, it’s simple: a native or inhabitant of Latin America, or a person of Latin American origin living in the U.S. But in practice, it’s so much more. It’s about culture—how we interact, the foods we eat, the places we come from, the experiences we share, and the values we hold.

For me, understanding what it means to be Latino is an ongoing journey. My perspective evolves as I learn more about my heritage and the broader diaspora. For now, the flags I recognize under the Latino umbrella represent a shared history and culture, even as I know there’s so much more to explore and understand.

And that’s the beauty of it—being Latino is as much about discovery as it is about identity. I’m proud to be part of a community that’s as vibrant, resilient, and multifaceted as the stories we’re fighting to tell.