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Hispanic usually refers to persons of Spanish-speaking origin or ancestry, while Latino is usually anyone of Latin American origin or ancestry, which may include Portuguese-speaking Brazilians, or native speakers of Spanish of any racial or ethnic group, for example, Spanish-speaking individuals of Japanese descent from Peru. Neither Hispanic nor Latinx refers to race or ethnic origin. "Latinx" is the ungendered version of "Latino/Latina". While there has been, and continues to be, some disagreement as to which terms are appropriate or inappropriate, for search purposes, all relevant words and phrases should be tested.
Information on the subject of Hispanic and Latinx history and culture in the United States will be useful in many courses and for personal reading and enrichment. Although College of the Redwoods does not offer a degree or certificate in this topic, interested students may wish to transfer to a four year college that does offer it as a major. The library supports students' understanding and cultural awareness of the value of multiculturalism and diversity by providing selected resources.
These are some useful terms to use for a research project on topics relating to Latinx or Hispanic Americans. Other terms may be useful as well. Use specific words, but only use one or two word phrases - not whole sentences! Try both plural and singular forms, and try varying combinations.
Also try:
Combining multiple terms will help you find sources that are more closely focused on your specific topic.
Combine ethnic group words with topic words, such as students, advertising, business, demographics, economics, health, history, humor, law, medicine, military, music, poetry, politics, religion, soldiers, sports, statistics, theater, traditions, women, etc.
Separate with the word AND, for example: Mexican Americans and poetry; Hispanic and advertising; Latino and traditions.
While you can search in Google, you'll find more reliable and authoritative sources searching in the library's OneSearch catalog - or in Credo Reference, an online collection of reference and research sources. Use the box below to access Credo's reference resources, or access OneSearch from the Library Materials tab on this guide. (You may be asked to login using your student ID number).
