Latino Americans History, Culture, And Hardships Essay

Latino Americans: Their History, Culture, and Hardships The United States is home to more than 50 million Latino Americans, which accounts for one-sixths of the population. Spanish is not only the second most widely spoken language in the United States, but is also the first European language spoken in what was to become the United States. The history of Latinos in the Americas dates back to the 16th century, when many Spanish conquistadors and priests crossed the Rio Grande in search for gold and to spread Catholicism. Fast forward to the present, the Latino population has become an integral part of society. However, many people are not aware of the difficulties that Latinos went through to strive for their rights and overcome discrimination. Latino Americans constitute a diverse ethnic group, which is â€Å"a category of people that are bound together by shared common ancestry, history, and cultural tradition†(Peoples 367). 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