What Do We Mean by Latinidad?
Our conceptualization of Latinidad goes beyond a focus on individual or family traditions, language, or even cultural origins, to focus on the collective push toward achievement and belonging that American Latinos continue to work toward. Therefore, we broadly define Latinidad as a political, social, and cultural self-identification among descendants of the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora in the United States. Those who feel a sense of Latinidad are commonly referred to by many terms, including Hispanic, Latino and Latina, Latinx, and Latine. These terms mask the great diversity of this group, in terms of national origin, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, religion, and even languages spoken. Nevertheless, this group also demonstrates an important unity in diversity, a unity consisting of ascribed belonging and ties to shared histories, cultures, and traditions. Because individuals can vary in their particular experiences of Latinidad, we also conceptualize and refer to it in the plural, as Latinidades.
The Need for a Latinidad Studies in New York City
Latinos as a group include 65 million people in the United States today and are growing. In 2024, the population of students of Latin American and Caribbean descent made up over 40% of the total enrollment in New York City Public Schools. Despite their presence in our schools, however, the diverse histories, leadership, and contributions to our City of the students and families who share a connection to Latinidad has been under-represented in curricular resources and classroom lesson plans. A curriculum that more robustly represents who all of our students are and where they come from is needed.