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In dealing with essentially political terms like "Hispanic", "Latino", or "Chicano", there is no easy answer, nor consensus. All these terms carry political baggage. Chicano is a specific cohort. The term became popular in the 1960s and 70s, and is generally used by people who came of age during that generation, and later. Latino is a more recent term. Hispanic was a term that gained popularity in the 80s Not everyone agrees on which term is best, and some people get very upset by the use of one or another. I prefer calling myself Hispanic, or Mexican American. I don't have a problem with Latino, although it's just Spanish for of the old term "Latin Americans." The problem with terms like Mexican American or Chicano, is that the Hispanic population of the US is broader, with people from Central and South American countries, the Caribbean, and others who don't are not Mexican American, nor Chicano. The question your program must decide is, What is the focus of the program of studies? That is more important than the term you eventually decide upon. Gene B. Preuss, PhD University of Houston-Downtown --30--
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