Latino: Use only when it’s politically convenient?

*Great question! This is what happens when the theory of identity runs into the reality of politics. What makes a Latino politician? Culture alone, or advocacy? It’s interesting to see who makes the cut – Arizona is tackling the question. VL

By Elva Diaz, AzCentral

You would think that defining what makes a Latino is an easy task. I was born and raised in Mexico, so that makes me a “Mexican” or “Latina” or “Hispanic.”

I use those terms interchangeably though I prefer Mexican or Latina.

But as more Latinos settle in the United States, and second-, third- or fourth-generation Hispanics become the inner fabric of this country, defining what makes one Latino become a tricky proposition.

In theory, race, the color of our skin or the language we speak shouldn’t matter. But we live in a world where race still matters. For that reason and because it’s election season, I set out to find out how many Latinos and Latinas are in the Arizona Legislature.

Click HERE to read the full story.

[Photo by melmistero/Flickr]