The Benefits of Learning About Your Hispanic Ancestral Roots
There are many reasons why learning about your Hispanic ancestry is beneficial to you. It can lead to increased self-esteem, enhanced self-discipline, and better relationships with friends and family members. Despite this, many adults do not know their Hispanic roots. This is largely because of two factors that disdain them from their ancestral national origins.
Increased Self-Esteem
Most Hispanics, or Latinos, trace their ancestry to the Spanish-speaking peoples of the Americas. But they may also have other ancestries, including African or Native American or even European. Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, with more than 50 million people, according to the 2010 census. Many are recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America, but others grew up in the United States and have family roots that date back centuries. Researchers have found that learning about your Hispanic ancestry can help you develop stronger self-esteem. It also can lead to a sense of pride and connection to your home and your country. This is because they are more aware of their own ethnicity, which helps them develop higher levels of self-confidence and feel more empowered to make positive changes in their lives.
Researching your Hispanic ancestry DNA can also help you become more informed about the history of your area. This knowledge can lead to greater empathy for your fellow citizens and will help you understand the issues that affect them.
Enhanced Self-Discipline
Hispanics trace their ancestry to Spain, Central and South America, and Mexico. Among the most prominent Hispanic groups in the United States are Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans, who account for about half of all Hispanic Americans. Many resources are available to help you learn more about your roots if you have Mexican or Latin American ancestry. These include Hispanic family history classes, Latin American art museums, and books about Hispanic heroes. Another way to learn more about your Hispanic ancestors is to participate in Hispanic community activities. These can include participating in Hispanic Heritage Month events, taking a class on Hispanic culture, or cooking a traditional Hispanic meal. Researching your Hispanic ancestors is an important and rewarding task, but it can be overwhelming. The process can be simplified by using a book that will guide you through the research process, such as Finding Your Hispanic Roots by George Ryskamp. When researching Hispanic ancestors, the most crucial records are the civil and church records of their ancestral hometowns in Spain or Latin America. These are the most complete and detailed sources of information, but other records can be helpful as well, including immigration papers. Often, these documents can be located by doing a place search in the FHL Catalog for the town you are interested in.
Increased Confidence
Hispanics are a diverse population with a common language, culture and a sense of belonging. Their ancestry may be African, Native American, European, or a combination. However, the official federal government definition of “Hispanic” is not necessarily precise or universal. For example, people from Brazil and Portugal do not fit the official definition of Hispanic. This is because those countries do not speak Spanish, the primary language of Hispanics. Even so, most Hispanics in the United States identify themselves as Hispanic and consider their ancestry primarily from Latin America. In addition, Hispanics tend to have a stronger sense of identity and belonging than non-Hispanics. This is a reflection of the influx of gene flow into the United States from around the world. Many Hispanic/Latino individuals have admixed genomes that are largely comprised of three predominant continental ancestries: indigenous American, European, and African. The genetic diversity that results from these ancestries is a key contributor to the variety of health factors in this population.
Better Relationships
Hispanics are a diverse group of people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Colombia and other Latin American countries. They may be recent immigrants or people whose families have been settled in the United States for generations. Although they share a common heritage and Spanish as their language of choice, Hispanics represent a wide range of ancestries. Many have Native American, African or European ancestries, and others have a combination. In addition to their ancestry, Hispanics also have a strong sense of identity and affinity with other Americans. Compared with the general public, they are more likely to believe that the U.S. offers better opportunities for getting ahead, and they are more likely to believe that hard work will help them succeed in their lives. Furthermore, they are more likely to think that immigrants are treated better in the U.S. than in the place of their ancestors, and they are more likely to say that they need to learn English to succeed in their lives in the United States.
During the Civil War, some Hispanics chose to fight for the Union, and other Hispanics joined the Confederacy. Various motivations drove these decisions, including patriotism, personal gain, regional conditions and history. They also reflected various socio-economic levels, from elite aristocrats to impoverished laborers.
