The word "Hispanic" was created in the 1970s by the U.S. government in order to account for all Spanish-speaking, non-white individuals, effectively shattered all individuality and diversity that came from the different South and Central American individuals residing in the United States at that time.
"All Asians are good at math."
"All white people are racist."
"All Mexicans are illegal."
Stereotypes and generalizations are killing America's chances of ever being a peaceful, functioning society. Let me tell you why.
When you make a generalization about a certain type of person, you take away their individuality, just like the United Sates government in the 1970s. Making an all-encompassing statement about a group of people removes the uniqueness of each individual that fits in that group and create tension with the people that you are including that do not belong.
Take the stereotypes that I have listed above. Math is hard; not all people of Asian descent are good at it. There are white people who are racist, but it is inaccurate to say that every white person on the planet holds a prejudice in their heart against a certain race or culture. And there are thousands of documented, Mexican-American citizens of the United Sates of America.
In making generalizations like these, not only do we build walls (too soon?) between ourselves and other people, we perpetuate the stereotypes themselves, and we drive them to become the new normal.
In order to be good, kind, and loving fellow humans, we should let go of these generalizations and appreciate the individuality that each individual carries.
