Roman Catholic but with regional touch-
es that reflect the tendency to mix
traditions and create local adaptations.
Mexican-American Catholicism has
aspects of Aztec religion (visible in the
iconography of Mexico’s patron saint, Our
Lady of Guadalupe); Guatemalan Catholi-
cism has aspects of Mayan religion.
Each Hispanic subgroup’s religious
calendar is adapted to regional differ-
ences. Mexican Americans celebrate
All Souls’ Day, November 2, as El Día de
los Muertos, “The Day of the Dead,”
decorating their homes with skeletons
and going to cemeteries with gifts of food
and flowers for the deceased. In July,
Puerto Ricans celebrate the Fiesta del
Apóstol Santiago, honoring St. James the
Apostle with music, dancing, and tradi-
tional costumes.
Not all Hispanics are Catholic. A
growing number are evangelical
Protestants, and some are Jewish.Catholicism blends with West African
Yoruba elements in Santería, which was
developed by enslaved Africans and is still
practiced by many Puerto Ricans, Cubans,
Venezuelans, and other Latinos. Wor-
shippers pray to santos, or saints, who are
fused with Yoruba deities. Animal sacri-
fice, food-sharing rituals, and charms and
potions are part of the religion.
The particular nationality of Hispanic
Americans affects their memories and out-
look. A Cuban exile may count the years
until democracy returns to Cuba, while
Latinos from other countries may admire
Fidel Castro and his brother Raul, who
succeeded him in 2008, for having stood
up to the United States. A Peruvian
American and Ecuadoran American may
get along fine until the subject of old
Peruvian-Ecuadoran wars comes up—at
which point their friendliness may turn
into hostility. A Costa Rican American
thinks back to a relatively peaceful home-240 ATLAS OF HISPANIC-AMERICAN HISTORY
The legacy of Hispanic culture has had so many facets that it would be difficult to choose
and rank the most influential Latinos of the century. But the online community Latino.com
attempted to do just that by asking its members to choose “Latino.com’s Hispanic
Heritage Heroes.” The resulting Top 20 list reflects the diversity of the Hispanic-American
experience, combining as it does patriots and movement leaders, such as Pancho Villa
and César Chávez, along with current celebrities like Jennifer Lopez. Noting that many users
nominated “mamá y papá, not to mention los abuelitos, tìas y tìos” (grandparents, aunts,
and uncles), the staff of Latino.com recognized “family” as an honorable mention.The Top 20 heroes were:- César Chávez, Mexican-American labor organizer
- Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Argentine revolutionary (known for his role in the Cuban
Revolution) - Edward James Olmos, Mexican-American actor
- Gloria Estefan, Cuban-American singer
- Tito Puente, Puerto Rican–American bandleader and composer
- Selena, Mexican-American singer
- Ricky Martin, Puerto Rican–American singer
- Jennifer Lopez, Puerto Rican–American actress and singer
- Marc Anthony, Puerto Rican–American singer
- Dolores Huerta, Mexican-American labor organizer
- Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionary
- Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican–American baseball player
- Carlos Santana, Mexican-American musician
- Pancho Villa, Mexican revolutionary
- Celia Cruz, Cuban-American singer
- Rita Moreno, Puerto Rican–American actress
- Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian novelist
- Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter
- Fidel Castro, Cuban leader
- Rigoberta Menchú, Guatemalan human rights activist
A DIVERSITY OF HEROES