Atlas of Hispanic-American History

Latino culture includes many differ-
ent styles of music: the Puerto Rican/
Cuban blend called salsa, the Colombian-
based cumbia, the Argentinean tango, the
Dominican merengue, and the Mexican
mariachi band. It includes many cuisines:
the chili con carne and tortilla chips of
Tex-Mex cooking; the mole poblano
sauce of central Mexico, which combines
chili peppers, garlic, bananas, onions, and
unsweetened chocolate; the lechón asado,
or roast suckling pig, of Cuba; the asopao,
or chicken and rice dish of Puerto Rico;
the comida criollas, or creole foods,
shared by Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the
Dominican Republic.

Hispanic Americans do not necessar-

ily practice medicine the same way as

other Americans. Mexican Americans

may seek medical help from curanderos

and curanderas, healers who combine

Catholic faith-healing with herbology

and Aztec and Mayan beliefs and may also

act as parteras, or midwives. Puerto Rican

neighborhoods often have their own

brand of folk medicine, practiced in

botánicas, stores that sell herbs and natu-

ral medicines along with candles, statues,

and other articles related to Santería, the

syncretistic Caribbean religion.

Religion is an area of great diversity

among Hispanic Americans. Most are

HISPANIC AMERICA TODAY 239

La Familia

The Hispanic family incorporates the concept of la familia(the greater family), which includes

members of the immediate household and any blood relatives.

Members of the extended family usually live together in the first stages of immigration,

when newcomers need support adjusting to their new environment.

Family Ideology

Hispanics and Hispanic Americans place high worth on the ideal of family values. Family ide-

ology serves as a guide for behavior and defines the ideal roles of each family member. The

ideal family is usually patriarchal, headed by a father embodying the concept of “machis-

mo,” whereby men are imbued with dominant qualities such as strength and responsibili-

ty. In reality, however, women are often the decision makers of the family, especially in the

United States, where women tend to be the primary wage earners.

Compadrazgo

This is a strong friendship relationship, in which friends are seen as members of the fami-

ly. Compadrazgoserves as both the extension of kinship to nonrelatives and the strength-

ening of bonds within the family. This special relationship sometimes includes

godparenthood. In this case the friends usually sponsor the child in baptism and confirma-

tion ceremonies and are best man and bridesmaid at the weddings. Parents may choose

close friends or relatives to become godparents (padrinosor madrinos) to their children.

Godparents usually have special responsibilities toward the child and will take the parental

role if the parents pass away.

The strongest relationship is between the child’s parents and godparents, who call each

other compadresand provide each other with help, care, and support. Compadresalso pro-

vide shelter for new immigrants of either family, access to jobs, and a supportive base for

acclimatization.

Parentesco

Prevalent in Mexican-American households, parentesco(kinship) is the extension of fami-

ly sentiment to strangers from the same country of origin.

Confianza

Confianza(trust) is central to the principles of compadrazgoand parentescoamong

Hispanic Americans. This forms the basis of all relationships, signifying a bond of special feel-

ing, respect, and intimacy.

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

IN HISPANIC FAMILY STRUCTURE