GEOGRAPHY 321:GEOGRAPHY 321: Myths, Perceptions and Stereotypes.Myths, Perceptions and Stereotypes.

Questions for Questions for you…you…

Today’s Poll:Today’s Poll:

1. How many of you are in LAS? Geography? Other?

2. How many of you speak a Latin American language?

3. Which one?– Spanish– French– Portuguese– Dutch– English– Other?

4. How many of you are approaching or are fluent in a language spoken in Latin America other than English?

Columbus?Columbus?

CorsicaCorsica

Columbus was Columbus was born in:born in:

• Genoa, Italy• Basque Country• Corsica• Catalonia• Alentejo, Portugal• Castilla, Spain• Poio, Galicia, Spain• Mallorca, Spain• Khios, Greece

KhiosKhiosCataloniaCatalonia

GaliciaGalicia

GenoaGenoa

MallorcaMallorca

Perhaps this explains it:Perhaps this explains it:

Columbus, the “adopted” son of a Columbus, the “adopted” son of a Catalonian seafaring family, was raised Catalonian seafaring family, was raised by a Genoese (Italian) noble family in by a Genoese (Italian) noble family in Greece, migrated at an early age to Greece, migrated at an early age to

western Castilla y Leon (Spain) by way western Castilla y Leon (Spain) by way of Mallorca to a large Portuguese city, of Mallorca to a large Portuguese city,

where he adopted Latin, Portuguese, and where he adopted Latin, Portuguese, and Spanish for their potential uses in his Spanish for their potential uses in his

journey. journey.

Columbus’ EpitaphColumbus’ Epitaph(buried in Seville, Spain)(buried in Seville, Spain)

““Let me not be confused Let me not be confused forever"forever"

http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20121107-the-mystery-of-christopher-columbuss-legacy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/8166041/Christopher-Columbus-was-son-of-Polish-king.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/4959361/Christopher-Columbus-was-actually-a-Scotsman-called-Pedro-Scotto-historian-says.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/opinion/garcia-columbus-jewish

Q: Q: Christopher Columbus is Christopher Columbus is readily credited as the readily credited as the discoverer of “America,” discoverer of “America,” but in which part of but in which part of America did he land?America did he land?

• Plymouth?Plymouth?

• Boston?Boston?

• Jamestown?Jamestown?

• Williamsburg? Williamsburg?

• Miami?Miami?

• L.A.?L.A.?

• Detroit?Detroit?

• Columbus first landed in the Bahamas, then Columbus first landed in the Bahamas, then Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

• Columbus never set foot anywhere within Columbus never set foot anywhere within the 50 United States of America.the 50 United States of America.

• Does “Latin America” have more claim as Does “Latin America” have more claim as being “America” than the United States?being “America” than the United States?

Columbus’s First Columbus’s First (of 4) (of 4) VoyagesVoyages

Columbus: 1Columbus: 1stst Voyage Voyage(Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, DR)(Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, DR)

Oops.Oops.• Columbus underestimated the size of the world—

particularly the fact that there are two oceans, not one.

• He was only about 50% off.

• No wonder he thought he had found India.

• Took major effort toconvince him they hadn’tactually landed in India.

““West Indies”West Indies”

West IndiesWest Indies==

CaribbeanCaribbean

““British British West West

Indies?”Indies?”

……but which island?but which island?• Taíno called it “Guanahani”• Columbus called it “San Salvador”

– Samana Cay– Plana Cays– Watling Island– Mayaguana– Grand Turk– Conception Island– East Caicos Island– Cat Island– Egg Island. Lignum Vitae Cay– San Salvador*

* Doubtful same island as prior “San Salvador”

??BahamasBahamas

Columbus Arrives…Columbus Arrives…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOQtp-3b48

Columbus’ First LandingColumbus’ First Landing(October 12, 1492)(October 12, 1492)

• “San Salvador” (Guanahani) • Met the Taíno: peaceful and friendly

Columbus wrote: "These people have no religious beliefs, nor are they idolaters. They are very gentle and do not know what evil is; nor do they kill others, nor steal; and they are without and they are without weaponsweapons.”

First Letter to SpainFirst Letter to Spain(October 14)(October 14)

“...these people are very simple as regards the use of arms, as your Highnesses will see from the seven that I caused to be taken, to bring home and learn our language and return; unless your Highnesses should order them all to be brought to Castile, or to be kept as captives on the same island; for with fifty men they can all be subjugated and made to do what is required of them...”

Columbus: Not so innocent.Columbus: Not so innocent.

Has anyone ever been to “Latin America?”

How did you know you were in How did you know you were in ““Latin America?”Latin America?”

Now Entering

Latin America

So what is“Latin America”

??

““Latin:”Latin:”

refers to the refers to the “plain of “plain of

Latium” in Latium” in central Italy central Italy

(where (where Rome is Rome is located)located)

And is this And is this AmAmererica?ica?

was named after was named after Amerigo Vespucci, Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer, an Italian explorer,

who was who was mistakenly credited mistakenly credited as the “discoverer as the “discoverer of the New World” of the New World”

by a German by a German mapmaker.mapmaker.

“America”

So, therefore, shouldn’t we be talking about

Italian-Americans?

I MARRIED A MOBSTERI MARRIED A MOBSTER

“Latin America” refers to the family of Latin-based languages (i.e.

Spanish, French, Portuguese, etc.) spoken by most of the population and, due to the incorrect labeling, America identifies the lands that

are often referred to as the“New World.”

……howeverhowever

(Dutch))

English, Dutch, and native tongues are not Latin-based languages

Native Languages: 1,000’s!

MexicoMexico

GuatemalaGuatemala

BrazilBrazil

PeruPeru

Is this Latin America?Is this Latin America?

18361836

What about Puerto Rico?(U. S. territory)

Or Or Chicago?Chicago?

Map ofMap of“Latin America”“Latin America”

• Part of “the Americas” • …or the so-called

“New World”• Regions:

- Mexico- Middle America- South America- Others?

MeMexixicoco(North America)(North America)

“La Frontera”(The Border)

Middle Middle AmericaAmerica

Central Central AmericaAmerica

CaribbeanCaribbean

But what about “Central America?”Where is that?

• BelizeBelize

• GuatemalaGuatemala

• HondurasHonduras

• El SalvadorEl Salvador

• NicaraguaNicaragua• Costa RicaCosta Rica• PanamaPanama

…and the Caribbean?

? ?

…plus plus South South

AmericaAmerica

The Big The Big PicturePicture

• Mexico and the Mexico and the U.S. borderU.S. border

• Middle America Middle America (including the (including the Caribbean)Caribbean)

• South AmericaSouth America

• Latino Latino populations populations within the U.S.within the U.S.

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

• People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens and are entitled to vote at the federal level, but not from the island. Most Federal taxes do not apply to island residents, as taxation is one of the powers delegated to the local authorities.

• Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. U.S. federal law applies to Puerto Rico, even though Puerto Rico is not a state and has no voting representative in Congress.

• All persons born in Puerto Rico after 1941 are considered natural-born citizens of the United States, one of the constitutional requirements to be President the United States.

(from wikipedia)

Demographics…Demographics…

StateState Med House Inc Med House Inc Unemp %Unemp % % < poverty % < poverty lineline

DE $ 59,317 $ 59,317 5.0% 5.0% 11.2%11.2%MNMN $ 58,476$ 58,476 4.9% 4.9% 11.0%11.0%US AvgUS Avg $ 52,762$ 52,762 5.6% 5.6% 14.3%14.3%WIWI $ 52,374$ 52,374 4.9% 4.9% 12.0%12.0%MSMS $ 38,718$ 38,718 5.9% 5.9% 21.6%21.6%PRPR $ 22,296$ 22,296 8.1% 8.1% 45.3%45.3%*CR*CR $ 24,600$ 24,600 6.5% 6.5% 24.8%24.8%*DR*DR $ 19,600$ 19,600 14.6%14.6% 34.4%34.4%

Source: 2010 U.S. CensusSource: 2010 U.S. Census

*CIA World Factbook*CIA World Factbook