Abstract
A Mestizo is an indigenous person of mixed heritage. Approximately 20 million
Latinos living in the United States identify as Mestizos. Nearly fifty percent identify
as White, while the other half identify as Hispanic or mixed. These racial,
social, and cultural identifications are largely rooted in Spanish Imperialism and
European Colonialism. Furthermore, these Mestizo identifications have vast effects
on assimilation and achievement. A fresh and critical perspective frames
the concerns surrounding many Mestizos today, as it attempts to offer people of
indigenous descent and identification a voice while they continue clearing a path
for themselves and those that may soon follow.