What does it mean to include a larger context when offering suggestions for social interventions for the Hispanic population?

The Latino population in the United States is the most heterogeneous cultural group in the nation. Not only is the population derived from different countries, such as Puerto Rico (a U.S. commonwealth), Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, among many others, but it is also ethnically diverse.

Latinos are, collectively, of European—mainly Spanish—ancestry, as well as African and indigenous ancestry. Some Latinos also claim East Asian and Middle Eastern heritages. Linguistically, they are united...

The Latino population in the United States is the most heterogeneous cultural group in the nation. Not only is the population derived from different countries, such as Puerto Rico (a U.S. commonwealth), Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, among many others, but it is also ethnically diverse.

Latinos are, collectively, of European—mainly Spanish—ancestry, as well as African and indigenous ancestry. Some Latinos also claim East Asian and Middle Eastern heritages. Linguistically, they are united by the Spanish language, though Brazilians, who speak Portuguese, are also identified as Latino.

This mixture of ethnic and cultural diversity is a great strength, especially when one considers the emerging political power of the Latino population. However, it would be a mistake to think that all of their political concerns are the same. For example, the Mexican American population would have more concerns about immigration reform than those who are Puerto Rican. Similarly, America's repeal of the Cuban embargo more directly impacts and concerns Cuban-Americans than it does other Latino populations.

Furthermore, it is important to address the existences of racism and "colorism" in Latino communities. Colorism is intraracial discrimination that results when people with lighter skin are given more privilege and respect than those with darker skin. A study conducted among Puerto Rican volunteers found that those who reported having an "upper" socioeconomic status had 9.1% less African ancestry and 9.2% more European ancestry. Those who self-identified as Black had lower household income and were more likely to live below the poverty line. Similarly, among Mexican-Americans, those who looked more indigenous than European were more likely to face discrimination, "receive less education, and hold occupations with lower prestige than their counterparts with light skin / European appearance." Economic discrimination based on color creates very different experience and modes of identification within a community that the mainstream population frequently speaks of as a monolith.

Generally, Latinos are less likely to have access to adequate healthcare compared to white, non-Hispanic people. They use fewer healthcare services and, due to employment options, are more likely to work for employers who do not provide insurance. Much of this is related to citizenship status; once again, Puerto Ricans are less likely to be impacted by a lack of access to healthcare than Mexicans, for example.

These are just a handful of examples illustrating the differences between Latino groups which make it necessary to account for variations among nationalities, even when addressing concerns within the group as a whole.