Latin American and Caribbean
Culture
SS6G4a Describe the results of blending of
ethnic groups in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
SS6G4b Explain why Latin America is a region
based on the languages of Portuguese and
Spanish.
Assignment Instructions
 Please take notes on everything I highlight
in YELLOW.
 After each slide with notes, there will be a
slide with questions.
 If you are unable to answer the questions
then you need to go back to the notes slide
and read them again.
Cultural Unity and Diversity
 Ethnic Groups- Native Americans, Africans,
and Europeans
– An ethnic group are people living in a particular
area who share a similar set of ancestors,
language, and culture
– Culture includes customs, traditions, and
religion
Questions
 What is an ethnic group?
 What are the three main ethnic groups in
Latin America?
 How does culture play a part in ethnic
groups?
ETHNIC GROUPS IN LATIN
AMERICA
 INDIGENOUS: PEOPLE WHO ARE NATIVE TO A
REGION (THE NATIVE AMERICANS)
 MESTIZOS: PEOPLE OF MIXED NATIVE AMERICAN
AND SPANISH ANCESTRY (CALLED CABOCLOS IN
BRAZIL)
 MULATTOS: PEOPLE OF MIXED AFRICAN AND
EUROPEAN ANCESTRY
 Haiti and Jamaica- majority of the population is not of
European descent
 Indigenas- Spanish name for Native Americans, they form
the majority of the population in Bolivia, Peru, and
Guatemala
 Europeans- Costa Rica, Argentina, and Uruguay have
majority populations of European descent
Questions
 What is the term used to describe the Native
Americans in Latin America?
 If your father is from Spain and your mother
is from Africa you would be which ethnic
group?
 If your father is from Spain and your mother
is Native American you would be which
ethnic group?
LANGUAGES OF LATIN
AMERICA
GREEN- SPANISH
ORANGE- PORTUGUESE
BLUE- FRENCH
Questions
 According to the ethnic group map, Brazil is
mostly which 3 ethnic groups?
 According to the ethnic group map, Mexico
is mostly which 3 ethnic groups?
 According to the ethnic group map, which
part of Latin America is mostly black?
 According to the Languages of Latin
America map, which two languages are the
most dominant?
Languages
 Spanish- Mexico, Dominican Republic,
almost all of Central America, and most of
South America
 Portuguese- Brazil
 English- Belize, Jamaica, Bahamas,
Guyana
 French- French Guiana, Haiti
 Dutch- Suriname
Questions
 What language do they speak in Haiti?
 Which Latin American country speaks
portugese?
 Which language is dominant in Latin
America?
Religion
 Catholicism dominates all Spanish,
Portuguese, and French-speaking countries.
 In the English speaking areas, there are
many Protestants.
 Cultural diffusion and cultural exchange
affect Latin America.
Questions
 Which religion does the majority of Latin
American people practice?
 What areas of Latin America do the
Protestants live?
Diversity and Cultural Diffusion
 Food, music, styles of clothing, languages,
literature, and art all give evidence of a
blending of Native American, African, and
European cultures.
 The cultural diffusion of Catholicism gives
the region a unifying set of beliefs and
customs.
Cultural Exchange
 Food is one example of the exchange of
three or more cultures.
– Feijoada, the national stew of Brazil combines
European ingredients such as beef, pork, and
garlic with Native American ingredients like
beans, tomatoes, cassava, and chilis. The dish
is often served with rice from Asia and bananas
from Africa.
Questions
 How does Feijoada, the national stew of
Brazil, incorporate ethnic groups from
around the world?
Music
 Samba- a Brazilian music and dance form
reflects a blend of African and Portuguese.
 Tango- from Argentina, combines Spanish
and Cuban styles of music
 Mambo, rumba, and salsa- mix African and
Spanish rhythms
Literature
 Gabriela Mistral- poet from Chile 1945
 Derek Walcott- poet from Saint Lucia 1992
 V. S. Naipaul- novelist/essayist from
Trinidad 2001
 Gabriel Garcia Marquez- Colombian famous
for magical realism
 Magical realism combines dream-like
elements with aspects of Native American
and European cultures.
Literacy
 Literacy rate- percentage of people 15 years
and older who can read and write
 Some countries, like Brazil and Mexico,
have struggled with illiteracy.
 To increase literacy rates:
– Encourage children to stay in school
– Businesses encourage employees to keep
going to school
– Universities offer more courses
Questions
 What is literacy?
 What are two ways in which a country can
increase the literacy rates of its citizens?