The first part of your statement is wrong. Latinos are referred to as Latinos because they speak romance languages, rooted in Latin, as you mentioned.
Latin Americans, are referred to as Latin Americans because they come from countries in Latin America.
Here's an easy reference:
Italians are Latins, but not Latin Americans.
Spaniards are Latins, but not Latin Americans.
Cubans are Latins and Latin Americans.
Venezuelans are Latins and Latin Americans.
One refers to language and the other refers to geography.
Because they aren't, by common usage and understanding of the term (I'm Italian, from a mostly Italian area, and don't know anybody -- family, friends, or acquaintances -- that identify as latino) . There's certainly good argument to why they should be considered Latino, especially given they are the first and true people, geographically, to speak Latin. But the term itself today isn't defined that way -- accounting for geography more than any other characteristic -- and is why you can't and won't find any Italians who identify as Latino (except perhaps the Italian population in Argentina). Typically, it is often conflated with "Hispanic," which isn't really accurate, but by nearly all accounts (that aren't overly semantic, theoretical, or academic), Latino is generally understood to refer to those from N., Central, and South American countries that speak Spanish or Portuguese, and have strong ancestral ties to Spain or Portugal.
Wish we were considered Latino, though. Would have saved me buttloads of money, getting me into better schools with far more financial aid if I were able to check that box instead of white
Generally, Hispanic means Spanish origin while Latino means what you said. So Brazilians are Latino but not Hispanic. Spaniards are Hispanic, but not Latino.
The first part of your statement is wrong. Latinos are referred to as Latinos because they speak romance languages, rooted in Latin, as you mentioned.
Latin Americans, are referred to as Latin Americans because they come from countries in Latin America.
Here's an easy reference:
Italians are Latins, but not Latin Americans. Spaniards are Latins, but not Latin Americans. Cubans are Latins and Latin Americans. Venezuelans are Latins and Latin Americans.
One refers to language and the other refers to geography.
I have never heard an italian referred to as a latino in my life.
Because they aren't, by common usage and understanding of the term (I'm Italian, from a mostly Italian area, and don't know anybody -- family, friends, or acquaintances -- that identify as latino) . There's certainly good argument to why they should be considered Latino, especially given they are the first and true people, geographically, to speak Latin. But the term itself today isn't defined that way -- accounting for geography more than any other characteristic -- and is why you can't and won't find any Italians who identify as Latino (except perhaps the Italian population in Argentina). Typically, it is often conflated with "Hispanic," which isn't really accurate, but by nearly all accounts (that aren't overly semantic, theoretical, or academic), Latino is generally understood to refer to those from N., Central, and South American countries that speak Spanish or Portuguese, and have strong ancestral ties to Spain or Portugal.
Wish we were considered Latino, though. Would have saved me buttloads of money, getting me into better schools with far more financial aid if I were able to check that box instead of white
Generally, Hispanic means Spanish origin while Latino means what you said. So Brazilians are Latino but not Hispanic. Spaniards are Hispanic, but not Latino.