American, United Statian, USAmerican, or Gringos?
Keyword(s):
The text discusses the use of the word "American" when referring to people from, or citizens of, the United States of America. The fact that the citizens of the United States call themselves "Americans" causes disconfort for many Latin Americans, who see the appropriation of the collective identity of all peoples and countries of the Western Hemisphere as a clear act of cultural imperialism. The article discusses the historic origins and the consolidation of the use of "American" in this restrict sense.