la raza

[ lah-rah-sah ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letters)

1. (used with a plural verb) the people of Mexico or Mexican Americans, collectively.
2. (used with a singular verb) Mexican or Mexican American culture.

Word History and Origins

Origin of la raza¹

First recorded in 1920–25; literally, “the race,” shortening of La raza cósmica “The Cosmic Race,” a 1925 essay by José Vasconcelos Calderón (1882–1959), Mexican writer, philosopher, and politician, in which Vasconcelos Calderón claims that a future worldwide community will develop from the mixture of all the racial and ethnic groups of the world, which he believed had begun in Latin America; from Spanish la, the feminine singular definite article + raza race ²( def )

Example Sentences

Additionally, El Chilar Rodriguez of Apopka, Fla., recalled 127 cases of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” sold in 1.25-ounce bags, distributed by La Raza of Forestville, Md. and sold at retail stores throughout Maryland.

From Salon

“Where’s the banda? Those are the things we need so that la raza can enjoy themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Fernando was really key for bringing the hearts and minds of la raza to the stadium,” Richard Montoya, a filmmaker and playwright who staged a show about the history of Chavez Ravine, told The Times in 2021.

From Los Angeles Times

“Eagle Rock’s a headache. Highland Park’s a headache. And Lincoln Heights. I don’t need those headaches. I have poor people. La Raza.”

From Los Angeles Times

Stephany Mejia, guitarrón player and founder of Mariachi Loco del Valle, connected with her passion for mariachi music when she took classes at Plaza de la Raza’s School of Performing and Visual Arts.

From Los Angeles Times