Here’s another Spanish speaker who argues that the “literal translation” of La Raza is not accurate:

The angry mail has been pouring in today from folks who take issue with our reporting that Barack Obama — addressing the National Council of La Raza — made the translation of “la raza” as “the people.”

He was right.

But let’s explain. Literally, yes”la raza” is “the race.” But what it means: “my people, my community,” as in “my peeps,” or the Italian “paisanos.” As a Spanish-speaker myself, I can attest: this is one of those phrases (think outside the box) where the literal translation isn’t accurate.

“La Raza” as it is used by organizations, disc jockeys, musicians, and in common conversation doesn’t translate into — as many of the critics in my mailbox suggest — an Arayan Nation-style racial supremacy reference.