Final answer:
'Mexican-American' represents a person's ethnicity while 'Chicano' refers to one's cultural identity, which includes a mix of ethnic background and socio-political experiences unique to Mexican Americans in the United States. The correct option is: C) Cultural identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'Mexican-American' specifically refers to a person's ethnicity, indicating a shared cultural heritage or ancestry connected to both Mexico and the United States. On the other hand, 'Chicano' primarily describes one's cultural identity, emphasizing pride and recognition in their hybrid Spanish-Native American cultural heritage. It is a term that emerged from the civil rights activism within the Mexican American community, particularly among younger generations seeking to affirm their unique cultural experiences and history in the context of American society.
While ethnicity encompasses traits such as genetic backgrounds, physical features, and birthplaces, cultural identity extends to the learned aspects of a person's life, such as language, traditions, and social practices. Hence, Chicano not only captures an ethnic background but also fully embodies the cultural, political, and social dimensions of a group's experience within the broader American landscape.
Thus, in the context of the given options, 'Chicano' best describes one's C) Cultural identity.