@InfraBlue,
Thanks for your great post IfraBlue
For the second time here it has been pointed out that Latinos and Hispanics are not a race. Neither are Mexicans and people say that Mexico has many races living within its country and the word Mexico is a name given to the country by the Spanish.
But just like it is not right to refer to Blacks as "colored people" now we (President Obama just the other day) call them "people of color" because not all people of color are Black.
I am not confused, it is the terminology that is confused.
True not all Latinos are people of color. Generally when I speak of European Spanish speaking people I call them Latins not Latinos.
Latinos also may include the people of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico. Latinos also refer to many US citizens.
Are they Latinos a race? Well I got news for you. Everyone is a race even if your racial origin or terminology is unknown. When I hear the words Hispanic and Latinos I certainly do not think of Russians but Russia has a lot of Spanish speaking people within their borders too.
For a while in the sixties and seventies there was not a single term to call a Black person that was not offensive to them. I don't blame them considering the offensive names they have been a called. There comes a point when trying to figure out various subtle racial difference becomes a game card played by racists.
Call someone "oriental" these days and you can get yourself beat up for it.
Caucasians has the word Asian in it. Are white people Asians? Do we all come from the caucus mountains? I didn't...
Just as many Blacks are not African but they are American.
Do the words Latinos and Hispanic have no meaning at all?
They are used to refer to people who either speak a form of Latin (sometimes Portuguese) or the Spanish language as it relates to our hemisphere.
Some of those people who speak a Latin derivative or Spanish are white.
But most people who speak them in our hemisphere identify with the indigenous people the Americas.
The term American Indians is out because some are offended but Native American is now in. Oh but wait! Aztec related people and Peruvians are also native Americas too.
Before people go correcting other people on how the refer to certain subsets of race consider that sometimes it does not matter what term you use you will be offending someone regardless.
I am half Norwegian am I an American Norwegian. Norwegian American or just an American?
I am one quarter Slovakian and one quarter English. Does this make me not Norwegian? I have a flat forehead so does this make me a square head?
Should I be offended by that term?
Yes most of Spain is white since they murdered and drove out the Spanish speaking Moors.
What race is Spain?
Some terms are definitely offensive or have become offensive.
The N word means a person who was indigenous to the country of Nigeria. Not all Blacks are from Nigeria.
Though I find the N term offensive because it is used to offend or to constantly remind people of the offence of slavery. The scourge of slavery should not be forgotten.
Racial terms are constantly evolving and the trick is to use the term that is en vogue at the time.
The idea one conjures up when the term Latinos or Hispanics is used is a dark skinned, dark haired, brown eyed person who identifies with the Americas namely the southern Americas. Though you identify with that group of people you may have Spanish heritage rather than native heritage.
Most of us were born here in the US but it is apparently wrong to refer to ourselves as natives.
It seems most of this is politically motivated.
Race is such a hot button topic that even the mere mention of any race stereotype is treated with distain.
I am certainly not Latino, my Spanish is terrible and I do not fit most of the loosely arranged criterion.
Yes most of the Latinos are dark skinned and from southern parts of the US and yes many can attribute their heritage to Spain.
Do you call someone a Jew or a Hebrew when they have less Hebrew speaking skill than the average non Jew and are non religions?
Trying to discuss race is like asking the sky to please fall on you.
