White or Hispanic/Latino,a? I didn't understand why Latino,a NOT white

[bobbieinok]

So in 90s I asked colleagues who taught Spanish. They very politely explained that many Hispanics/Latinos-as had Indian (ie, Native American) ancestry and therefore were not pure Spanish (ie, Castillian).

Also African ancestry.

Never understood how some colleagues passionately loved and taught Spanish -- Mexican, etc -- language and cuture yet were anti-immigrant.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The "race" issue of Latino/Latinas goes back decades.

It was the underlying theme of West Side Story. The romance was doomed, not because Maria came from Puerto Rico. She was regarded to be non-white, which was controversial in 1962.

Also (ICYMI), I Love Lucy was controversial. Ricky Ricardo was regarded as non-white even though he appeared to be descended from Castilian Spain. Just because he came from Cuba.


As for "Indian", you see that discussion with regard to selective Mexicans, Peruvians, Brazilians, Colombians, etc.


IMO, these are fallacious arguments. They are designed to encourage discrimination among like groups of people, not unlike getting African-Americans to judge based on the shade of their skin (café au lait to ebony).

[Croney]

2. When I married a Cuban in 1963 in Louisiana,

No one considered it an interracial marriage. You were either white or black. He looked white, so the racists didn't care. If he had looked black, being Cuban would have meant nothing to them. The children of that marriage are all grandparents now, and celebrate their Cuban heritage.