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Spanish vs Hispanic (DC Metro Area)
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Anonymous
| My DD is part Spanish (from Spain) with whole bunch of other stuff thrown into the mix. She looks distinctly different from me and I often get from people in this area "is she part Spanish." I know people in the DC area use that term to mean Salvadoran and other South American countries. What is the history behind using the term Spanish to denote people of the South American diaspora. It seems very politically charged. In California,ou don't hear Mexican Americans calling themselves Spanish. |
Anonymous
| It is pure ignorance on the part of native English speaking people (both whites and African Americans). 95% of the people I work with are Hispanic/Latino and I have never once heard them refer to themselves as "Spanish." Sure, that's the language they speak but not their ethnicity. Just like we speak English but we're not from England. It's just ignorant laziness. |
Anonymous
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I am not understanding your title. Howl if refers, generally, to Americans of Spanish descent.
As for your question, I think it is geographical generalizations. The west and southwest u.s. Is going to have more Mexicans. This side of the country tends to find more Latinos, which is the better designation than Spanish. I doubt it is politically charged to ask if she is Spanish, moreso just lazy facial designations based on geography rather than information. |
Anonymous
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If there's a "whole bunch of other stuff thrown into the mix," perhaps that what makes her look "distinctly different" from you, since the majority of Spaniards are Caucasian (assuming you are Caucasian as well). Or maybe she just plain takes after her father (or mother, if you're a man) or another ancestor.
The mislabeling of people from Central/South American countries as Spanish just has to do with: a. they speak the Spanish language b. many are descended from the Spanish people who conquered and raped their ancestors If people are asking you if she's part Spanish and you want to answer, just say yes, since she is indeed part Spanish. What are you afraid of happening? That people will mistakenly believe your daughter is a Central/South American? If these are just strangers on the street, I'm not sure why this is cause for concern. If they're people you're acquainted with, you can just give them a full explanation. If you really want to make the distinction that she is partly European Spanish, just respond "Yes, her father/grandmother/whoever is from Spain." |
Anonymous
| ^ should say Hispanic , not howl. How does that happen? |
Anonymous
| OP here. No, I am not Caucasian and I am not obliged to answer people on the street. It throws me sometimes and I believe part of it is a generational thing. |
Anonymous
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First of all, El Salvador is not in South America.
Thad being said, are you assuming people think you adopted a little Latina? |
Anonymous
Yes, perhaps OP should get her own geography straight before questioning others. OP, since you acknowledge that you don't have to answer, just ignore the question or tell the truth- she's part Spanish- rather than agonizing over if they know she's Spanish from Europe. |
Anonymous
This. I lived in Spain for years, and it makes me batty. |
Anonymous
| My aunt is from Spain. She does not refer to herself as Hispanic or Latino. She views herself (proudly) as Spanish. |
Anonymous
Exactly right, just like people from Central and South America proudly refer to themselves as Hispanic or Latino, not as Spanish. |
Anonymous
| I'm confused. What's the difference between Hispanic and Latino? And if you are Caucasian but your family has lived in Brazil for generations, are you German or English or Brazilian (are there Brazilians, or is that like being a Californian?), or both? I guess maybe it's like being a Caucasian African (doesn't Terresa Heines identify herself as African??)? |
Anonymous
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Hispanic is the same as saying Spanish, but also includes Portugal. Hispanic refers to the Iberian Peninsula. Latino/Latina refers to people of Latin American descent. A lot of people on the west coast are offended by the term Hispanic because most "hispanics" are actually Latino. So OP, I don't think people are trying to offend you so much as they are 1. trying to have a conversation and 2. trying to say your child is beautiful and are wondering what her ancestry are that makes her so beautiful.
I think when they say Spanish they are just slurring the word "hispanic" or maybe they really are wondering if she's Spanish. Or maybe they are from the west coast where "hispanic" is offensive. In any case Relax. I completely agree that you shouldn't have to indulge random people on the streets. As a nanny I get lots of assumptions that I am the kids mom when I'm not. I don't feel like I need to tell everyone we meet every detail about our lives. It's really easy to just give a yes or no answer or just say "She's part Spanish on her grandmother's side" or whatever. |
Anonymous
Not my South American in-laws. The entire extended family refers to themselves as Spanish because they don't want anyone to think their blood is mixed with the indigenous populations. They may be from Argentina, Peru and Bolivia but they are Spanish, not Hispanic or Latino. |
Anonymous
And you're saying this like it's a good thing? Well isn't that special. |