Why do Hispanics refer to themselves as Spanish?

[Anonymous]

At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

[Anonymous]

Yes they do. It's the language they speak so they see that as their identity.

Also they are kids, chill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

Why do People from the USA refer to themselves as Americans? They're from the US, not the whole continent. Do they not understand geography?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

Why do People from the USA refer to themselves as Americans? They're from the US, not the whole continent. Do they not understand geography?

Truth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes they do. It's the language they speak so they see that as their identity.

Also they are kids, chill out.

But White kids don't call themselves English, even though it's the language they speak. Do Hispanic adults do this as well.

[Anonymous]

If you are in the DMV, most Hispanic in this area are from Central America -- Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador. There are a few Bolivians and Peruvians from South America. Although non Hispanic people may refer to them as Hispanic, they generally say they are Spanish. It is less to do with their country of origin and mire to the language they speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

Why do People from the USA refer to themselves as Americans? They're from the US, not the whole continent. Do they not understand geography?

Truth!

Not truth. America is the name for the United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are in the DMV, most Hispanic in this area are from Central America -- Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador. There are a few Bolivians and Peruvians from South America. Although non Hispanic people may refer to them as Hispanic, they generally say they are Spanish. It is less to do with their country of origin and mire to the language they speak.

This just seems curious to me, especially because they distinguish between "white" people and "Spanish". The kids use the word Spanish, to identify their race. It seems odd to me.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I guess what I really want to know is it this is just a kid thing or if adults from Mexico and Central America refer to themselves as Spanish as well.

[Anonymous]

My friend 's family is from Cuba and they say they are Spanish because their ancestors were from Spain.

Spain conquered the S.Am. Countries so most of their ancestors are from Spain.

Why do the jersey shore kids say they are Italian when they are clearly American?

Why do red heads say they are Irish.

it's their ancestors,why would you want to erase their family history?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

Why do People from the USA refer to themselves as Americans? They're from the US, not the whole continent. Do they not understand geography?

Truth!

Not truth. America is the name for the United States.

There's North America, South America, and Central America (not an official continent, but a geographical signatory). There are many separate countries in North America. Only one of those is the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess what I really want to know is it this is just a kid thing or if adults from Mexico and Central America refer to themselves as Spanish as well.

Most refer to themselves as Latino/a.

I doubt this teacher has a relationship with S.Am falsies outside of her job.

Also,if you are in the DMV very few Hispanickids are from Mexico. DO NOT call them Mexican.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least the kids do, I'm not sure about the adults. I am a substitute teacher -primarily middle and high school, and I've noticed that kids from Mexico and South America call themselves Spanish. Yesterday while subbing I overheard a discussion where kids (all Hispanic) were shocked to find out that one of their classmates was half "Spanish". The girl actually said that her mom was white and her dad was from Guatemala, but to them that counts as Spanish. Don't these kids know that Spain is in Europe? Why don't they just refer to themselves as Hispanic, Latino, or their individual nationality? White Americans don't go around calling themselves English.

Why do People from the USA refer to themselves as Americans? They're from the US, not the whole continent. Do they not understand geography?

Truth!

Um....no, not a true parallel construct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess what I really want to know is it this is just a kid thing or if adults from Mexico and Central America refer to themselves as Spanish as well.

Most refer to themselves as Latino/a.

I doubt this teacher has a relationship with S.Am falsies outside of her job.

Also,if you are in the DMV very few Hispanickids are from Mexico. DO NOT call them Mexican.

Do they? I would have assumed so, but I often teach in schools that are at least 80% Hispanic and I've never heard these kids use the term Hispanic or Latino. They use the word Spanish like it's a racial designation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess what I really want to know is it this is just a kid thing or if adults from Mexico and Central America refer to themselves as Spanish as well.

It could be a kid thing or a translation thing. Were they speaking in english? Maybe they just know the english word spanish?