Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:57     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find it odd that the Indian identity has largely been disregarded by the Hispanic culture. Most Mexicans are mainly Indian, but we don't call them Indian, nor do they really see themselves as Indians, but DNA testing shows that the majority of Mexicans have large percentages of Indian DNA.


As a person of Indian (India/South Asian) descent, this is so confusing to me.


Because the right word is INDIGENOUS, not Indians. Christopher Columbus got confused when he ariver to America, he thought they have arrived to India.


Yep. Indian is never the right word to use. Indigenous is more apropos.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:54     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:The discussion on the Entertainment board regarding whether Giselle Bundchen is Hispanic got me thinking, why is the term Hispanic used instead of Mestizo? The category of Hispanic is so broad that it is practically meaningless. Technically a person of any race who hails from a Spanish/Portuguese speaking country of Central/South America is Hispanic. But in reality, I think most people tend to think of Hispanic as a brown person from one of these countries. and not all Hispanics are brown. The brown ones are a mix of American Indian and European ancestry. They are Mestizo. These are the people who others can identify as being Hispanic and are more likely to experience racism. When people speak of Hispanic as a racial category they are generally referring to those who have the American Indian ancestry, not someone from Mexico who has practically 100% Spanish ancestry. It just seems that the official definition of Hispanic does not match the reality of what people actually consider Hispanic. What people consider to be Hispanic is actually Mestizo, so why don't we start using that term instead?


I will call people what they want to be called, and if a person wants to identify as mestizo, then fine.

However, I just want to point out people from Brazil are not Hispanic. They are LatinX. But not Hispanic.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:48     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
i agree with op. And the term you all are looking for is indigenous. Spanish call them the indigenos not Indians or native Americans
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:47     Subject: Re:Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Because we ain't here for your 'we're white, not Mestizos - we should be treated better' rhetoric. Get out of here with that.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:35     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:The discussion on the Entertainment board regarding whether Giselle Bundchen is Hispanic got me thinking, why is the term Hispanic used instead of Mestizo? The category of Hispanic is so broad that it is practically meaningless. Technically a person of any race who hails from a Spanish/Portuguese speaking country of Central/South America is Hispanic. But in reality, I think most people tend to think of Hispanic as a brown person from one of these countries. and not all Hispanics are brown. The brown ones are a mix of American Indian and European ancestry. They are Mestizo. These are the people who others can identify as being Hispanic and are more likely to experience racism. When people speak of Hispanic as a racial category they are generally referring to those who have the American Indian ancestry, not someone from Mexico who has practically 100% Spanish ancestry. It just seems that the official definition of Hispanic does not match the reality of what people actually consider Hispanic. What people consider to be Hispanic is actually Mestizo, so why don't we start using that term instead?


Because they're two different terms. As you say.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:34     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:The reality is that most people identify with their ethnic country. They are Mexican, Guatemalan, Argentine, Peruvian, etc. None of them say they are Hispanic or Latino. Those are labels created by white people. Similarly, I don't identify as Caucasian non-Hispanic (or whatever nonsensical category I've seen recently on medical and school forms).


Their what?
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 14:06     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
The reality is that most people identify with their ethnic country. They are Mexican, Guatemalan, Argentine, Peruvian, etc. None of them say they are Hispanic or Latino. Those are labels created by white people. Similarly, I don't identify as Caucasian non-Hispanic (or whatever nonsensical category I've seen recently on medical and school forms).
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 13:58     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:I find it odd that the Indian identity has largely been disregarded by the Hispanic culture. Most Mexicans are mainly Indian, but we don't call them Indian, nor do they really see themselves as Indians, but DNA testing shows that the majority of Mexicans have large percentages of Indian DNA.


Because its not pc to call them indian. Its usually considered an insult in indian dominant countries such as peru or ecuador or bolivia. I am sure its the same in mexico. Mestizos usually have straight black hair, dark almond eyes and tan skin but as a mestiza too me and siblings have curly hair large dark eyes and 1 of my siblings easily passes for white. With the exception of me both siblings are 6ft tall. Not your typical mestizo.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:40     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:“Brown” people as you call them can also have african ancesters or most likely are a mix of indian, african, european and more. They can be mestizo, mulato, cholos, zambos, criollos, peninsulares...




Yes, I realize that, but what image do people conjure when they think of a Mexican? They do not think of someone who like white or black. The image of a Mexican (that is probably accurate for the majority of them) is someone that is brown because they have Native American ancestry.


*looks*
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:39     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Anonymous wrote:“Brown” people as you call them can also have african ancesters or most likely are a mix of indian, african, european and more. They can be mestizo, mulato, cholos, zambos, criollos, peninsulares...




Yes, I realize that, but what image do people conjure when they think of a Mexican? They do not think of someone who like white or black. The image of a Mexican (that is probably accurate for the majority of them) is someone that is brown because they have Native American ancestry.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:34     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
I find it odd that the Indian identity has largely been disregarded by the Hispanic culture. Most Mexicans are mainly Indian, but we don't call them Indian, nor do they really see themselves as Indians, but DNA testing shows that the majority of Mexicans have large percentages of Indian DNA.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:33     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
“Brown” people as you call them can also have african ancesters or most likely are a mix of indian, african, european and more. They can be mestizo, mulato, cholos, zambos, criollos, peninsulares...

Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:29     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Why do we have to drill down on ethnicity like that? What's wrong with being more all encompassing, especially nowadays? If people want to be identified more specifically, I'm sure they can personally make that known.

And BTW I'm white and can certainly pronounce "Mestizo." It's phonetic, for Pete's sake.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:23     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
Because no white person can pronounce, "Mestizo."
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2018 11:22     Subject: Why is the term Hispanic used as an ethnic category instead of Mestizo?
The discussion on the Entertainment board regarding whether Giselle Bundchen is Hispanic got me thinking, why is the term Hispanic used instead of Mestizo? The category of Hispanic is so broad that it is practically meaningless. Technically a person of any race who hails from a Spanish/Portuguese speaking country of Central/South America is Hispanic. But in reality, I think most people tend to think of Hispanic as a brown person from one of these countries. and not all Hispanics are brown. The brown ones are a mix of American Indian and European ancestry. They are Mestizo. These are the people who others can identify as being Hispanic and are more likely to experience racism. When people speak of Hispanic as a racial category they are generally referring to those who have the American Indian ancestry, not someone from Mexico who has practically 100% Spanish ancestry. It just seems that the official definition of Hispanic does not match the reality of what people actually consider Hispanic. What people consider to be Hispanic is actually Mestizo, so why don't we start using that term instead?