Why does my family deny their race?

Question

We are Spaniard with a lot of French and a (tiny) bit of Mexican ( or hispanic, if you have to be all correct). We ( me, parents, family) are mixed. Now...we are more european than anything; this is clearly visible because my family ( specially on dad's side) are all light-skinned ( white) and many have blue or hazel eyes. Now..they don't look a bit "mexican" but do you know what they call themselves??? MEXICAN!!!!!!! What the f**king f**k. They don't look it...but they tell the whole freaking world they are pure mexi and deny the european heritage. Which is rediculous, because we are more of that than anything. My parents do the same. IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!!! I refer to myself as I truly am, because why deny what you are? But no matter how many times I tell my parents ( and they know very well what they are ) they may realize their mistake, but they still do it.
Why????

Alright, after reading some of the answers I have to say I feel like I'm being accused of hating Mexicans. I DON'T. I LOVE Mexicans, and I love that part of me as much as I do the others, my point is that we are only like a little drop of that, and why my family insists that's all we are bewilders me.

Answer 1

Be who you are. Sounds like you are American to me. American with mostly European heritage. Assumes of course you live in America :) If you are a Mexican citizen then you'd be Mexican despite your heritage.

I think what you are seeing is a polarization of Hispanic cultures which until the last 20 years tended to melt into American culture much like other European and Asian cultures do. Most Arabs, especially Christian Arabs consider themselves White in culture and heritage. Indians (from India) tend to do the same. Lately you are seeing intense pressure on Hispanics and Asians to break away and be a seperate culture. This is sad since it puts up walls and devides between people. Devides like this hurt everybody and the nation as a whole.

Answer 2

Interesting, Mexican per se is not a racial definition it would be more of a nationality affiliation. For racial definition you could use White, Black, Native American etc. but not Mexican. Now, it is likely that your family identifies themselves with Mexicans because they are proud of their ancestry and because they do not look like the vast majority of Mexicans they want to make sure people know they are of Mexican descent.

Answer 3

It is more of a societal problem than one in your family. People like to put people in "boxes." Look at all the questions here (and all over the internet)...

"Which is better?"
"Which do you like/dislike more?"
"Why can't X be more like Y?"

Just about everyone in the world is mixed with something else, but the census is just now starting to consider mixed heritages.

These views of comparing and rating is what causes some to define themselves with one or the other.

Answer 4

Wait wait wait, it doesnt matter how much of which race you are, its still wrong to deny any part of your ethnicity, im creole, black,white,italian,indian- creoles are anywhere from the following mixed(spaniard,french, and indian or spaniard, french, and black) my family is mixed will all and 2different tribes of indian, some of them only claim their african heritage when our skin is light as all be damned but i dont deny any part of me.

where im getting is they deny the parts that they feel arent beautiful or as beautiful, the parts that they are not proud of, and they are perfectly find with doing what they do.

Answer 5

Because this world has taught people to be afraid of who they truly are. And your parents may feel that its "better" to be considered Mexican than White. It might just be their preference. But I do salute you for talking with them. All I can say is just rememeber who you are and stick to your heritage.

Answer 6

Ha, ha, ha ... i comprehend precisely the position you're coming from and that i imagine your mom and grandmother may are merely jealous that you be lighter than themselves and that you'll truly bypass for a organic White. i'm a blended latino, in case you comprehend what which skill: Amerindian, Spanish and Black, except that my dad is Germanic too. i come across that the Amerindian and Black branches of my kinfolk are extra aggressive: the Amerindians hate the Spanish, the German and highly the Black (no theory why) and the Black hate the White. In my kinfolk, the White branches are extra knowledgeable and therefore a lot less bullying, that's probable why i think in the route of them: they don't reject me like all different ones.

Answer 7

I always thought more Mexicans try to pass for something else than the other way around. Cheers to your family for being trailblazers.

Answer 8

why do you care what they call themselvs, there are much bigger things in the world to worry about then where or what you are.There are innocent people being raped murdered tourchred etc etc everyday all over the world. I guess it is kinda nice when someones world is so small that the biggest thing for them to worry about is what there heritage is.

Answer 9

I am kind of wondering why it sounds like you don't want to be Mexican so much. Is there a reason?

Answer 10

why should it matter what u are. who u are is more important. why do u hate mexicans? whats sooo special about europeans? grow up girl! u need a life.