Since when are Italian Caucasian and not "latino"?

Question

If Italy is the place "latin" came from then why are Mexicans and other non EU groups considered latino and not the Italians?

These are some great responces, what I find amusing is how none of my latino co-workers or my fathers co-workers could answer this one. Brava folks!

The question comes from my family as we tried to figure out why my father was seen as being ethnic as he is Polish/Italian and yet in my generation I'm not seen as being ethnic as I'm not black, latino ect.
Being raised in the part of Alaska I was there was little to know of race segragation as the rest of America knows it so I never knew "latino" reffered to the Americas.
Grazie for the answers so far.

Answer 1

You know what? I think you're right. There's really no reason for it at all. Now, I think I've seen France referred to as a Latin country, so perhaps the more careful writers refer to France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal as "Latin" countries. Of course, we should also include Romania in this list (which no one ever does) and the Romance speaking portion of Switzerland as well. So, I think you've picked a hole in common usage.

Answer 2

the word "Italian" and "Mexican" describe a nationality,,,,not a race,,, i assume EU, stands for eastern europe,, other "non eu groups" wont be considered latinos....here is why

caucasian definition:The term Caucasian race, Caucasian or Caucasoid is used to refer to people whose ancestry can be traced back to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and parts of Central Asia. It was once considered a useful taxonomical categorization of human racial groups based on a presumed common geographic and/or linguistic origin

so in other words, its like a geographical term to describe your ancestry

latino : The English word Latino (Latina is the feminine form) derives from the Spanish word latinoamericano (the Portuguese word is latino-americano) and refers to inhabitants of Latin America, and their descendents living outside of Latin America. Its usual connotation is Ibero-American or Spanish American; Francophone Canadians are not normally referred to as Latino, even though they speak a Romance language

so in other words, italians cannot be latinos, only peoples from latin america

has nothing to do with race

Answer 3

The Latin countries are a linguistic family united by their languages being influenced by Latin... or "Romance languages" as they are known... Roman as in Rome, Romance, or the language of rome, Latin. This area consists of Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Romania, Moldova, French-speaking Belgium, and French and Italian speaking Switzerland.

"Latino" comes from calling groups of countries in the Americas "Latin America" as they were invaded by people from the Latin countries. Latino is as much a cultural description as an ethnic one.

Caucasian means people of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East who are not of Hispanic origin.

So Italians are Latin and Caucasian... but not Latino.

Answer 4

Latino comes from Latin America.

Answer 5

In the US and in south america, 'latino' is usually used as an abbreviation for 'latinoamerican' to refer to all the south american countries who speak a latin-derived language (spanish for the most part, but don't forget Brazil where they speak portoguese).
It's an abbreviation, pretty much like when americans call 'latte' (which just means 'milk' in italian) what is actually caffelatte (milk and coffee).
In Europe 'latin' countries, speak what is usually called 'romance' languages. Both 'latin' and 'romance' mean 'derived from latin'.
Romance languages are italian, spanish, french, portoguese, but also romanian, sardinian, catalan spanish and some other minor languages.
I would definitely say that the word has two different meanings in US/Americas and in Europe.

Answer 6

"Latino" refers to Latin Americans. People from the Americas.

Answer 7

Since when are Italian Caucasians considered latino? I've never heard that.

Answer 8

Come on now. the Italians have been trying to prove of their whiteness for like 700 years now. Even though they can get sickle cell and so can Spaniards, they are white. Even if in Southern Italy people can have very kinky hairy...their still white because if they are not then................................Since the Romans started in Southern Italy that would mean that they were..........ahh.....ahh........ahh....mullies........hmm......Nope, just so they wont get mad at me let's just give them honorary white status.

Answer 9

where do you live?, i live in spain, and i know italians are latinos. both spain,france and italy are latino countries,look ate their looks, their culture and they are the only catholics in europe, and few other small european countries.