Why do people Equate Latino with Mexican(please continue reading)??

Question

I was discussing the Illegal Immigration Topic with my Aunt.......

She is also Completely against Illegal Immigration.......

When I brought up the Fact that many Latino's cosider themselves to be Mexican(even though their not)On the Internet Blog sites,she Smacked me in the head.........

She considered equating Mexicans to all Latino's an Insult.....

You see, She is from Puerto Rico,and said that comparing her to mexicans,would be the same as comparing American Indians to Indians from India...........

I completely Understand her Point,But I wonder if anyone here does........

Answer 1

shes right...people are stereotyping latinos to mexicans...there is a huge difference

Answer 2

Latin American countries are those countries that are south of the United States. Today they host people of mixed origin. They are considered Latino because they have Spanish or Portuguese blood in them or are descendants of them. The Spanish and Portuguese sailed, into the new world, in the 1500's and mixed with the indigenous people. These indigenous people included the Aztec Indians of what is now Mexico, The Mayan Indians of Central America, and the Incas of South America.

The Spanish also set foot in a number of other areas including Puerto Rico. There they mixed with the tribes men indigenous to Puerto Rico

So you see, while most Mexicans (Spanish and Aztec mix) can be considered Latino (Having Latin blood); Not all Latino people can be called Mexican. Since a Mexican is, for the most part, a Spanish and Aztec Indian mix.

Although, some what simplified, I hope this helps clear things up.

On a side note: Would you take a look at about 8 -10 minutes of this interview with Professor Steven Jones ? It's a 45 minute video and well worth looking at, to its end. At the very least, pass it on to those you care about.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2842384983834100001

Answer 3

Well, maybe it's the beer I've been drinking since noon today, but I'm gonna say that if you are of Hispanic descent whether Mexican, Puerto Rican, Colombian or anything else similar, you are also Latino. I always thought of Latino and Hispanic as the exact same thing. Blacks are Blacks whether from America, Rwanda, Sudan, or South Africa. Whites are Whites whether from America, Ireland, Albania, or Russia.

I am Hispanic. I was born in CA to native born Mexican parents, but I am American. It is my opinion that Hispanic/Latino are the words used to identify people of Spanish descent BUT NOT FROM SPAIN. Much like using the word 'Brown', like everyone else uses to identify 'White' and 'Black' people. It is not a nationality, but a race identifier.

If I read this right, you say Mexicans are NOT Latinos? Then who ARE Latinos? And what are Mexicans then? Are you suggesting there is a difference between Hispanic and Latino?

Many of you are confusing nationality with race. White, Black, and Hispanic/Latinos are a race. British, Albanian, Portugese, Spanish, Puerto Rican, American....are nationalities.

AngelaR and CBass are correct.

Answer 4

Sorry but your aunt is completely wrong....

Any peoples from north, central and south American which are of Spanish descent are considered Latinos....She thinks she is better than all peoples from those countries? The concept of Latin America was coined by the French in the 1800s as a means of legitimizing French influence over the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas...So your aunt is wrong, all Latin American countries are consider Latinos, including Mexico.

Answer 5

While it is true that the term "Latino" should not be confined to only Mexicans, technically the term refers to Hispanic (of Spanish origin). The U.S. has defined it as being of "Spanish-speaking" origin.

So perhaps the definition is exactly correct, you can read more about it on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latino

Answer 6

I don't know the answer to your question because I am a white guy... But I can relate to the situation in this way. I live in San Antonio, Texas, and have dated many many women, many of whom are of Mexican extraction.

I've had some say proudly, I am Mexican. Others say NO, I'm Hispanic. What's a white guy to do??? Smartly, I ignore the subject entirely now. Whatever she says she is is okay with me.

Answer 7

I FEEL EXACTLY LIKE SHE DOES! because its sort of the same as calling all Europeans German, and if you're Swiss, you have that Swiss pride and its an insult to be called somethign when obviously Switzerland is "better" . I am Puerto Rican and i get pissed when people call me Mexican. Like stupid people who will call everybody beaner, or make immigration jokes to somebody when theyre not even Mexican! So yes, i agree with your Aunt

Answer 8

Is correct all mexicans consider themselves Latin Americans

It is not correct for all Latin Americans to consider themselves mexican

the term "Mexican" is a Nationality .....while "Latin American" is a geo-cultural term for people of Spanish,Portuguese or French descent nations of Caribbean,Central and South America.

Answer 9

I can understand her, I am Cuban residing in USA. we speak basically the same language but you would not call a person from Spain a latino.We are all Hispanics but the customs are different in every country ,I am not being a racist but there is a difference.

Answer 10

what you call yourself is just that, a referance. your aunt is american, not latino. if anything other than american she should refer to herself as from puerto rican descent... latino was a word invented by mexicans who wanted to not be mexican anymore....

Answer 11

I completely get it I'm an American Indian!