Are Spanish people Hispanic? Latin? European? White?

Question

My 12 year old daughter's father is Pueblo, Italian, and Spanish. He was born and raised in California. He does not speak Spanish. HIs dad is Spanish and was born and raised in New Mexico. He has black hair, blue eyes, white skin. My ex's mom is Italian and Pueblo Indian. She was born and raised in New Mexico. Her step dad was Spanish. He raised her. She has brownish red hair and brown eyes. They consider themselves white and speak Old Spanish. My daughter's skin is medium brown. She has dark brown hair with red high lights. Her eyes are brown with specks of yellow near the pupil. On her birth certificate I listed her as white with hispanic descent. I consider her white but she looks hispanic. We live in the midwest in a small town. People mistake her for a Mexican. When I say that she isn't they say that since she has Indian and Spanish in her that she is a Mexican. Teenagers and schoolmates nicknamed her Taco which of course hurts her feelings.

So, what is she?

Answer 1

Shall we breakdown your multi-faceted question in order to better answer it?

First question, what are Hispanics?

Answer: An Hispanic is a person from a Spanish-speaking country. Mexicans are considered Hispanics because Spanish is spoken in Mexico. Spain, on the other hand, is in Europe and is a country where three or four official languages are spoke including Spanish. A Spaniard, therefore, would be European; if he is from the part of Spain where Spanish (Castilian) is spoken, then he could also be called an Hispanic, although European is more correct. “Hispanic” is language-based; “European” is determined geographically as is “Latino” (see the following answer).

What are Latinos?

Latinos are people from Latin American countries. This includes people who speak Spanish and people who speak, for example, Portuguese. A person from Brazil, where Portuguese is the official language, would be Latino rather than Hispanic. Some people believe that a ‘Latino’ is one whose mother tongue is based on Latin. This is not correct. Two major alphabets exist on which all major languages are based. The most commonly known in the West is the Latin Alphabet. The other alphabet is the Greek or Cyrillic Alphabet. So to call a person ‘Latino’ because his language is based on the Latin Alphabet is ludicrous.

Who are Whites?

Broadly speaking the race of Man is broken down into three classes: White or Caucasian, Black or *******, and Yellow or Mongolian. These three types are defined by color, height, hair type, facial features, eye color and bone structure. Inter-marriage has blurred the distinction, which is as it should well be! Hispanics and Latinos are classified as White, but there are Black Hispanics and Latinos.

What are ‘Indians?’

Native Americans are categorized as Mongolian, even though we have been calling them ‘the Redman’ for years. Mexico was invaded by Spaniards who inter-married with Native Americans (Indians) and gave birth to the Mexican people. Ironically enough, those Mexicans who did not inter-marry and remained Spaniard by bringing Spaniards to the New World as wives were called ‘blancos'—Whites or simply, Españoles—Spaniards. Pueblo Indians are Native Americans. I am certain that there has been a lot of inter-marriage between Pueblo Indians and Mexicans thereby blurring the distinction (which again, is as it should be—we are ALL children of God).

Final statements:

Inter-marriage strengthens the genetic pool and beats the hell out of inbreeding. Your daughter sound like a gorgeous child and you should be so proud of her. I agree with your Race definition on her birth certificate. If she doesn't speak any Spanish you might consider 'dropping' the Hispanic. Of course, she could always learn Spanish. As far as she being teased, it is only because children can be cruel. Tell her to hold her chin high and be proud of WHO she is and not to worry about what others say. We are all Children of God.

Best,

H

A wise old uncle of mine once told me, "You are what your mother is." That is another way that your daughter could define her ethnicity.

H

Answer 2

People from South and Central American are not Latin. they do not speak the Latin language. The term "Latin" first originated in the country of Italy, and the Latin language was spoken by the Romans. Hispanics are not Latin by any means necessary. They do not speak the language. Hispanics are not any more Latin than Native Americans are Indian. Indians are from India, not from America, both North and South.

Answer 3

Your daughter is most
fortunate for such a
rich and mixed background,
one to be very proud of,
and one she can freely
display in the country
she is a citizen of,
the United States of
America!
Who cares what the other
bored people in your small
town think - their closets are
probably full of skeletons.
As for calling her Taco,
kids can and are cruel,
so give your daughter
more support and confidence
and have her learn more
about her ancestors.
Best of luck

Answer 4

by Indian you mean "Native" right?

I say if your ever mistaken as Mexican .. SPEAK UP!
Educate the uneducated...

A Spaniard and Native mixed are "mestizos" sure mestizos are found in Mexico but also ALL OVER THE AMERICAS

Answer 5

Of course on the census, he'll show up as white (nice trick, our government making the Caucasian population appear larger by claiming Hispanics)

Oh yes, it's true...

Answer 6

Your daughter if she looks mexican is not white. She does have spanish and indian which is what a mexican is!

Answer 7

Does it really matter? Why are so many people hung up on ethnicity? We're all gonna die no matter what race or color we are. Ethnicity won't save us.

Answer 8

they are hispanic and european. not necessarily latino and white.
that depends of origin. and as u know, spanish laws are not extremly demanding in providing citizenship.

Answer 9

i can see very clearly she god's creature like evrybody else putting label on somebody else it's only illusion you allow dog to bark at you but not to bite bless you

Answer 10

your daughter should be very proud of her heritage,,, I would say she is hispanic,,, evidently the white americans are just jealous why they call her names,, Look at all the tanning beds americans go to...Hispanics have beautiful skin color and complexions,,, Tell her to ignore the remarks made by racist people,,,,She should be proud of who she is,,,