Why do you call Mexicans hispanic when Hispanic comes from Spain not Mexico?

Question

I am a caucasian HISPANIC. I am not an anglo. Mexicans are not Hispanic. Their origins are not fully Spain. Hispanic means like Ururguay and the Spaniards of Argentina and Spain. Mexico Peru and Guatemala? Not Hispanic unless you are a criollo. Why do you want to take our identity away? You apply OUR WORD to a bunch of indians.

Answer 1

I thought it more of an insult just to call someone mexican just because they speak a spanish based dialect and have darker skin than white. Where I live most are from El salvador and Honduras which are both south of Mexico. The ones I know and have talked to don't take being reffered to as mexicans kindly.
Here is some food for thought!

"Hispanic" as a U.S. ethnic label

In the United States, some people consider "Hispanic" to be too general as a label, while others consider it offensive, often preferring to use the term "Latino", which is viewed as a self-chosen label. The preference of "Latino" over "Hispanic" is partly because it more clearly indicates that those it is referring to are the people from Latin America (including Brazil) and not Spain. Different labels prevail in different regions, as well. In places like Arizona and California, the Chicanos are proud of their personal association and their participation in the agricultural movement of the 1960s with César Chávez, that brought attention to the needs of the farm workers. Usually younger Hispanics will not refer to themselves as such, however.

It is important to remember that the majority of "Hispanics" do not identify as "Hispanic" or "Latino," but with their national origin, i.e. Mexican-American. And, it is debatable that Latino is any less self-imposed than Hispanic. The label, Hispanic, was the result of efforts by a Hispanic New Mexican senator, Montoya, who wanted a label that could be used to quantify the Spanish-speaking population for the US Census. The label Hispanic was chosen in part because in New Mexico, well-to-do people of Spanish descent such as Montoya referred to themselves as Hispanos, and the transliteration of Hispano is Hispanic. Thus, while Latino is more popular in some urban areas, Hispanic is more popular in some parts of the southwest.

Previously Hispanics were commonly referred to as "Spanish-Americans", "Spanish-speaking Americans", and "Spanish-surnamed Americans". These terms, however, proved even more misleading or inaccurate since:

* Most U.S. Hispanics were not born in Spain, nor were most born to recent Spanish nationals;
* Although most U.S. Hispanics speak Spanish, not all do, and though most Spanish-speaking people are Hispanic, not all are (e.g., many U.S. Hispanics by the fourth generation no longer speak Spanish, while there are some non-Hispanics of the Southwestern United States that may be fluent in the language), and;
* Although most Hispanics have a Spanish surname, not all do, and while most Spanish-surnamed people are Hispanic, not all are (e.g., there are tens of millions of Spanish-surnamed Filipinos, but very few, only about 3.5%, would qualify as Hispanic by ancestry).
* Many Catalans and Basques refuse to identify themselves as Hispanic in the US census, especially those who have Catalan and Basque as mother tongues.

The term "Spanish American", however, is still currently in use by many of those who, while not of recent descent from a Spanish national, have continued to practice and view Spanish culture and identity as dominant in their lives. In this usage it emphasized ancestral history and identity, and is not meant to indicate citizenship of the 'old country'.

Answer 2

Then you are most likely of Gothic (east German) decent. The Goths lived in Roman Territory's peacefully without assimilating (much like illegal immigrants of today) until 410 AD when they burnt it down and took Spain as retribution. There they became Vis-i-Goth monarchs and ruled fat and sassy (like Americans of today) until around 700 AD., when the Muslims put them to the end of a scimitar and annihilated them from history. So, if you go back far enough you are not Hispanic at all. You are a Gothic (Caucasian). So much for mere words...El Cid was a Goth..not a Hispanic...In plain English; Hispanics, came from Hispaniola and Spaniards, came from Spain.

Answer 3

I understand the term caucasian Hispanic, since 4 of my kids are exactly that (specifically, Swedish, Finnish, German, Irish, Canadian-French, and Mexican). Anyway, as I have understood it, Hispanic is a blanket term for those people who are from or who have relatives from a Spanish speaking country (for example, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, etc). Also, although I have never heard it specifically stated thus, it would seem Hispanic applies to those OUTSIDE of Spain. Everyone that I know refers to a Spaniard as Spanish, whereas those from, say Mexico or Puerto Rico are referred to as Hispanic. As for taking one's identity away....only YOU can allow that, my friend.

Answer 4

Because their ancestors can be traced back to Spain while real native indigenous Indians can't only to this Continent genetically. Historically. Linguistically while the mixed mexicans have no concrete proof who or when was their native ancestor what specific tribe all the Maya and Aztec stuff is just speculation no real proof good myth that's all

Answer 5

Uh...nobody wants to take your identity away hun. No worries. You do know that criollos are the kids of a Spanish and Mexican person, right? Therefore there is such thing as criollo blood in some (or most) Mexicans. Just to let you know...Indians...are from India. If we're called Indians in some ignorant occasions is because Christopher Columbus thought he was going to end up in India in his trip. You apply THEIR word to us incorrectly.

Answer 6

Because in the past races were geographic, proud and rarely cross bred. Now with ease of travel and communication cross breeding is not as stigmatized and the races are fading. In a few more thousand years there may only be remnants of the old races.

Answer 7

They are called Hispanic because their LANGUAGE comes from Spain. It's not politically correct to call them that unless you are referring to their language.

Answer 8

Hispanic means anyone with some Spanish heritage. If a person is of Spanish and Irish descent, he or she is Hispanic. Likewise, a person of Spanish and Mayan descent (as many Mexicans are) would also qualify as Hispanic.

Answer 9

I am Hispanic (belonging to a Spanish speaking culture) from the Caribbean. I am also considered a "white" Hispanic, (I have very light skin). I may also be considered Caucasian (because I have European ancestry Spanish-French). No group in Latin America has a fully Spanish background yet we are all called Hispanics (again, belonging to a Spanish speaking culture).
Is it true that the Indian cultures of the Incas and Mayans, for example, have been more predominant in some groups such as in the cultures of Mexico, Peru and Guatemala, compared to the Caribbean, for example? Yes. However, if they speak Spanish they are still considered Hispanics. Why? Because they belong to a predominantly Spanish speaking culture.
As more and more people marry inter-racially, we are finding out that labeling is nearly impossible. For example, a child born to a Caucasian woman and a Native American father marries a Hispanic woman who's mother is Mexican (Spanish/Mayan) and father is say, African (black), what is their children's racial group? Some States in the U.S. require the child to identify himself as the mother does. Is this fair? What happens when the mother is, say, Caucasian and the father is Black and the child born is mulatto (having characteristics from both), is the child going to be considered white? I haven't seen that yet. But nurses will tell you when you go to fill out birth certificates for a multi racial child to follow the mother's race when not sure what to "label" your child. Isn't this ridiculous! I feel the child should be able to put himself down as multiracial for school purposes, but this option is often not available. Better yet, everyone should be able to choose whether to label oneself or not. This is being done in some forms. Those forms will read, "Race optional". This can be very confusing. Why do we limit ourselves to these labels? I hope that it is done in the best interest of the people; to identify and help those who often find themselves at a disadvantage.
There are many definitions for the term "Hispanic" please take the time to Google those. This is because people use it in many different ways. In my understanding, you do not have to be "fully" Spanish to be considered Hispanic, you just have to identify yourself with a Spanish speaking culture. By the way, who is "fully" Spanish anyway? Please, explore the history of Spain sometime!
To answer your question more directly: Mexicans ARE Hispanic because they are predominantly a Spanish speaking culture. No one's origins are "fully" anything anymore. Your point on criollos was not clear. If you meant to say that a criollo, a person of Spanish ancestry born in Latin America, is a Hispanic, yes, you are correct there. However, as you can see from what I've clarified here criollos are not the only group that is considered Hispanic.
Your statement, "bunch of indians" sounded derogatory instead of lifting. I don't believe anyone is trying to take away your identity. But I do want to ask, why do you not wish to be connected to all of the beautiful people in this world, regardless of where they come from. We all belong to one race, the human race, regardless of color, language, religion or culture. I get the impression you don't want to be associated with whichever groups you perceive as being Indian. That's your opinion and I respect it. I have too been considered say, a Mexican in the US because that is all some people know as being Hispanic. There are a lot of narrow thinkers, or simply ignorant people and it bothered me. It bothered me not because I think less of Mexicans or any other group but simply because my background is far different from the Mexican background. I am not Mexican therefore did not wish to be called Mexican. Also, when people label their intention is often to stereotype, something that can be very dangerous when the stereotypes seem negative. I believe the word "Hispanic" is not YOUR word or MY word. It is just another word, a label.
Just as you argue that someone is stealing your term "Hispanic" someone else my argue you are stealing their term "Caucasian" or "Criollo." Also, you leave yourself open to argument when you don't clarify what you mean by the term "Indian."
Please, understand my interest in answering your question is merely to create a better understanding in our society. I don't wish to create arguments or divide people into categories. I ask the people in all of their respective "minority groups" as seen in the United States to also be cautious in the way they represent themselves. Be proud of who you are that is fine but do you have to do it in bad taste, with the gold and the flags everywhere? As I said earlier I belong to a group from the Caribbean. It pains me to see fellows from my own island behave in ways that are in bad taste, rude, loud and well, disrespectful. We are full of life, we like to party, yes that's fine but let's do it in good taste. What killed me the most was to have someone with my ancestry but that have never lived or even visited our island tell me I didn't "act" like I was from there. I was born and raised in that beautiful island. I still wonder how did she expect me to act? How does she think people act there? All I can say to this is that if you know one person from another culture do not assume that everyone in their country of origin acts the way they do. A Puerto Rican born and raised in Brooklyn, NY for example will have a different experience of the world from a Puerto Rican born and raised on the island. The same goes for a Mexican immigrant in the US. The farmer and illegal alien in the US will likely be different from many other Mexicans in say, Mexico City. An African American from an educated affluent family will likely behave and act different from an African American in an impoverished environment. This scene repeats itself, the one person we meet is likely not a specimen by which we can judge the rest of their group. Let's stop the stereotypes and lets end the labeling!
Sincerely,
A fellow human.

Answer 10

Because I was ignorant and didn't know better. Thanks!

My question is, where does someone learn something like that? Seriously, I don't want to offend people.