how are Italian people considered white?

Question

Look up the name "Gia Carangi" on yahoo. She is Italian and by U.S. census, is "white". but does she even look white? How is Italian considered white?

Answer 1

The problem is that in the USA, we are brain washed to see
people by appearance/color. Most other countries refer to
people by their nationality. If you are from Pakistan, you are
pakistanis, Egypt- egyptian, Ireland- Irish, Rhodesia - rhodesian
Korea- korean, you get the point. There is no country of Caucasia or any country that would derive people as oriental
hispanic or negro. Most of this nomenclature was derived in the
days of ignorance and arrogance toward diversity. I'm not saying
that other countries don't carry prejudices or faults regarding
so called racial variations. But I believe that since we are a
unique country with various immigants, this has led to a unique
problems. And by the way, the question whether Mulatto is a
derogatory term is a no brainer. Yes it was intended to be
derogatory from the start. Similar terms were used with Native
Americans and Euro-american settlers.( Half Breed) These
terms were used exclusively to delineate or extracate these
people from upward mobility, by identifying them as ( they
are not white and don't belong in "American Culture".

Answer 2

Italians have some varying physical characteristics, a fact that may result from the ancient settlement of the peninsula by ethnically different peoples other than the original native Italic tribes such as Latins and Africans. There is a notable physical difference in complexion and general height between the upper northern third of Italy and the southern part of the country. Northern Italians generally have somewhat fairer complexions similar to central Europeans, as well as a higher frequency of light hair and eyes, whereas most southern Italians have darker features. Due to regular population movements, the differences are not stark or pronounced, but do indeed exist, and correspond to the ancient Italic, Celtic and Greco-Etruscan settlements rather than the various later invasions of Germanic tribes.

Answer 3

well Italians are European therefore white. What happened in Italy is what happened to most Mediterranean countries or countries bordering with the Mediterranean sea the weather changes in southern Europe its warmer unlike the cold norther Europe and white people adapt to the weather that is why southern Europeans have dark hair and features also some are darker because they might have middle east blood in them sense Italians traded a lot with them some might have mix after all the trading started the Renascence

Answer 4

Because majority of Italians ( pure roman Italians) are white.......

Answer 5

I had an earlier question similar to this one. Why people who are not american but are light skin can call themselves white. Honestly the Italians that I know dont call themselves white. They say that they are not cowards (thats them not me) and like i said before-people say that anyone with light skin is white -but then how come an asian or a light skin hispanic cant call themeselves white

Answer 6

People sometimes confuse race or ethnicity with skin color. Italians may be considered Caucasian but not necessarily white skinned. There are many Asians (mongoloid) that are as black as a plastic telephone, but they are not Negro. And, there are many Negros who are not black.Skin color as a general rule can be a guide to race, but not in every case.

Answer 7

I guess european is considered white, in general. ALso the italians from north italy do have blonde hair and blue eyes, while the ones south, especially in sardinia and scicily look latinish or are darker.

Answer 8

look my dad is italian hes white.skin color or hair sometimes cant prove a person race. sometimes a person doesnt look like a race to be a race. by the way italian men r cute

Answer 9

I'm Italian and i wonder the same thing. my husband is Greek and he is too. right? who comes up with this stuff. they're just trying to narrow down their list

Answer 10

People of European dissent are Caucasion which has most people think of as being white.