Are Latino people generally mixed race?

Question

Most Latino seem to be a mix of Native American, Spaniard and African ancestry. So why are they view as a separate instead of part of the Black or White race.

Good answers, thanks guys!

Answer 1

That is a good question. The answer is no. Since I am a Latino with (in my humble opinion) a fair bit of knowledge in regards to Latin American history I will attempt to answer your question. My father is from a small town southwest of Barcelona and my mother is originally from Jalisco Mexico.

The term Latino has not been defined by Latinos in the Anglo Saxon world. The Anglo-Americans used the term Latino as a catch all word for anyone who was south of the border. (I.E. Latin America) Know that in the manner in which the word Latino is used today it is not a race at all. You will find that when Latin American countries do their censuses they have no box for Latino. This is because the Leaders of your various Latin American countries know that the modern usage of the word Latino does not refer to an actual race.

The Romans (who were the founders of Latin) conquered the territory of what would one day be known as Spain. Upon the fall of the Roman Empire the native inhabitants of Spain would integrate Latin (the Language of their former occupiers) and primarily Gaelic. (the Language that was native to most of Spain though not all)

When Spain became a world power they colonized much of the known world. They (unlike the English) never brought their women in large numbers. Therefore basically all Spanish men who were to settle in the new world took for themselves Amerindian wives. The product of these unions would be known as Mestizos. (I.E. mixed.)

The introduction of African slaves makes the matter more complicated. There was abit of mixing with the slaves in certain areas. Obviously Spanish slave owners, and sailors would have copulated with the slavewomen to one degree or another.This mixing occurred primarily where there was a large concentration of African slaves. It is no coincidence that Brazil, along with the Caribbean provide Latin America with people who are virtually 100% ***** in terms of race.

I would ask the Author of this question a question. Is Opra Winfrey a Anglo Saxon? The answer is no obviously. Even though Winfrey is an English name, and she speaks English fluently as a first language no one is gonna mistake her for a Anglo.

Well the Same can be said about the vast majority of Jamaicans, haitians, dominicans, and many other people who are descendants of African slaves that are living in Latin America. They speak Spanish because that is the only language they have been taught. They have Spanish Surnames due to the fact that most took the name of their Spanish master upon being freed. (The same situation with the Last names in the United States).

In conclusion I will say that those of us who are routinely calssified as Latinos by the Anglos are actually either
1) White European Spanish Latino.
2) Mestizo= Half Latin (I.E. White Spanish)/Half Amerindian
3) African= Descendant of Africans brought to the new world to work.
4) Amerindian= Original native to the Americas.
5) Sambo= Half Amerind/Half African
Most of us from south of the U.S. border would more than likely be Mestizos.

I hope that helps answer your question Sir.

Answer 2

This is a great question--- and the answer is that race designations are arbitrary and just a means to categorize what is generally uncategorizable. Humans have a need to put things neatly into a box.

When you look at it that way so called American Blacks are all mixed too. There is not one of us that can say that we don't have a smidge of white blood in us-- some more than others for sure.

Answer 3

Latino is a very vague description.

Does it mean Spanish-speaking people?

Does it include people from Spain?

Does it also include Portugese-speaking people (e.g. Brazilians)?

Does it include people from Spanish-speaking (or Portugese-speaking) countries even if they don't speak Spanish (or Portugese)?

Does it matter what their ancestry is (e.g. if a Chinese baby is adopted by a Mexican family does the baby become Latino)?

I don't know the answers.

My gut feel is the word has little value as it attempts to lump people together whose differences (cultural, political, historical) far outweigh their similarities.

Answer 4

The think is that with the time we have being mixed once and again so many times that we are not a race anymore, we are just people and that's good, because it made us to have less prejudice again any race, we don't separate ourselves from color what is more that is what make us proud, the diversity! :)

Answer 5

Latino + Mestizo = hot race ;]

Answer 6

yes, I heard that in Mexico only 10% of the population is 100% full blooded native.

Answer 7

why do you want to mix them with anyone



they looks beautiful just let them separate otherwise everyone will call them self that I'm Latin specially chicks

Answer 8

Because, they are all mixed with the same thing (Indian,Black and Spanish), which enables them to form their own race.