I've noticed that Americans and Canadians in Mexico proudly call themselves 'gringo', while most Americans in America consider 'gringo' to be extremely derogatory. Is it like the n-word, where its OK as long as its white people calling each other 'gringo'? And what about 'pocho'...I always want to use that on Chicanos who can't speak Spanish (talk about uncultured), but I think only Mexicans in Mexico can get away with using that word. By the way, are Black Americans gringos too?
2007-01-27 05:43:46 · 16 answers · asked by Baddest_Bandulu 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Like any word with racial overtones- it's the intent behind the usage.
It seems the rule that someone can call themselves the derogatory name, but they will pummel anyone outside their skin tone if they dare to use the same word.
As a gringa myself in a land full of Latins, I will sometimes refer to myself in a mocking way.
as in "I gringaized that word when I spoke Spanish"
Or "He said my last name like a gringo"
(I have a Hispanic last name)
HOWEVER- When my husbands white stepfather married his Hispanic Mother, her relatives spoke in hushed Spanish around him, with the words "blanco" and "gringo" peppering the conversation.
I dint' think they were meant in very good faith.
It's intent- pure and simple. We will automatically assume that anyone that is not "US" the word is backup up with hate.
2007-01-27 05:55:11 · answer #1 · answered by There you are∫ 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's a matter of opinion I think. Technically, it only means "someone who is not from around here" or "someone that tries to speak our language." It's slang for foreigner I guess. It's like here in the US. You can call someone a wimp or you could call them a fruit. A fruit is actually a food. I hope you get where I'm going. But usually gringo is a work used by Mexican people. It is all in the way that they are meaning to say it. It could be like a black person calling a girl a "white girl" because she doesn't understand their jokes. But she knows they're only kidding bc of the way they said it. It could also be used as derogatory or mean. A gringo could be anyone, black, white, green, whatever.
2007-01-27 05:54:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Gringo is a slang term to identify people from the U.S. The term Gringo is a corrupted term of Green-coats. During the Spanish-American war, U.S. soldiers used green coats as part of the uniform. As you can see, the Spanish would yell, "the green coats are coming." Hence the illiterates would hear it as Grinco, or Gringo. The name stuck.
Same goes for the N-word, or ******. The Black Africans from the country of Niger, were called "nigers", but with the "i" pronounced like "bit." Again, the illiterate portion of the white population continued to use this term for the black slave.
Same reasoning can be used for many last names of people.
So, is the word "gringo" racist? Not really, but depends on who you ask.
2007-01-27 06:21:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
"Gringo" is not a derogatory word, Mexicans use it to describe a person who does not speak Spanish and that is from the US or Can. However the TRUE definition of the word is a person who has blonde hair and blue eyes.
2007-01-27 05:48:35 · answer #4 · answered by Specter 3 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Is Gringo A Racial Slur
2017-01-18 03:06:45 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
gringo is not a racist word. its just a word to describe a white person. like latino for hispanics or moreno for african/african americans. and mexicans arent the only hispanics that use the word gringo, some puerto ricans and people from other latin countries use it as well.
2007-01-27 06:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Gringo has never been a derogatory word in South America. In fact, it's almost a compliment. Gringo basically means "Westerner". So yes, black Americans are gringos. Why Americans think it is derogatory says a lot, I think, about American ignorance of latino culture. Believe me, latinos have much harsher words for Westerners if they want to be derogatory.
2007-01-27 05:52:52 · answer #7 · answered by Beige Lantern 3 · 6⤊ 7⤋
As proven time and time again that in fact there are no racist terms that are not fare to call us white middle class people.
God help us if we call anybody anything other than maybe (them) or (some other people). We however must not just tolerate any and all terms, we must do so with a smile.
2007-01-27 05:54:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word, "gringo" is not racist. Words aren't racist, people are.
2007-01-27 05:52:22 · answer #9 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 6⤊ 5⤋
Gringo or Gringa is for a white person. I've used it before and I didn't care either! Just like they don't care when they call us nigggers! Black Americans are not gringos because they aren't white! And for white people who call themselves that are el stupido because they're saying things are disrespectful to themselves!
2007-01-27 05:47:34 · answer #10 · answered by Trini-HaitianGrl81 5 · 1⤊ 11⤋