Why do mexican immigrants say they are spanish when they are 99.99 percent indian?

Question

I found this rather strange considering how they always badmouth "gringroes". If you go to spain nobody looks mexican, everyone looks and acts "gringoe". Why do mexicans neglect who they really are (indians)?

The only ones with a majority of spanish blood are the soap opera stars and the uber rich. Everyone else is an INDIAN.

seems like all "mexican" (really aztec) answerers are neglecting who they really are.

I read an academic paper claiming "mexicans" actually have more indian blood than native americans in the USA. Why do mexicans neglect who they really are.

hmm, I am reading the countless denials Ive been talking about. (only proves my point). But no mexican seems to be answering my question. Why is it that when you travel to spain (believe me I have) everyone looks "gringoe". Nobody in spain looks "mexican". This implies that Spanish is not "mexican".

Rather, when you travel to an indian reservation in the USA everyone looks "mexican".

Answer 1

It's a good question. I have to laugh when some anglos refer to Antonio Banderas as Mexican, since he is from Milan. I also have to laugh when Indians and Meztizzos refer to themselves as Latinos. I guess it's for the same reasons many believe California is a disputed territory between Mexico and the U.S. Or why every undocumented immigrant I have a conversation with HATES white people but can't name a single bad thing a white person has ever done to them or any one they know.
Answer: that's what they were taught and they were taught wrong.
PS I'm anglo-portuguese. So what does this make me? ;-)

The link below shows the ethnology of Mexico. It's only 10% white, up to 40% native indian, and 50% or more mixed.

Answer 2

1) Most Mexicans I know don't badmouth "gringos." Rather, they are generally very kind people.

2) None of the Mexicans I know claim to be Spanish. Rather, they claim to be just what they are, Mexicans, or Spanish speakers (much like I claim to be both an American and an English speaker). What I find strange is how we use the term "Mexican" to describe American born children with Mexican parents. Shouldn't they more appropriately be called Americans?

3) Some Mexicans have 100% European ancestry; while others have a large proportion of Native ancestry. Stereotyping all Mexicans as 99.99 percent Indian is as naive as saying all Americans are white.

Answer 3

It's American people who call Spanish to everyone who speaks that language. It's the same than if people called "English" to an American just because they speak English.

Mexicans or any other Latin American people would NEVER call themselves Spanish in Spanish.

It's your own ignorance.
Just like with the word Latin. Even Spaniards call Latin American people as "Latins" in a diminishing way... even though they are Latin too!
(Latin America is "Latin" because it was conquered by Spain and Portugal, which are Latin countries since they have languages based on Latin. And people in Latin European countries are NOT "gringos").

Latin America is a mix of the European and the native Indian culture and blood. Nobody denies that.
On the contrary, Mexican people are very proud of their indigenous heritage.
You are the only racist here.

Actually, you have to be really ignorant if you expected to find "Mexican-looking" people in Spain... HAHAHA!!!!... And if you think that Native Americans look "Mexican"... and that Spaniards are "gringos"... HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! LOL
You really have a problem. You don't know the difference between a race, a language, a culture, the history of a country... anything!
Get some education and then come back, please.

Answer 4

For almost three thousand years, Mesoamerica was the site of several advanced Amerindian civilizations such as the Olmec, the Maya and the Aztecs. In 1519, the native civilizations of what now is known as Mexico were invaded by Spain; this was one of the most important conquest campaigns in America. Two years later in 1521, the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was conquered by an alliance between Spanish and Tlaxcaltecs, the main enemies of the Aztecs, setting up a three-century colonial rule in Mexico. The viceroyalty of New Spain became the first and largest provider of resources for the Spanish Empire, and the most populated of all Spanish colonies. On September 16, 1810, independence from Spain was declared by Miguel Hidalgo in the small town of Dolores, causing a long war that eventually led to recognized independence in 1821 and the creation of an ephemeral First Mexican Empire...


(basically, because of the Spanish Invasion, most modern Mexicans have Spanish or half-Spanish blood)

Answer 5

your question is about how they look or how they are???
Mexicans are not spanish, they are Mexicans. is a mix of indian blood with others. I never hear such idea, maybe because THEY NEVER SAY THAT. probably you trying to said that mexicans are very close to their social and demoraphic environment and they are no acting like "gringos". but if you want to find "gringmexicans" well, just go down to Mexico (different places not just Tijuana) and you might be surprised for their appearance and similitude with american culture. never less; NOT ALL SPANISH SPEAKERS look the same...like Argentinians do not look like Paraguayans right? or Peruvians and Venezuelans? or Brazilians with Colombians?? all matter is how you want to see a group.

PS. gringos is mostly used as short word for Americans, they are lazy to say the whole word.

Answer 6

And what scientific test have you done on all of these people to prove that they are 99.99% 'Indian'? Did you know that there are actually a good number of 'blue eyed blonde' MEXICANS? I have never heard any 'Mexican born person' claim to be 'Spanish' by the way ... but I have heard a German claim first to be 'Swiss' and then 'Rumanian' before he admitted he was born in Berlin right after the end of WWII. People may say that they belong to a 'different culture' than the one they actually come from for many reasons, and most of the time those are 'very good reasons' ... so you should 'quit griping' and learn to accept a person as whatever he says he is.

Answer 7

Wow, what a ignorant and arrogant "blanket" statement...
Where do you have any proof that "Mexican immigrants say they are Spanish and not "Indian"? Where do you get your 99.99 figure?
I know of many, many Mexicans that are very aware and proud of their heritage and there are many people from Mexico that do indeed have Spanish ancestry and more than .01%...BTW you really need to check yourself on the immigrant label, both the Mexicans and Indians were here long, long time before the "gringos" were....
They are not the immigrants, the gringos are.

Answer 8

Yes I am a Mexican and No I am not Indian. An Indian is someone from the country of India. I think what you meant to say is that we are mestizo which is a mix of Spanish and native American. So yeah I am Mestizo you can tell just by looking at my skin color. When somebody asks me if I am Spanish because I am from Latin America or because I speak Spanish I say NO I am Mexican. I, like most of my paisanos, am very proud of who I am, of my heritage, of my beautiful skin color.

Does my answer satisfy you or need I explain further?

Answer 9

Mexican people were created in 1511 by the mestizaje of the Aztec people and the conquistadors from Spain. contrary to what you say..... Mexicans come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. To say that most have more indigenous blood than white blood is just stupid since you are not a bio-geneticists!!!!!

most Mexicans are darker because indigenous features are dominant to "white" features...... if a white person and a brown person have a child.... most of the time... the darker features are carried over to the children..... it's simple genetics and who has the dominant gene.....

if, we mexicans, were indian as you say..... we wouldn't speak spanish or follow catholiscism.... instead i would be speaking natuatl and praying to quetzacoatl and huitzlipoatzli!!!!!!

Mexicans don't want to be Spanish....... we are very proud of both our indigenous and our European roots.....

and you are 99.99% full of it!!!!!

Answer 10

My grandpa was full blood Muskogee Creek Indian. He was born in Okmulgee OK, and my mom is half, born in Hanna OK. I don't appreciate you saying my family is mexican. They're not, and you can certainly tell an Indian from a mexican! My grand dad never grew hair on his face. You need to re-educate yourself. A mexican comes from MEXICO, and an Indian is native to AMERICA! Like I said, re-educate yourself, and stop insulting Native AMERICANS.