Am I Mexican, Hispanic, Chicana, or Latina?

Question

Every time someone asks me what I am, as in regards to race/ethnicity, I am a little confused. Nowadays, people can choose who they want to be with out really having any backing to their argument. I was born here in America and so were my parents, their parents, and theirs. So what would you say that makes me. Hispanic would mean I'm from Hispania, no? Mexican would mean I'm from Mexico and I'm not even though my ancestors probably were. Am I latina? Is chicano/a a person of latin decent who lives in Chicago? What are you opinions and what do you refer to yourself as?

Answer 1

Just say you're american

Answer 2

I would say that you are US American.
I agree with you on the Hispanic and Mexican points.

No one is Latin. Latin is an ancient language that was spoken by the Romans and is currently used by the scientific community and the Roman Catholic church. A person can't be latin. There is no physical place called latin.

I've never heard a clear definition of chicano, even from a person who I thought would know (she was a graduate from Berkeley in ethnic studies.) But I know it's not a person who lives in Chicago with Spanish speaking ancestory.

So many people have immigrated to this country from everywhere on the Earth. Since you personally didn't immigrate that makes you a native citizen of the USA.

Let's put it another way, if you were anything else you'd know, just like someone who immigrates here from say, France knows they're French. Five generations later that person's decendends who are in the USA are not French. If a decendent went to France and claimed to be French they'd be laughed at because they were not born in France or even raised with French customs.

I refer to myself as American though I acknowledge my mixed ancestory in the right situations. Also I'm a registered Native American, so some of my ancestors were clearly here first.

Answer 3

Chicana Mexico

Answer 4

I think that you can choose any of those, except for Mexican:

1. Mexican - reserved for people born and/or living in Mexico. However, you can call yourself a Mexican American to express both cultures (I am Korean American and refer to myself as such).

2. Hispanic - you are this, too. However, some do not like this label because it stresses the European ancestry (Hispania - Spain) with no emphasis on the indigenous Mexican Indian ancestry.

3. Latina - similar to the above, with slightly more emphasis on Indian ancestry. Latina comes from Latin American, emphasizing European (Latin) ancestry, and, somewhat, local ancestry (American - a Euro wording for this region).

4. Chicana - this term was really brought out in the 1960s rights movements. I'm not sure of its origins, but its supposed to take the stress off of European ancestry.

Choose as you wish!

Answer 5

I think you can call yourself whatever you want, but I don't think you should worry too much because labeling yourself shouldn't be your biggest priority. Some people don't like to be called Hispanic because it means having to do with Spain. There have been arguments made against using Latino, but I don't remember what they are. Probably the most socially accepted would be Mexican-American, but some people don't like that label either. Chicano/a does not mean you are from Chicago, it has nothing to do with that. It is a word that some Mexican-Americans use to say they have Mexican heritage but do not want to assimilate into American culture and lose their own culture. hope that helps. you can look this stuff up on the internet, there are lots of sites that have arguments on this stuff

Answer 6

The different races used by the US government are Black, White, Native American, and Asian.
Race is dependent on where your first ancestors were born.
Really there is no proof for that either. To claim benefits you need some proof.
For ethnic groups, each one has their own rules. Hispanic, Chicana, Latina usually should have some Spanish roots and Native American roots. But every region (Asia, India, Britain, US, South America) has different rules for each ethnic group. It's very interesting but really no solid answer.
Just be proud of who you are and respect everyone else.

Answer 7

You would be considered Hispanic/Latina. If you were a "Mexican-American" then you would have Mexican and American citizenship, which doesn't sound like the case. Many Americans call themselves Irish, French, Italian but they're really American (with Irish, French, or Italian ancestry/heritage).

Answer 8

I'm in same boat as you. My family is of Mexican heritage but has been here in the US since CA, TX etc were still Mexico. (Talk about being robbed! Ha ha ha)

Latina will cover you. Hispanic is an old school word used to glorify the Spaniard culture that some old school Latinos loved to claim. ( I guess they thought it was more glamorous than being cool with our indigena roots.) It was also a term the US govt came up with. Chicana refers to someone of Mexican ancestry living in the US with acknowledgement of being bicultural and the civil rights movement that Latinos went through also.

If you ask Mexicans..they will say that using Mexican-American means you were born in Mexico but now reside/have citizenship here.

Oh labels!! I hear ya! I personally like Chicana because it acknowledges the civil rights movement that my family was active in. Old school people might not like that word because it sounds like slang..but it has a new meaning now that was formed in the 60's.

Answer 9

You are what you want to be but from what you say it sounds like you are just american from latin descent. Latino is someone who was actually born in south america. Hispanic is someone born in a spanish speaking country. Chicana is someone born in Mexico City. I am mexican myself. hope this helps.

Answer 10

Honestly, I'm a Latin American born and living in Latin America. I hate how people in the US talk about the US-born people of Latin American ancestry as if they're Latin Americans. You're an yankee, ok? In which army do you fight? When US invades Mexico in which army will you be fighting? You're yankee, lets stop with this stupid latino label, Latin American/latino, whatever, is not a race or ethnicity. If they ask your race say you're of mixed race.

Answer 11

noooo Hispanics are people that speak Spanish and are not from Spain!!! Spaniards are Europeans! It sounds better if you said Hispanic or Latina Chicana sounds a bit to vulgar to me.