Hispanic/latin image and stereotype?

Question

Today a friend and I were in Burger King (I'm part Puerto Rican/rest European mutt, my friend full PR) and this guy overhears us talking to each other in Spanish and he started talking to us acting all "surprised".

According to him, he thought we were just "American" and was especially shocked of the thought of me having latin heritage (just because I have white skin, brown hair and light eyes). The guy was South American, do they all think that they are the only latinos or that all hispanics either are immigrants or indigenous amerindian?

And people say white people stereotype latinos and people who have latin blood and are white or black, but honestly I think its the ignorant South Americans/Mexicans who are even more uneducated about it. They don't realize that their language COMES from Europe and that its totally possible to be white (like me) or black and STILL be hispanic.

So why do people still have this image of a dark featured and skinned mestizo as the only latin

"people/race" out there?

I'm mostly white save for some mulatto blood, but I still have latino in me because of my name/surname (which people still haven't miraculously figured out) and my father's side is mostly of latin heritage.

When will people get that there ARE white hispanics and black hispanics and Mexicans/Mestizos are not the only latins out there? That includes Italians and Portugese (who are not hispanic or LATINO, but are latin because their languge derives from it).

My real question should be asking why are most Mexicans and South Americans so ignorant?

Yes I'm American, its just Mexicans and South Americans typecast them as all being white

Marian E- I apologize for any offensive statements, but that's my experience from most South Americans/Mexicans.

Answer 1

Ignorance I get it all the time...I learned spanish from my mom but I am second generation so if I make an error people try to base if you are spanish if you make a spelling error when writeing spanish...or how you look..On my webpage there are black blue dominicans to white blonde haired ones and Mexicans and south americans think we speak portugese and are from Brazil...that never makes sense to me?? Do they watch baseball....alot of my mexican friends have never heard of David Big Papi Ortiz...Im like ya know the guy that won the world series for Boston??

I dont think my friend meant to say all Mexicans are ignorant but a great deal in North Carolina are very ignorant of Puerto Rican and Dominican culture and dont know that even in Velacruz there are black Mexicans they say there is no Blacks in Mexico and this is simply not true...My friends that are Mexican even say that these folks are uneducated and ignorant but they arent everyone. Some Mexicans are very nice though and thank god they are here...if you ever break down on the side of the road most times a Mexican will be the first one to stop and help.

Answer 2

there are too many countries / complexities to know where everyone is from. most people make a visual sort of categorization. you would see appearance first and then categorize black, white, asian or hispanic. then when they speak you may get more clues but not always. people can speak one or more language perfectly and you could not detect it was not their primary native language. the question is ARE YOU AMERICAN ? does latin heritage make you less american ? Americans can be native or have immigrated here legally. You could be an American and another citizen, such as Israeli and Irish. PR is American. Why do PR's think they are PR ? Most people from other territories or states , such as St. Thomas or Florida would classify themself as an American. You would not really identify /categorize yourself as I'm on Ohio an or I'm a Tennessee AN.

Answer 3

You sounded very deep at the beginning...
but now you are sterotyping as well!!

Im a "white educated mexican"....
And I founded quite offensive your statement about that mexicans are ignorant!!

But to clirify this concept, you should know a very important fact:
In my country education is about "social levels"
Mexico is a great country and is rich in culture...
unfortunatly our people do not have the same education possibilities as american or europeans...

Middle class in Mexico is not as common as in America! therefore in order to have a good education you have to go to private/expesive schools...
Obviously the low class people cant afford it ,
or even consider it!
So they dont have your "view of the world",

But let me tell you something: Mexicans are incredibley hard workers, thats why the go to the States in search of better jobs and opportunities...
Mexicans are also warm people. As you might realized today at Burger King; the mexican guy heared you talking in spanish and instantly camed up to you to start a conversation....!!
Not every culture is as "open" and eassy going as mexicans!!

So, if that guy`s comment, was offensive in some kind of way, forgive him and understand why he thinks like that...

Dont make conclusions about Mexico or any other country, just for a bad experience with ONE of it`s citizens!

Answer 4

i can relate to all of your questions. a lot of people discriminate because they are puppets and they don't know better. people think i'm hispanic and i'm light skinned curly haired and black. so needless to say people make assumptions because they want to be comfortable. people put people in categories to feel comfortable. you do you, and don't worry about the ignorant people. ignorant people run the world. that's why we have so many problems, stereotypes, discrimination, the works. you do you, and you brush them off. stereotypes are almost always negative when it comes to blacks and latinos. its messed up. but all you have to do is show them up. you are not a stereotype or statistic, you are whoever you want to be. you are intelligent, strong, and beautiful. so let the haters drown in their own self hate. they don't know you like you know you. people stereotype because they don't know how to open their minds to new things. its their problem. not yours. btw i love all your questions. quite brilliant.

Answer 5

I guess you could say w/all the races mixin it up like me hey I'm Jewish my Husband god rest his soul was PR we had 4 children 3 came out light skinned but thats the big melting pot. pl are very steriotipical I hoped I spelled that right take pride in your heritage. don't worry about other ppl u know who u are maybe he was just curious.

Answer 6

You know i went to Mexico once (from the UK)

The Mexicans all told me " this is your home and we are your friends" and you know what it felt like they meant it.

Only good experiences of Mexican people.

PS i, m glad you apologised to mariansu..

Answer 7

here here !
i understand your point but there isnt much to answer
your question sounds rhetorical unless you want to debate

Answer 8

Because they are ignorant.

Answer 9

You as guilty of stereotyping as they are.