Why do some hispanics see themselves as a "race" here in the USA?

Question

I noticed many hispanics, specifically some proud Mexican-Americans living in the USA as well as other latinos, see themselves as their own "race".

Now I know hispanic is a cultural term for somebody FROM a spanish-speaking country or of that origin/heritage, but why don't most of them seem to realize that SOME of their roots are european in origin (spaniard blood) as well as their language which originated from europe/latin dialect.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be proud of their skin and native heritage (they should), but rather than hold an animosity towards white hispanics, spain spanish (which i heard they can be bad too so i'm not taking sides) and white people in general, why can't they learn to open up and get along with them a little more?

I know some white people are hostile, but i see more of it come from latins here in America, including from white-hispanics who think because they have the hispanic label that doesn't make them caucasian?

I know the term of hispanic race CAME from white america, but why can't we move past it already?

And the "brown" skin thing. I know there are plenty of hispanics who have brown skin but the are hispanics with pale, olive, tan complexions too and they are barely recognized or all lumped in "one category".

Having a vast racial mixture and community, I would think many hispanics would know better to not separate given the various appearances and cultures and racial backgrounds.

Answer 1

MMM i think hispanics, mexican specially see us like a race, because many white people see us like that.

If latin people go there, many people (not all) usually do a classification of us, i don´t know if you can understand my point because my english it´s not so good. All it´s about races and colors: black people, white people, latin people, chinese people, etc. I think you should be proud of have many cultures living in your country, all should be able to get along and learn many things each other.

And the mexican aren´t very close, we are open i think, in Mexico it´s that way. Chinese people it´s a culture more close than mexican and other, i´m tell you that because i know
chinese people, i have friends.

I´m mexican and i´m proud of both sides of my origins, natives and european, and i´m proud of my language too.

Answer 2

I agree with the first answerer, race is not something that can be defined in absolute terms.

But your question seems to be more along the lines of why don't minorities (Hispanics in this case) try harder to integrate with the majority (Whites in this case).

I don't know the exact answer, but I would venture to say that minorities everywhere have a similar experience. Christians in Lebanon, Palestinians in Israel, Kurds in Iraq and Turkey, Serbs, Croats and Muslims in Bosnia Herzegovina, Hispanics in America, Blacks in America, I mean the list goes on. You have China Town, Little Italy in major cities. You even have other minorities and majorities separated based on things other than race. In many parts of Utah non-mormons are the minority, but go back a few hundred years and it was the minority mormons in the east that had the reverse problem. Christians living in Muslim countires, Muslims living in Christian countries.

Yeah sure it would be great if we all tried to integrate and yeah certain groups should try harder at it. But singling out Hispanics in America is a particularly bad example I think. Many hispanics have thrived here opening up businesses, taking lots of lower level jobs in cleaning, landscape, waiting tables, manual labor, etc. I think the hispanics are integrating at an astounding rate. For a contrast look at the long road to quasi-integration with the Black community. That time it was the Majorities fault no doubt, so it goes both ways.

Not really an answer, but something to think about.

Answer 3

In my experience growing up here in the grand old US of A, until recently there wasn't very much recognition of other ethnic groups and their culture and languages. Until these people demanded equal rights to be citizens and continue to maintain their own culture at the same time, they were expected to either speak English or forget about having an equal opportunity to such things as government assistance, education, etc...

If I belonged to a minority who wanted to be treated as the American citizen I was, I think I would use whatever term was available to get what was deserved for my people. When the race card is pulled, is amazing how fast people start backtracking and doing what they should have been doing to begin with, such as providing services such as interpreters, forms in Spanish, etc. so that the term racist will not be applied.

Regardless of whether they are truly a race or not, it is sad that until that word was brought up they were basically told to conform or do without.

Answer 4

hispanic is more of a culture than a race. more of the cultural/traditional beliefs you all have. because hispanics come in all shades and flavors. light to dark. a long time ago. hispanics used to be listed as white. but things changed. interesting question. hispanic isn't a race but an ethnicity, with culture, various religions, and skin colors. ya know.

Answer 5

It's a complex issue.
To add to your comments in Latin American countries the whites classify as so.
The brown -olive skin people are considered mestizo; indian or "raza".

A new classification of race in the US ? Delete Latino & Hispanic.

Answer 6

Race is a social construct. It's not something you can define objectively. Therefore it is whatever one wants it to be. If said hispanics (another construct) feel themselves to be a distinct race then by definition they are a distinct race.

Answer 7

tooo looooooonnnnnnggggggggg. We have short attention spans here dont you know were not trying to read a book.