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Just wondering. I've seen a few forums where African-Americans have discussed their experiences traveling around Europe, but I've never seen any reports from American nationals who are Hispanic. I know "Hispanic" is not a race and there are white and black Hispanics, but for the purposes of this post, I'm referring to mestizos whose ancestors came from places like Mexico, El Salvador, or Colombia.
I'm curious to hear from any Mexican-Americans who've spent time in Europe, particularly Spain. I know that there are a lot of Latin American immigrants in Spain now and they face racism. Do the locals see you as another "Latin American" or do they see you as a US national first and a non-white person second?
Also, most of northern and western Europe does not have much of a "Hispanic" population but they have lots of Middle Easterners. Do you often get mistaken for Middle Eastern when you're in countries like the UK, France and Germany? Or do they recognize you as American first?
Until quite recently, all Hispanics around here where white, most were Spanish "returnees". No problem whatsoever.
As to the ones that are mixed that arrived during the last 10 years, at first there was certain rebuttal and in certain areas they are a problem because of ghettos and gangs, but for the most part, let's say for 99 percent of all the cases, no problem whatsoever. After all, they speak Spanish and they are Catholics, they don't want to blow you apart.
As to Mexicans, there's no Mexicans in Spain. The Mexicans in Spain are usually white Spaniards from there and they are rich, very rich. I've met some not white Mexicans around, but they are well off, no problem. Mexicans are quite friendly people. Many are into the Mexican food business and the sector is thriving here.
I don't think that Hispanics are confused by Middle Easteners in Northern Europe. They don't have any problem. The problem there lies with Muslims.
Just to make my point very clear, I'm not asking about Hispanic immigrants living in Spain. I'm asking about American Hispanics, specifically mestizos, who visit Spain and other parts of Europe as tourists.
They are just tourists. When we see a bunch of Americans, we don't distinguish among mestizos, Jews, fatsos or whatever. We don't care about race, only about money and manners.
Leovigildo.
First of all, I know many Mexicans (dark skinned and light skinned) that now live in Madrid and Barcelona.
senzuri, I am from Brazil so maybe you are not looking for my opinion but yes, in Spain I was treated so well...People I met there referred to me as their Brazilian friend from America. Many would omit the America bit and just say Brazilian.
The Scandinavian countries people envied my skin color (tan?). Although, in other countries like, France, Italy and Germany; unless I made an effort to show I am from South America, most thought I was another middle eastern.
Also I am American (u.s.) and I told people when ever they asked but they still considered me/introduced me as Brazilian and not American.
Also, when I was 17ish I was in Oslo, Norway for the first time. My Norwegian skills were horrible at that time and I was lost so I found a random guy who I just in case, asked, Você fala português?? hables espanol? Sure enough.... he spoke spanish and was from Mexico and grew up in Norway.
I would not say there is a huge population but we are there. My Brazilian friend married and moved to Norway a couple years back and she now hangs out with mostly Mexicans, Colombians and Brazilians.
Until quite recently, all Hispanics around here where white, most were Spanish "returnees". No problem whatsoever.
There are plenty of Mestizos and Mulatos that emigrated to Spain after Franco's regime in 75'. I know a lot of Colombians, Venezuelans, and Dominicans that moved to Spain in the late 70's and early 80's
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leovigildo
As to the ones that are mixed that arrived during the last 10 years, at first there was certain rebuttal and in certain areas they are a problem because of ghettos and gangs, but for the most part, let's say for 99 percent of all the cases, no problem whatsoever. After all, they speak Spanish and they are Catholics, they don't want to blow you apart.
There is a huge amount of tension in Spain (racial discrimination) as a result of the apparent invasion of citizens from the former colonies. In fact, the name SUDACA (similar to N.i.g.g.e.r or spics in the U.S.) is a despective or derogatory name given to all Hispanics moving to Spain. You can read horror stories in a forum called www.mequieroir.com . This a web-site of South Americans moving legally to Spain. The problem is so huge that even those sons and daughters of Spaniards returning to Spain because of the economics conditions are confronted with the same ordeal as Mestizos y Mulatos.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leovigildo
As to Mexicans, there's no Mexicans in Spain. The Mexicans in Spain are usually white Spaniards from there and they are rich, very rich. I've met some not white Mexicans around, but they are well off, no problem. Mexicans are quite friendly people. Many are into the Mexican food business and the sector is thriving here.
There are plenty of Mexicans all over Spain, from Andalucia to Galicia and Euskadi. Maybe you have confused them with the millions of Peruvians, Ecuadorians, and other Central Americans because of their Amerindian features.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leovigildo
I don't think that Hispanics are confused by Middle Easteners in Northern Europe. They don't have any problem. The problem there lies with Muslims.
I agree, and I must add that despite the increasing of opposition to Hispanics moving to Spain, it will never get to the level of hatred that most Spaniards feel towards Moors "Los Moros", especially Marroquians.
Years of indoctrination of many hispanics as being the RACE or the "La Raza" will stir up tension where ever you go! I surely see that attitude here in the US, it should be the same for the cultured europeans. IMO that attitude and hangover is gotta go because it brings up allot of negativity to many hispanics.
There are millions of Latins in Spain, many illegal. Most are pure Indians or Blacks (Ecuatorians, Dominicans, Bolivians). They live peacefully in Spain and they are appreciated for their work. I employ a Bolivian woman to take care of my mother, and another Bolivian (both pure Indians) painted and fixed my house.
Of course they might have confronted problems, but not more that the problems faced by Andalusians here in Catalonia. Their biggest problem is "papers". Another problem is that Ecuatorians, Bolivians, etc, come with many children and live in crampered quarters and they are always in the streets, sometimes they form gangs, etc.
Here, in Catalonia, the only problem with Hispanics is that they speak Spanish, and some view them as another "Spanish invasion", but they learn Catalan fast (faster than immgrants from Spain).
As to Argentinians, they don't have any problem whatsoever. They own restaurants, shops, etc. There are also many (a lot) Argentinean and Cuban doctors.
No, almost no Mexicans in Spain (I live here). No La Raza stuff here, that's Mexican stuff and there are no Mexicans here. The only Mexicans I know are Spanish that lived there or tourist, mostly Spanish from Mexico. The Spanish living in Mexico own posh houses and entire towns in Asturias and Galicia.
As a general rule, the Hispanic immigration to Catalonia, Basque country and Madrid has provoked far less problems that the interior immigration from rural Spain to the cities experienced during the 60s.
Now many immigrants are unemployed, so many are returning. Most immigrants worked in the construction sector, and the construction sector is in bad shape.
There are plenty of Mestizos and Mulatos that emigrated to Spain after Franco's regime in 75'. I know a lot of Colombians, Venezuelans, and Dominicans that moved to Spain in the late 70's and early 80's
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No way... We were flooded with Argentineans, Uruguayans and Chileans from 1977 to 1985 or so. Those immigrants were very bad, many were criminals (not political refugees) kicked by the dictators in those countries. They provoked many problems and a bad rep for other Hispanics.
Before the arrival of the "Fake Desaparecidos", Hispanics had a good rep in Spain.
Argentineans and Uruguayans arriving during the last 15 to 20 years are OK, nice people, professionals. Now they are well received in Spain.
No Dominicans, just a few went to work as maids in Madrid.
There are millions of Latins in Spain, many illegal. Most are pure Indians or Blacks (Ecuatorians, Dominicans, Bolivians). They live peacefully in Spain and they are appreciated for their work. I employ a Bolivian woman to take care of my mother, and another Bolivian (both pure Indians) painted and fixed my house.
Of course they might have confronted problems, but not more that the problems faced by Andalusians here in Catalonia. Their biggest problem is "papers". Another problem is that Ecuatorians, Bolivians, etc, come with many children and live in crampered quarters and they are always in the streets, sometimes they form gangs, etc.
Here, in Catalonia, the only problem with Hispanics is that they speak Spanish, and some view them as another "Spanish invasion", but they learn Catalan fast (faster than immgrants from Spain).
As to Argentinians, they don't have any problem whatsoever. They own restaurants, shops, etc. There are also many (a lot) Argentinean and Cuban doctors.
No, almost no Mexicans in Spain (I live here). No La Raza stuff here, that's Mexican stuff and there are no Mexicans here. The only Mexicans I know are Spanish that lived there or tourist, mostly Spanish from Mexico. The Spanish living in Mexico own posh houses and entire towns in Asturias and Galicia.
As a general rule, the Hispanic immigration to Catalonia, Basque country and Madrid has provoked far less problems that the interior immigration from rural Spain to the cities experienced during the 60s.
Now many immigrants are unemployed, so many are returning. Most immigrants worked in the construction sector, and the construction sector is in bad shape.
Here, in my town, we have an Andalusian ghetto on the wrong side of the track, some Hispanics live there, but most are "spread out".
There's a lot of mixed couples with non-white Hispanics.
I'd say that the integration of Hispanics in Spain is a sucess, mostly in the countryside where they are needed since all that area is depopulated.
I hope they DON'T VOTE SOCIALIST in the future, but that's too much asking.
Let's just agree to disagree, but Spain has plenty of Mexican nationals all over the country. Of course, the amount of Mexicans in Spain are nowhere near of Ecuadorians, Colombians, or Venezuelans.
There is a huge discrimination problem, whether you want to admit it or not. I'm sure you know what the word Sudaca means huh? Well, they won't come up with these type of derogatory words just for fun right? The integration of Hispanics is not a success. Before the construction burst, most Hispanics were either moving to other European countries or returning to their countries of origins because of discrimination. By the way, the numbers of Mexicans in Spain, which according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Española reaches the amount of 15,000, does not include Mexican national that arrived in España with European passport under the " Ley de la Memoria Historica" which grants Spanish nationality of origin for those not born in Spain and whose father, mother, grand father, or grand mother who lost or had given up Spanish nationality.
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