Will Hispanics become a racial group? (married, illegal immigration, law, American)

[Benicar]

Originally Posted by crisp444

Latin Americans understand that they are people from the New World (just like Americans from the United States) and that they pertain to no special race by virtue of being from a Spanish-speaking country. It is largely Hispanic-AMERICANS (overwhelmingly of Mexican-American extraction) who try to equate "Hispanic" with race. Most Hispanic people know very well that they are white, black, indigenous/Asian, or a mix of one or more of the mentioned.

I couldn’t agree more. This is the same point I tried to make on another thread. A common language with no racial connection, should not qualify one for preferential treatment as a “protected” class; which is precisely what the label “Hispanic” engenders.

It is unfair for two people who are racially identical, i.e. a French/Italian from Argentina, and a French/Italian from Europe to be treated differently. It’s asinine for the Argentine to be classified as Hispanic, while the European of identical heritage is not. Most Americans speak English, but we are racially and ethnically diverse. No one would ever consider classifying all citizens of the U.S., England and Australia as one racial group simply by virtue of a common English language.

[Full-Blooded American]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Legally speaking: a Nordic White blue eyed blonde from Argentina with the name of Gisela Nordstrom is just as 'Hispanic' as a dark brown skinned Mayan Indian from Guatemala named Jose Perez.

Just wondering...have you ever considered retiring that anecdote?

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Full-Blooded American

Just wondering...have you ever considered retiring that anecdote?

For what purpose?

My 'anecdote' hits hard and is to the point-------as well as true.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/Villagralbel.jpg (broken link)
Family of Argentines (Hispanic under US law) who are clearly 'White'.

(Picture is in the public domain)

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by Benicar

I couldn’t agree more. This is the same point I tried to make on another thread. A common language with no racial connection, should not qualify one for preferential treatment as a “protected” class; which is precisely what the label “Hispanic” engenders.

It is unfair for two people who are racially identical, i.e. a French/Italian from Argentina, and a French/Italian from Europe to be treated differently. It’s asinine for the Argentine to be classified as Hispanic, while the European of identical heritage is not. Most Americans speak English, but we are racially and ethnically diverse. No one would ever consider classifying all citizens of the U.S., England and Australia as one racial group simply by virtue of a common English language.

Imagine: me, you, Abu from India, Solomon from Nigeria, Peter for Australia, Wendy from England, and Xing Ho from Hong Kong (well, at least prior to 1999) -- all of us "Britannic" ! How's that for "racial" unity?

[Benicar]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

For what purpose?

My 'anecdote' hits hard and is to the point-------as well as true.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/Villagralbel.jpg (broken link)
Family of Argentines (Hispanic under US law) who are clearly 'White'.

(Picture is in the public domain)

Wow! Where did you find this picture of my former in-laws?

[Benicar]

Originally Posted by crisp444

Imagine: me, you, Abu from India, Solomon from Nigeria, Peter for Australia, Wendy from England, and Xing Ho from Hong Kong (well, at least prior to 1999) -- all of us "Britannic" ! How's that for "racial" unity?

That would indeed be quite a "unified" group.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Benicar

That would indeed be quite a "unified" group.

Actually: I have met English people who were 'Black'------their body language, mannerisms and in particular their speech gave 'em away

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Benicar

Wow! Where did you find this picture of my former in-laws?

Demographics of Argentina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now: for irony; the French writer of the 'Three Musketeers' was part Black------Alexandre Dumas. One can never really tell about people

[Benicar]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Actually: I have met English people who were 'Black'------their body language, mannerisms and in particular their speech gave 'em away

Yes, when we think of 'Black' we generally don’t think of countries of origin such as England, France or Germany. I have met people of African descent from all of these countries. It seems strange to hear them speaking with their respective accents, because we are so accustomed to blacks in America.

I had an interesting conversation with a lady from the Dominican Republic. She told me that people are always "mistaking" her for being Black. I had to give her a news flash. I told her I hated to burst her bubble, but she IS Black. I asked her if she thought her Spanish accent somehow changed her skin color. I also told her to look at herself and then look at me. When I brought to her attention the fact that I'm Black, yet my skin is much lighter than hers, she simply walked away.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Actually: I have met English people who were 'Black'------their body language, mannerisms and in particular their speech gave 'em away

Yes-my husband works with a guy named Toddie-he is originally from England and is Black. He came here legally and is now a citizen-he has been here a long time. It is kind of funny because to his other American coworkers he has a strong British accent-the women in the office love that accent and especially because he is also quite good looking-however to him he feels he has pretty much lost the accent. He had to go on a business trip to England and the two other coworkers that went with him-when they came back said in fact his accent was much less pronounced than those in England.