Let's have a polite discussion about cultures & ethnic groups in Mia... (Miami: crimes, university)
MiamiMiami-Dade County
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Honestly, I wish we could get over this skin color analysis.
It's true I was fascinated with skin color in college when I was trying to figure out which Latin American countries contained the most beautiful women. Now I know they are in every country.
In Miami, it is crystal clear that the potential of the individual's mind has nothing to do with the skin color.
We all know that it's not the superficial color of the skin that makes any kind of difference in a person's value to society, it's his/her character. And with character is a lot of other things, educational motivation, ambition, intellectual curiosity, etc and the list goes on.
So, I think we can move beyond skin-color based discussions.
A human is a human is a human, it doesn't matter the color.
Besides, I'm from a mixed background. We never know what color skin the child will be in my family. So, if that's the case, how can we continue to discuss race? How many of you have a mixed backgound like me?
I also wish we could get over nationality and nationalism.
The country I was born in, I am not proud to be that nationality. It doesn't mean I don't love the country. I love it very much. It's just that I don't feel that I have contributed anything noteworthy to be proud of there. Fine, I have benefitted from history in that country, but should I be proud of those who lived 100 years before me? I never knew them personally. Sure, I've had some career success there, but that's personal, not national. I didn't choose to be born in the country I was.
For me, there is nothing to be proud of.
I was an accident people.
If my dad would have delayed his ... you know ... "coming" a minute later (or even less) like my mom wanted, I would not have been born.
So why all of this nationalism?
In any case, my friends from different countries mix together, and we never get into nationalist arguments. On the contrary, we all want to travel and visit each other's countries.
Great post. But I think much of it has to do with the fact that most of us are not ready to accept that race simply doesn't exist. You are no more closer to another from your supposed race than you are from someone not, except for the fact that you may have lived through similar experiences.
The argument should not be how can we discuss race but when will we realize race doesn't exist.
We can then frame the conversation in the right context.
After all would anyone really try to make the argument that taller people are smarter or that people with green eyes are more motivated than people with blue eyes. Yet the color of your skin is no more different an environmental trait than the color of your skin.
People group together not because they are a similar race but because they believe people with similar environmental traits will likely share similar interest.
We are each taught a way of life to identify with (culture & ethnicity) and that our way of life is correct. Its only natural that to some the existence of another culture and ethnicity in close proximity would serve as a perceived threat. Ex. Spanish speakers pose a threat to non spanish speakers. This also speaks to your point about nationalism.
We have spent thousands of years in mostly homogeneous environments with little science for explanation. I assume it will take thousands of years living in a non homogeneous environment before we full adapt.
That is why he wants to move to California for more diversity, some anglos aren't running away from hispanic population here in Miami. They are looking for more diversity, that Miami doesn't really have. Miami isn't very diverse when 60% plus of people are hispanic. He wants to see other cultures than just one.
California absolutely blows Miami out of the water on diversity; I'll give you that. However, and most especially in light of this thread, please don't feign ignorance of the diversity in that 60% figure you quote. I mean... come on now. That 60% includes spoiled, blonde cheerleaders who can barely put a sentence together in Spanish driving Daddy's BMW in Pinecrest, middle class mestizo Colombian and Venezuelan immigrants in West Kendall, and "inner-city" blacks of Dominican background in Allapatah. These three hypothetical people probably do not identify with each other very much at all, and will probably never even meet.
CA>Miami when it comes to diversity, but at least give credit where credit is due and abstain from lumping all "Hispanics" together as if they actually were the same. I know people with Latin-American and Latin-European born parents who consider themselves American and only American and barely if at all identify with "Hispanics" or "Latinos."
Crisp - do you think that non-hispanics see Hispanics as different? Or, do you think they hear spanish being spoken and think we are all the same?
I can assure you that most non-Hispanics not all but most tend to group all Hispanics in the same light ... as a white non - Hispanic married to a Hispanic woman I can tell you that before I met my wife , started travelling into Latin America on business , learned the language ( not fluent but close ) and actually made good solid friendships with Hispanics .. I thought the culture was all the same ... , not all Hispanics are Mexicans , not all Hispanics eat beans and tacos , not all Hispanics like salsa music and wear gold chains and bling like some of our Cuban and Puerto Rican amigos like to do ... and first and foremost their accents and terminology in Spanish is so different .. I actually thought Brazilians were Hispanic and did not know they spoke Portuguese !!
Most surprising to me was the diversity of races among Hispanics ... white , black , mestizo , asian ... I especially saw this when I began travelling in Latin America and saw how European especially people were in Argentina , Uruguay , Southern Brazil and most of Chile were ... all Hispanics are most definitely not the same ... music , food , dress , accents , dialects .. what they do share is Catholic culture , common language albeit with some differences and they all come from countries with corrupt leaders and where the white minorities have most of the power ... Chile may be the exception and is most close to being part of the 1st world .
Crisp - do you think that non-hispanics see Hispanics as different? Or, do you think they hear spanish being spoken and think we are all the same?
In South Florida, my experience has been that most non-Hispanics do not view all Hispanics as being the same, especially with the demographic changes over the last 10-30 years increasing the diversity of Hispanics exponentially. Before that, however, people in South Florida probably did have a much more uniform view of what "Hispanic" meant: I have met people who did not know that some Hispanics were not white until the Mariel boatlife occurred in 1980! My experience outside of South Florida has been that most people don't know much about Hispanics and that what they do know is often a perception that the media have given them. See Rock's example; for the record, I think it's great that he's experienced so much of Latin America. With that said, I have found people in Boston, and to a lesser extent NYC, to be very open to learning. I hate to say it, but some of the most seemingly ignorant about Hispanics here in NY are some of the "Hispanics" themselves If you're still thinking of moving to South Florida, you're in for a treat when it comes to people being well-informed about all of this stuff, and I am not being sarcastic at all.
I don't think you are being sarcastic at all - I actually enjoy reading your posts - they seem to be very well thought out - I am still considering south Florida and am open to learning new things all the time. I will admit I have not done much studying of south American countries so, I would not try and debate anyone on that. I do know a lot about my own culture. I do enjoy learning as every culture has great things to offer. But I come from a city where until recently all Hispanics were considered Puerto Rican. Something I thought was a little small minded. On another note not really related - many more people spoke to me in Spanish in Florida than in NY.
Most anglos think all hispanics are from the same place, and it's only natural. It's not like we all know all the types of Muslims or Asians that immigrate here either.
Most of the USA think hispanics are Mexicans because they are the majority. If they are from Orlando or NYC then Puerto Rican. In Miami we are all Cuban with the exception of Homestead or any farm lands where the Mexican immigrants work the crops.It doesn't bother me at all. In fact, It amuses me when someone tells me "Go back to Cuba!"
I have a Mexican friend who was sent back to Cuba here in Miami. We thought it was hilarious and very ironic, as most people in the USA would have sent him back to Mexico. Now we get don't sent back all the time... These are just examples, like road rage or customer service fights
Lol - I'm sorry that is so not funny, but it is true!! I love when people try to talk smack in Spanish and then you flip it on them and they are like oh damn she speaks it - I'm guessing you look more Hispanic than I do princess - I rarely get "are you puerto rican" it is usually argentinean, Italian, Spanish - rarely puerto rican - but I am just what ever about that!
That is why he wants to move to California for more diversity, some anglos aren't running away from hispanic population here in Miami. They are looking for more diversity, that Miami doesn't really have. Miami isn't very diverse when 60% plus of people are hispanic. He wants to see other cultures than just one.
I concur, much more balance indeedy!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you're still thinking of moving to South Florida, you're in for a treat when it comes to people being well-informed about all of this stuff, and I am not being sarcastic at all.
