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i dont know where yall are getting that americans do the same thing, probably unless they're from the northeast & migrated here as late as the 20th century. however, americans generally just say they are "white", they dont go the extra mile like hispanics to feel like you should bow to them.
Well, how about the 1/4 German, the 1/8 French or the guy/girl who claims being Italian due to a last name was born with, and yet doesn't know a thing about Italy other than what she/he sees in The Sopranos or the Godfather?
Not being blind to what you've mentioned about Hispanics, I think that also my aply to Americans to a good extent.
i dont know where yall are getting that americans do the same thing, probably unless they're from the northeast & migrated here as late as the 20th century. however, americans generally just say they are "white", they dont go the extra mile like hispanics to feel like you should bow to them.
I am from the Northeast and most of the White people I know there (myself included) are 1st-3rd generation, but all over this country you have intensely proud Americans of Irish descent, Scottish Americans with their Scottish Highland games, Oktoberfest, Scandinavians in the upper Midwest, all of whom maintain traditions that differentiate themselves culturally, regardless of how superficially (they are after all still Americans), not to mention the more recent immigrants from Latin America and Asia.
It is mainly English descended southerners who disavow any connection to their ancestors or heritage and then insist that all Americans join their self-denying yet obviously and overtly Anglocentric culture that they have dubbed "White American".
I am from the Northeast and most of the White people I know there (myself included) are 1st-3rd generation, but all over this country you have intensely proud Americans of Irish descent, Scottish Americans with their Scottish Highland games, Oktoberfest, Scandinavians in the upper Midwest, all of whom maintain traditions that differentiate themselves culturally, regardless of how superficially (they are after all still Americans), not to mention the more recent immigrants from Latin America and Asia.
It is mainly English descended southerners who disavow any connection to their ancestors or heritage and then insist that all Americans join their self-denying yet obviously and overtly Anglocentric culture that they have dubbed "White American".
Yeah, because the ancestors of white Southerners and all southerners in general are more likely to have come a lot longer ago than 1-3 generations. Of course one is going to identify as "American" and not an immigrant group at that point. Having a great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandparents come from England is completely different from having Italian grandparents.
However you want to spin it, American culture IS (was?) overtly Anglo-centric. That is why you and your friends who immigrated 1-3 generations ago learned to speak English and live under a system of government stemming from English common law.
ive noticed that in most of the hispanic countries in the caribbean & south america till this day are so big on having ties to spain. which is weird because i usually hear of spaniards looking down on hispanics.
i found it interesting because people in north america could care less about having ties to the UK or at least don't make a big deal about it
You mean 'couldn't care less' if they 'could care less' it means they care! Think about it.
Yes true, I have a friend who told me "I am German" and it was her great grandmother. And another friends who say "I am Dutch" and he is an 8% Dutch.
In Europe people usually say "I am German" even if he/she is born in Germany but their parents are Greek for example. or "German with Greek roots"
According to I know, there are differences concerning ethnicity in Europe and in Americas.
In Europe an ethnicity doesn't necessarily is related to a state. A basque man, for example: he is a citizen of Spain because there are no basque statehood, but he is ethnically basque. If he travel to some country in Americas and have children, they are likely to identify themselves as "basque" or "of basque ancestry" rather than "spaniard". The same is valid to Bretons, the Sami, and other people without a proper state.
In Americas, however, there appear to have no ethnicity linked to a country. There are many indigenous ethnicities, but no one will speak of a "canadian ethnicity" or "colombian ethnicity", for example. In some cases the concept of ethnicity is simplified at such point it's linked to the colour of the skin or other features. In the brazilian census, one may identify himself as "white", "black", "brown", "indigenous" or "yellow" (East Asian) - regardless of the country of procedence of the parents.
1) look at latin american television: All the whitest looking latinos you've ever seen in your life playing the important roles. Yet in all my travels in mexico, i didn't see any of these 'white' mexicans like portrayed on mexican telenovelas. It's as if all these white mexicans are mythical creatures of lore like the loch ness monster or bigfoot. They're on tv and you hear about them but you rarely come across them in real life. I wonder if when casting actors they have a "whites only" policy, thereby weeding out 97% of the country.
2) then there's the example of the dominican republic. The people of this country seem to want to consider themselves anything but black, despite the fact that people the world over would probably call most of them that. They consider haitians black, and use this term disparagingly. I have befriended latinos from various latin american countries who expressed views of superiority towards blacks, the kind of stuff that most white americans wouldn't say.
3) the few possibly white latinos you do come across, always seem to bring up the topic of whiteness. I came across a real live white mexican a couple of years ago, a very nice girl: Guess what topic she brought up? Her whiteness, and her spanish roots. I made a friend from abroad who came from costa rica - guess what topic he randomly brought up? His whiteness, even though this guy wouldn't be considered white in my country. I made several brazilian friends when living abroad, and guess what topic they randomly brought up one day? Their whiteness. One out of six or seven of them would actually be considered white here, yet they all alluded to their european ancestry, with no mention of their obvious african or native sides. Even city data could be an example...look at all the whiteness threads concerning latin america.
All of this is meant to demonstrate that many latin americans do go out of their way to pass themselves off as white, and what they consider to be "white" is different than what americans consider to be white. Highlighting your connection to european countries is the best way to demonstrate your whiteness, as it legitimizes your claim to whiteness. I know a lot of you are going to hate this conclusion, but i think the emphasis placed on whiteness in latin america is too simply great too be ignored, and unquestionably plays into the op's question. Latin america is a great place, but the reality is that their views on race are very different than those in north america.
ive noticed that in most of the hispanic countries in the caribbean & south america till this day are so big on having ties to spain. which is weird because i usually hear of spaniards looking down on hispanics.
i found it interesting because people in north america could care less about having ties to the UK or at least don't make a big deal about it
Not true,in the case of America, everything in America reminds you of England,the language,the history, traditions,everything
I have found some people from Latin America like to stress some sort of European connection. I've spoken with quite a few who have stated they are "Italian" but look nothing like an Italian and when I start speaking Italian to them, they have a puzzled look on their face and say their great grandfather (or another distant relative) was from Italy. This seems to happen a lot with Brazilians.
Many brazilians and other people from the Italian diaspora hold italian citizenship. Thus, in these cases, they are not completely wrong in stating they are "italians".
Many brazilians and other people from the Italian diaspora hold italian citizenship. Thus, in these cases, they are not completely wrong in stating they are "italians".
Becase there is this absurd principle which states that someone with Italian grandparents without living in Italy, without speaking Italian or working in Italy can have the citizenship.
To the same extent, I do not consider "Italian" all "Italian-Americans" whose only Italian thing is their surname.
Not true,in the case of America, everything in America reminds you of England,the language,the history, traditions,everything
you're reaching sir. maybe in the northeast it can be somewhat compared to england. but the whole US???? yes we speak the same language. we share some history. traditions?????
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