Talking ethnicity in the Bay area (Hispanics, oriental, Latino)

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

By definition, Hispanics can't have been here before Anglos set foot in N.America - first of all, because Europeans first set foot on North American more than 20,000 years ago and secondly because Hispanics ARE European. Where do you think the word "hispanic" comes from, anyway?

I know you're being ironic on purpose - but many "hispanics/latino" (as defined by the census) are of native American (southwestern US, Mexico, Central/South America) descent. My wife's family is a good example.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

I know you're being ironic on purpose - but many "hispanics/latino" (as defined by the census) are of native American (southwestern US, Mexico, Central/South America) descent. My wife's family is a good example.

Sure but you'd still have to *also* have some European heritage to be Hispanic, that's what the word actually means. It means a Spaniard , as its from the latin "hispanicus" which meant person from Spain or Iberian peninsula back in the day of the Romans. Otherwise, you'd just be a regular "Native American" or "American Indian" which was the term preceding that one, which was replaced by native, and then Amerindian was added to represent an Indian of the Americas (but not including North America).

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

I know you're being ironic on purpose - but many "hispanics/latino" (as defined by the census) are of native American (southwestern US, Mexico, Central/South America) descent. My wife's family is a good example.

Actually, Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race or races. There are some who are of Asian ancestry, Mestizo (mixed indigenous & European), African, and a combination thereof.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

By definition, Hispanics can't have been here before Anglos set foot in N.America - first of all, because Europeans first set foot on North American more than 20,000 years ago and secondly because Hispanics ARE European. Where do you think the word "hispanic" comes from, anyway?

Not all Hispanics are European. There are Black Hispanics, Indigenous Hispanics, and Hispanics with little European heritage, vs. those who have maintained 100% Euro heritage: "full blood" Euro Hispanics, lol.

New Mexico was first settled in 1598, while the Brits first started a colony in 1607. Florida was first claimed by Spain in 1513. The first permanent settlement in FL was established in 1565.

[FullArmor]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

And this is the West Coast attitude. On the East Coast, your attitude would be considered bizarre.

People aren't asking about your sexual history. They're asking about ethnic background. On the East Coast, it's as innocuous as asking where you bought your shoes, or where you went on vacation. On the West Coast, I found it's a definite no-no.

I grew up on the West coast and it never used to be that way. Not really sure when people started becoming so sensitive about everything. I ask people (on occasion) because I like learning about what it's like in other places and cultures. Not so I can determine if someone is "undesirable" or not.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

Sure but you'd still have to *also* have some European heritage to be Hispanic, that's what the word actually means. It means a Spaniard , as its from the latin "hispanicus" which meant person from Spain or Iberian peninsula back in the day of the Romans. Otherwise, you'd just be a regular "Native American" or "American Indian" which was the term preceding that one, which was replaced by native, and then Amerindian was added to represent an Indian of the Americas (but not including North America).

That's what the word means literally, but in the US for demographic purposes, census purposes, etc., it's come to mean anyone with origins in Latin America (however far back that may go, in the case of the original settler families in CA and the SW, and FL), and who may or may not still be Spanish-speaking. IOW--"it's complicated".

So, apparently we need to agree on terminology before anything relating to Hispanics is discussed anywhere on C-D. Good to know.

[LuvSouthOC]

It's remarkable how PC common discourse is in the Bay Area. Innocuous questions are seen as offense.
Perhaps the thread would have been better titled, "Talking PC in the Bay Area".

[likealady]

Originally Posted by FullArmor

I grew up on the West coast and it never used to be that way. Not really sure when people started becoming so sensitive about everything. I ask people (on occasion) because I like learning about what it's like in other places and cultures. Not so I can determine if someone is "undesirable" or not.

This is my general attitude. I'm willing to bet most of the time it's harmless curiosity from some poor soul trying to make small talk. People are so sensitive these days.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by silverkris

Actually, Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race or races. There are some who are of Asian ancestry, Mestizo (mixed indigenous & European), African, and a combination thereof.

I know - I didn't say they couldn't be? And that is my entire point. The term "Hispanic" (along with Latino) is often used to blanketly refer to all Spanish-speaking peoples in America - and there is no uniformity in these people. They have descendants that are from many places (Europe, the Americas, or even Africa - as you mention).

My wife's family could possible be classified as "hispanic", but they have no European in them (except for my wife herself, whose dad is an English/German mix.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

I know - I didn't say they couldn't be? And that is my entire point. The term "Hispanic" (along with Latino) is often used to blanketly refer to all Spanish-speaking peoples in America - and there is no uniformity in these people. They have descendants that are from many places (Europe, the Americas, or even Africa - as you mention).

My wife's family could possible be classified as "hispanic", but they have no European in them (except for my wife herself, whose dad is an English/German mix.

I think I may have been referencing a previous poster who emphatically said that "Hispanics are European" when both you and I know that they're not exclusively so. Which is actually why some in that category prefer Latino/Latina. There are regional differences in usage - in California, Latino is used more often, whereas in some other states like Florida "Hispanic" is used more often.