Talking ethnicity in the Bay area (America, Spanish, people)

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by 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".

Really the thread could have just been called: "Liberals: Still offended by everything."

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

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.

Sure, you're one of the few (along with SilverKris and I think it was HockeyMac too) who know the distinction or actually appreciate the fact that the current use has deviated from its origin/etymology of the term...but most Americans (inaccurately) use Hispanic solely as a term of ethnic origin, and from that standpoint, and applying this classification consistently, then if your ancestors originate from a Spanish speaking country, its likely that you've got mixed (European) ancestry, despite whatever else you've got. Unless your family arrived as slaves or immigrants, of course, in which case you might not have any Euro ancestry.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by silverkris

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.

In Texas we just call ourselves Mexican. 'Latino' is something you hear in politically correct media.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

In Texas we just call ourselves Mexican. 'Latino' is something you hear in politically correct media.

Well Latino is used pretty commonly in California both in written form and in conversation.

While Mexicans are the majority Latino group in California, you're probably aware that there are also Salvadorians, Hondurans, and other groups in California, so if you don't know their exact origin or heritage, it makes sense to use Latino unless you know otherwise.

Kinda dumb to call someone a Tejano when they're not, right? When in doubt, ask what they want to be referred to. Don't be that obstinate fool who insists on calling me an "Oriental" when I've pointed out it's an archaic term and nowadays used for objects like rugs. There's one of them on City Data.

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

In Texas we just call ourselves Mexican. 'Latino' is something you hear in politically correct media.

In the Bay Area, we also have people from El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, Chile,Peru etc. So collectively what is the correct term then? We're not in Texas so not every brown skinned person can really be described as specifically Mexican, right?? It's not about being politically correct, but "Latino or Hispanic" is a collective, generalized term since not everyone is Mexican obviously.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by silverkris

Well Latino is used pretty commonly in California both in written form and in conversation.

While Mexicans are the majority Latino group in California, you're probably aware that there are also Salvadorians, Hondurans, and other groups in California, so if you don't know their exact origin or heritage, it makes sense to use Latino unless you know otherwise.

Kinda dumb to call someone a Tejano when they're not, right? When in doubt, ask what they want to be referred to. Don't be that obstinate fool who insists on calling me an "Oriental" when I've pointed out it's an archaic term and nowadays used for objects like rugs. There's one of them on City Data.

All valid points. I can't believe someone would still use 'Oriental', especially given the connotations of that term in the Western world. That's like calling a Muslim a 'Mohammaden'.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

All valid points. I can't believe someone would still use 'Oriental', especially given the connotations of that term in the Western world. That's like calling a Muslim a 'Mohammaden'.

Well, there's one or two here because they have a knee-jerk reaction about it being "politically-correct". Of course, IRL, they're just being rude.

[boulder2015]

Originally Posted by silverkris

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.

Wow, i never knew latin came from the Americas! Learn something new every day....

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by boulder2015

Wow, i never knew latin came from the Americas! Learn something new every day....

The terms Latin American, and Latino, definitely come from the Americas. Not sure why you find this surprising.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

All valid points. I can't believe someone would still use 'Oriental', especially given the connotations of that term in the Western world. That's like calling a Muslim a 'Mohammaden'.

Why is it so odd to call them Mohammedans, that's the name of the central figure of their religion, like Buddhists after Buddha, Christians after Christ...in fact it seems to be breaking the convention to NOT call them Mohammedans.