Val,

Personally, I classify you as an "American."

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Steve

Back in the 30's when I was a kid in Sacramento, we learned that to call a Mexican anyhing but Spanish was an invitation to get stomped.
Why call anyone anything, any way?

Huh. I had no idea. I won't use that word anymore then. Yeesh. Now, I have that awful sinking "How many people have I inadvertently offended?" feeling.

D

I always thought Latino referred to Mexican, while your culture would be referred to as Cubano. Is that right? There's a huge difference in language from what I've seen too.

I'm with David. I feel slightly ashamed somehow. It's that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" thing. I should have known.

I'm white, or whatever you'd prefer to call me. I live in South Florida and naturally have friends [and family] who are of Cuban ancestry, as well as Colombian, and a few that I just have no idea. They probably have no clue as to who my ancestors were, either.
I only think 'Latino' because I have no other word to differentiate. Maybe my vocabulary needs a boost. ;)

So, sorry to be kinda long winded, but I totally get your point. I'm already spreading the word; hubby now knows!

I really was only speaking for myself with this post. I have read other blogs by persons of latin origins where they actually prefer the term "latino." The term latino really isn't or shouldn't be offensive, but I'm sure Venezolano, Colombiano, Argentino, Cubano, etc. are preferable.

Hello Babalu,

I consider myself both Latino and Hispanic. Born in the USA with Ecuadorian parents.

What am I? American, Ecuadorian, Latino or Hispanic. If I'm in Europe on vacation, they may refer to me as a "North American"

Whether we weigh the terms (most weigh them from negative point of view) from language, abused labor force or simply labeled - It shouldn't matter.

What does matter are the things you do today and how they get perceived. That will dictate the "TONE"

Due to our mixed feelings, I started two blogs.
latinoblog.com and hispanicblog.com

Geoffrey

I guess I'm just confused by the whole thing. Brazilians aren't Hispanic, but are they Latino? Lusitano? Or are they just Brazilian?

/mind is reeling

Val:

This does make sense to me, now that I think about it (which - to be honest - I hadn't really done before!)

What is in a name? If you are from Cuba and are proud then ofcourse you wouldn't want to be Latino? And the same goes for Brazilians, Mexicans etc. etc.

When I was very young I thought that we Latinos, Cubanos, Puerto Ricans, Chicanos, south americans, central, north etc etc., were vulnerable because we chose to seperate ourselves. We made ourselves smaller, weaker, by seperation.

How the events would of been different if the Europeans landed on a nation united from Coast to Coast.

latinopundit,

Like I said earlier, I am only speaking for myself. As far as I know, maybe no other Cuban has a problem with being called latino. More power to them I say. All I am saying is that while theres a basis in language, our cultures and mores are not the same.

This is true and I agree, and you are entitled to your preference-as we all are. We may disagree but, we in my eyes share a common heritage.

I invite you to come visit my site tomorrow.

From anecdotal experience, Cubans have a stronger aversion to the the Latino and Hispanic labels than Puerto Ricans or Mexicans or South and Central Americans often don't care what people call them as long as they are not misidentified. Puerto Ricans want to be known as Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans don't want to talk about it.

My ex-girlfriends mother made it a point to point out she was Cuban first, but upper class "white" Cuban. Though she had dark skin, she could often be found screaming at any one who tried to speak to her in Spanish (grocery store, fast food) that she wasn't one of them.

Of course - she screamed at everyone, so that's not a good example.

But my ex (Half-Cuban) really hated the Hispanic label because of it. Of course, she grew up in Miami and made fun of the rival high schools for being part of the Mariel Boat Ride.

How about we just call you Val.

Yeti,

As with all cultures, you will undoubtedly find ome who have no tolerance for those that are different.

I lived through the Mariel Boat Lift and remember exactly what you are talking about. Ay first, there was a separation of classes perse, and the Marielitos really did bear the brunt of discrimination. But then, we all did. 20 years before we were the "fucking Cubans" or the "spicks" that were cominhg to this sleepy little town known as Miami in a hopes of being free.

Did you know that, back in the late sixties early seventees, if you were Cuban, or "latino" or anything other than white anglo, and you needed to go to Miami Beach, you had to have an ID card?

I did not.

When I hear stories today, I always shake my head at what people perceive as today's racism.

It's not even close.

I don't like the term "Latina" either. Never have. I don't however, mind "Hispanic." I prefer just "American of Cuban decent." ;^) But ya know, labels of any kind irk me. Just another reason why I always opt out of filling in the ehnicity portions on government questionnaires.

First of all you have to know the word latino or latina is the spanish for latin. As you know latin is a old language wich was spoken in antique european region named Lacio. This place(Lacio) was called later Rome and the people who used to live there was called Romans. They made a big Impire.
So just the italian people are trully latins (or latinos). European country as France, Spain, Portugal even England have a big Latin influence, but they don't call theirselves as latins.
People in South, Central and North America have spanish, italian, french, england and portuguese roots but nowadays they have indian or african or arabian or asian or european easte blood.
So nobody who live in the American Continenet are really a latin (latino). Just the romans italians could use this term.

Iker, you are an ignorant !!!

I am a latin European.

You seem to know that "latino" refers to latin language, that's true.
But you seem not knowing what "latin/latino" means when reffering with cultural identity...
You say that Italian, Frenc, Portuguese, Spain speak languages from latin, that true. But not ENGLAND ! English is a germanic language !! (ther is some french influence in english, but english is basicly a GERMANIC language...

The countries of Europe that speak latin languages are : France; Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Romania. They are called "latin countries" since centuries. And the people who live in are called "latins" ("latinos" in spanish, "latini" in Italian, etc...) since centuries too !
But it is not limited to language, a lot of cultural characteristics are loked to being "latin" : catholic faith, mediteranean way of life, hedonism, , etc... English people have nothing to do with that !!

South and central america is called "latin america" because there regions where colonized by latin nations (spain, portugal).
The people whoe live there are "latin-american", but not "latin" !! While USA, English Canada, Jamaica, Belize and Surinam are "germanic america"... because of the germanic cultural herency !

Some people in your continent put off "american" in the expression "latin-american", and are thinking it means the same ! What ignorance !
It would be the same if you put off american in the expression "african american" : it changes completly the meaning !!

It makes us laugh to see indians from peru or guatemala saiying that they are proud of being "latino" when they have no idea of what it means !!

The latins will always be south-western europeans !!

come to see this forum :

http://www.confusedkid.com/primer/archives/2003/09/latino_vs_hispanic.php

Hi Val,
I think that a Latinos are peolple who speaks a lanuage which comes from Latin ... It doesn't have into account dialects .... it takes into account the main root of your language .. it's for sure that there are always differences ... but even in a single country . Believe me, Spain (by the way I'm Spanish) is little if copared to South Amreica ... and if I move 300 kilometres I'll find new words.
I'm proud to be a Latina, and I find that this word creates a common reference for all of us. If there is anybody who put us all in the same pot is a question of ignorance, I don't care .
I'm proud to be a monther-tongue Spanish and I love all the "branches" os Spanish that are united in the Latino "tree" . (by the way .... I also found people who talk about frenchs and italians as Latinos .... that's OK!)
I'm sorry maybe you've found silly people.

i am english but speak spanish and love everything about the whole "latino" culture. i have travelled various latin american countries and think all hispanics who may be classed as latinos should be extremely proud of who they are and where they come from. i would love to be able to put "latina" on my passport!!!!

Are the so called "latinos"/"hispanics" proud of their american (indigenous) or latin (european) part of their identity ?

In reality hispanic means "related from spain", and latino means "latin" in spanish, that means "related from latin language based country, countries whose culture is derived from roman's one)

But I heard that a lot of so called "latinos" are proud only of theit indigenous and african identity, they generally deeply hates spanish culture (spanish=from Spain) and spanish people. On the other hand their consider latin countries of Europe as "gringos"... And dislike Italians, frenchs and portugueses.

So why they use those words if they don't consider themselve close or linked to the culture from Spain and from latin origins...