“Hispanics” against Sotomayor
Has anyone noticed that some of the most erudite opposition to Sotomayor came from a genuine Hispanic?
“ The role the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution, not to make law. Given this, I am deeply concerned about Judge Sotomayor’s past comment that the courts are ‘where policy is made’....there is much in her legal background that is troubling and demands scrutiny and honest discussion. I hope that a serious examination of her record and beliefs will not be shelved or cast aside simply so Democrats can attempt to claim political credit for a ‘historic’ court nomination.”
And BTW?...Why is everyone and anyone born in a former Spanish colony and with a Spanish last name a "Hispanic" regardless of his/her genuine racial composition?
After all, Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the Iberian penninsula.
Everyone from our queen Celia Cruz (probably primarily Yoruba heritage) to Rigoberta Menchu (probably primarily Maya heritage) to Che hagiographer Jorge Castaneda (Jewish heritage, Gutman) is labelled a "Hispanic" in this country.
Fine, then why are'nt--say--musicians such as Kevin Donovan (Afrika Banbaataa)And Clive Campbell (D.J. Cool) labeled "Anglos"?
After all, both have perfectly English names, speak English as a native tongue and were born in a former British Colony (Jamaica)"?
just..'wonderin...?
Humberto you are my hero! LOL...no, don't blush, I have you to thank for finding this website. After reading your CHE book a couple of years ago on a long flight (Oh, and some interesting looks that elicited from fellow passengers drawn by the orange cover, Ha!) Once home I googled your name and found Babalu. I have been an avid daily reader ever since, quietly lurking in the background, while feeling like I have finally found a place on the web that mirrors my many political and cultural frustrations and joys.
)
Today you have written about one of my most salient peeves, that of the Hispanic, and even worse "latino" label plopped on all of us. Like what the heck does the average Cuban viejito in Hialeah have in common with a field worker in southern Mexico? Or an Argentine from Buenos Aires to a Dominican merenguero? And God forgive if anyone who speaks Spanish dares to state that they are white, that's only reserved for people of Anglo ancestry. Why all Europeans are white, except for Spamiards, check Internet Names Database....to even suggest the opposite is to be a misguided bigot or a lunatic.
But race issues aside, I particularly dislike having someone assume that given the fact that I speak Spanish, I must take part in every leftist whine spewed out by Spanish speakers of all nationalities. It makes me sick when I hear, "first latino this" and "latino that"...Arrrgh!
No, I'm not as racist as I sound here, believe me, I just resent this stupid lumping together for basically political reasons, and wonder the same as you, why aren't Jamaicans, Irish, South Africans and Australians all called the Anglo race? Why don't we assume that they all look, eat, think and vote the same?!?!?!?
Thank you, thank you, I needed that soap box today....
Always an interesting topic. The term Anglo gets misused as much if not more than Hispanic. Jews, regardless of ethnic makeup, are usually lumped into the Anglo group as are, for example, Italians and Poles (especially in Florida). These groups are about as far from true Anglos as a white Cuban from Hialeah is.
The categorizations of Hispanic and Anglo are basically U.S. gov't creations meant to lump people into neat (and not so neat) categories for purposes of polling, data gathering, etc. Those categorizations have turned into a proxy for race when, in their true nature, they have nothing to do with skin color but more so with language (U.S. only) and to a much smaller extent with ethnicity. There are many Hispanics that have lighter skin tones than some so-called Anglos, yet it's the Anglos that are white and the Hispanics that are brown. I really don't care what I'm categorized as (I am what I am), but the contradictions never fail to amuse me.
The majority of Cuban exiles in South Florida are white. Yet we get called "latino" because [some] of us speak Spanish.
If your average American looked at Humberto without knowing his name - he would describe him as "white". Hell he is whiter than nearly all Italians, Greeks, Bulgarians etc that I know - who confusingly get called "white" (WTF)!
I know many blonde blue eyed "hispanics" who can't even speak SPANISH themselves. They are merely called "hispanic" or "latino" because of their name or because their family 3 generations ago came from Argentina (after first getting there from Ireland) WTF.
Castro & Che were "white", with the latter being part Irish, yet they get held up as the "brown heroes" of the indigenous Mayans. (WTF)
Robert: Yes, I understand that the term Anglo is also misused, as well as the history behind the practice. However, in my opinion, the use of "latino/hispanic" to identify a whole group of very diverse people is unprecedented in the US. Most annoying of all for me is not the racial mix, but rather the whole political left's exploitation. ie: wise latina vs. old white men Blah.
The term "Anglo" is admittedly misapplied regarding U.S. born folks.
But please note that my post refers to the FOREIGN BORN, who find themselves in the U.S,, either as citizens or visitors.
Anyone from a former Spanish colony is "Hispanic," regardless of race.
But not everyone from a former British Colony is an "Anglo," regardless of race.
That's my point.
Here's a perfect example of how "Hispanic" has been racialized by these idiots. If you go to the NNDB.com database which lists thousands of famous people, under the race of the individual, you will notice that all Hispanics are listed as this "new race" called, "Hispanic," Tbey are not listed as white even if they are unquestionably white as in a Spaniard.
Just to show you how ridiculous they are, Antonio Banderas is not considered white by NNDB, yet, Al Pacino who isn't any whiter than Banderas is considered white. Unbelievable. SEE BELOW:
AKA Jose Antonio Dominguez Bandera
Born: 10-Aug-1960
Birthplace: Malaga, Spain
Gender: Male
Religion: Roman Catholic
Race or Ethnicity: Hispanic
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor
Nationality: Spain
Executive summary: Feel the deadly poke of Zorro
Now look at Al Pacino:
AKA Alfredo James Pacino
Born: 25-Apr-1940
Birthplace: East Harlem, New York City
Gender: Male
Religion: Roman Catholic
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor
Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Michael Corleone in The Godfather