Question: is "Hispanic" a pejorative term?

[FlashHarry]

From what I understand, "Latino" or "Latina" is preferred, although, that creates gender difficulties. Personally, I prefer "human," but I understand that it is sometimes necessary (though a very touchy subject) to classify humans by origin. Help me out here.

[Melsky]

1. I don't think so

I've lived in Southern California for the past 4 years, and have never heard that it's a pejorative term.

[Rick Myers]

2. No...

No more than caucasian. Much better than the alternatives used by boneheads...

[Clete]

13. Caucasian is better than being called a cracker isn't it?

:evilgrin: Yeah, I guess Hispanic is better than beaner. But you know beaner is more accurate because that is the one thing from the Southwest down to the tip of South America that we all have in common is beans as a staple of our diet.

[sandnsea]

15. Caucasian better then Anglo

Anglo isn't always a nice term. Maybe that's the way Latinos hear Hispanic. I don't know.

[Bridget Burke]

22. Anglo's not that bad...

Heck, "Gringo" is pretty informal but not abusive--depends on the context.

However, if you hear "pinche Gabacho" you may be in trouble.

[MoonAndSun]

3. Hispanic is what is used on the census forms and other legal

documents, but as a member of that particular group, I know that many prefer Latina or Latino, but we do not consider Hispanic pejorative.

[Clete]

14. I think that is why I dislike it.

I think people should be divided by income, not race for census purposes, because it affects the money allocated for different programs. I think income and need slice across all social and racial lines so income would be a better measure IMHO.

[ibegurpard]

4. Depends on who you talk to

I've heard people who say they are offended by the term "hispanic." That's the problem when you try to lump everyone from many different cultures and countries into one category based upon a common language.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Never heard it used as a pejorative.

Of course, anything could be used as an insult, depending upon context.

[LizW]

6. I've heard that

A DJ on one of our local radio stations said it was. I can't remember exactly what he said, but he did say that the "correct" term was Latino or Latina. He made it sound like that was the universal preference, not just his own. I'm glad you asked the question, 'cause I've been wondering about it ever since.

[pinerow]

19. I would agree with the DJ; As a Latino, I take it as a sign of

laziness on the part of the speaker.

I generally do not ask what someone's ethnic or national origin might be, I assume that since they live here in the states that they are at the very least, Americans.

When I am refered to as an "Hispanic", I usually challenge them to find the place called "Hispanica"

I also challenge those who insist on calling me a "Nuyorican"; I have absolutely no clue as to the location of "Nuyorico"

No, I am not being elitist, if you want to know who or what I am; Ask me, I'll tell you.

:argh:

[Clete]

7. I think it is, but I use it for convenience.

It was coined I believe in the seventies to classify anyone who spoke Spanish, had a Spanish name or who didn't look Anglo. I have traveled in South America extensively and "Hispanics" are a very diverse group of people who can't be pigeonholed.

I mean why do we even have race terms? We are all a mixed bag. I mean I am German, Dutch and Scotch Irish on my father's side and Spanish and Native American on my mother's side. I can be what I want to be because I don't have a Spanish surname that gives me away.

My son-in-law is thought to be Mexican American but he is Native American with a Spanish surname. His family is from Colorado. That's another thing, Native Americans who were baptized and given Spanish names and culture by the Spanish priests that colonized the west are thought of to be "Hispanic".

So that's my opinion anyway, my two cents.

[Isome]

16. I mean I am German, Dutch ...

what you mainly cite are cultures or nationalities. The only item in your "mixed bag" that would influence your phenotype (I had to double check that... I've mixed up geno & pheno before) would be your Native American ancestry. German, Irish, Scottish, Spanish are all nationalities (countries) & cultures (language & social customs); but they only add up to caucasian.

Indians who were baptized, given Spanish surnames and/or speak Spanish, are labled "Hispanic" because, as I understand it, the word refers to culture and nationality, not their... race. (Oh' that dreaded word that causes so much stress & strife & controversy.)

[pschoeb]

8. Two different meanings

Hispanic and Latino are not synonyms.

Hispanic is any native tonqued Spanish speaker or someones who's descended from Spanish speakers, this would include say people from Spain.

Latino is used for persons from Latin America or whose are descended from Latin Americans.

most Latinos are Hispanic, but not all Hispanics are Latino.

neither word is derogatory.

Patrick Schoeb

[MrPrax]

9. It Used To Be Chicano

I always read that Hispanic was an invention of the Reagan error--to disenfranchise Mexican voters...
But who knows...I guess Latin Americans should have their 'spanish' ancestry acknowledged...

[Clete]

11. But...but...but

many Latin Amercans don't have Spanish ancestry. What they have is Spanish names because of the colonial Spaniards overlaying their culture on them. Actually in Chile I knew people of English, German and Eastern European ancestry, many who also spoke the language of the country their parents came from besides Spanish. So are they "Hispanic" or "Latino"? I think not.

[pschoeb]

12. Chicano is also not a synonym of Latino

Chicano is even more specific, it's someone who is originally from Mexico or decended from Mexicans, but not living in Mexico.

So Hispanic is a large group

Latino more specific

Chicano even more specific

Patrick Schoeb

[Blue_Chill]

10. not to me it isn't

I don't mind it.

[Isome]

17. Here's a source:

http://www.tds.org/Foreign/flnews/Celebramos_Hispanic_Heritage_Month.ppt&e=7417">Celebramos Hispanic Heritage Month
Did you know? ¿Sabía Usted que...?

The term Hispanic is derived from the Latin word Hispania and is used to describe people who trace their origins to Spain and the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America. Some would argue that "Hispanic" is a category developed by U.S. Census Bureau.

Did you know? ¿Sabía Usted que...?

"Latino" represents a more inclusive view that encompasses Native American, African, and Asian components, as well as other Western speakers of Latin-derived languages, such as Brazilians and Haitians. It is an attempt at self-definition.

[FlashHarry]

18. Kick

I'm curious to see what the morning crowd says...

[spooky3]

21. Washington Post article on this topic

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40006-2003Aug24.html

[TioDiego]

20. Hispanic is just fine

When I was a kid we were all called Mexicans. Some of us insisted on being called Spanish. I remember when Roberto Clemente was just starting as a boxer, one of my friends called him "That Mexican from Pananma." LOL!

[UTUSN]

23. Good Article in #21

While those favoring "Latino" seem to focus on "Spain" and "White" in "Hispanic" - it seems to me that the Spanish LANGUAGE/culture is the operative element.

"Latino" conjures up the 1950s, where the "Latin" in LULAC was analogous to "Negro" (as opposed to the later "Black"). I just Googled LULAC, and as I suspected, the emphasis in the Creed was on "American" and U.S. "citizenship" and "performing duties" before "demanding rights" - the assimilation model. The LULAC generation are who bristle the most about "Chicano", which appears to connote to them a "lower" social class of prole/plebe.