Latinos are a rainbow of colors

utopiacowboy says on Aug 27, 2005, 19:33:

Imaginate! No, it's not that easy but then again, why does it matter? You must be living in a very odd area if people are not familiar with Latinos. How can that be?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Colombiche says on Aug 28, 2005, 09:49:

Well There are enough latinos in my area and I still get mistaken for a white girl most of the time.
When I go to Miami though, people know I am latina right away, maybe it's all in the way we swing our hips when we walk!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 28, 2005, 13:33:

If you'd post a freaking photo, I bet we could tell if you looked Latina or not....

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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kernow62 says on Aug 28, 2005, 13:35:

Preferably showing the hips. ;-)

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RolaParaTodaLaVida says on Aug 28, 2005, 19:14:

see thats the thing...you can tell and you are not narrow minded, but some people in the U.S are... I've been asked if I'm Philipino, or Hawaiian, Mexican, Puerto Rican...very rarely does a White American really think about where I may be. They don't take into consideration that there are many other countries in Latin America.
Believe me among other Latinos, they know I am Latina, and for sure they can tell I am Colombiana.
This statement was made for the many people in the U.S that still are so caught up with labeling people without really knowing cultures beyond their own.

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BxUnika says on Aug 28, 2005, 21:37:

Colombiche "There are enough latinos in my area and I still get mistaken for a white girl most of the time."

But didn't you say you ARE a White Colombian? So...wouldn't that make sense?

As for "looking Latino"? What does a Latino or Latina look like?

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Colombiche says on Aug 29, 2005, 07:52:

Bx Well, I don't know whether the fact that I have green eyes and white skin, really means I am white. I am Colombian, all my relatives are very fair, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't an indian somewhere in my bloodline, (not hard considering my ancestors built their houses on what used to be indian land) or else where the hell did I get the slanted eyes from?

You are right, there are a lot of white Colombians, but here in North America, we are not thought of as white, we are "off white" at best. As long as people find out my last name is "lopez, gomez, perez" (one of the three), they no longer consider me white, they consider me a latina. When I was down in Mexico they called me gringa or guera, here in Canada I am called everything from Greek to Russian to Persian to flat out spic. It's a piss. I know a lot of latinos have the exact same thing happen to them.....I love the ambiguity!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Aug 29, 2005, 07:53:

Hard to say what latino is supposed to look like Look a Zeta Jones, she is Welsh and I would pass her for a Colombiana or a Venezolana any day of the week. Adds to her appeal and versatility, she can play anything she wants, even a Mexican!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Miguel says on Aug 29, 2005, 09:40:

Ok amigos Does Shakira look like a currambera?

"There is nothing lower than the human race...except for the French." - Mark Twain 1878-79

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 29, 2005, 09:52:

Gomezman5 says on Aug 29, 2005, 09:53:

Kat.... I just sent you a private message!!

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 29, 2005, 10:02:

kernow62 says on Aug 29, 2005, 10:07:

Jones does look a bit Latin but so do many Welsh/Irish people, which is her mix I believe. Welsh people are typically dark haired, short people.

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protocol13 says on Aug 29, 2005, 13:57:

and some of us, don't even have Spanish surnames, but, where born in Colombia. It is amusing that my nephew in his school speaks and understands Spanish and the school teachers and his fellow classmates get all confused as to how he knows Spanish, which is even more confounded with the no-Hispanic last name and my niece that is blonde with blue eyes also gets stares of confusion as to how she could be of Colombian ancestry. The fact is that Colombians could be of any race and also have Surnames that may be German, Italian, French, Danish (like the former Colombian president -Lopez Michelsen or Lebanese (former Colombian president Turbay or Shakira), etc.,

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kernow62 says on Aug 29, 2005, 14:21:

Very true protocol, Hakspiel is my mother-in-laws family name!

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 29, 2005, 17:05:

You sure got that right Protocol. A classmate of my daughter's had a very gringo name along with his freckles and red hair. You would never have thought he had a drop of Latin blood up until you saw his mother. Then you'd be picking your jaw up off the floor.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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BxUnika says on Aug 31, 2005, 00:39:

Re: Colombiche "Well, I don't know whether the fact that I have green eyes and white skin, really means I am white. I am Colombian, all my relatives are very fair, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't an indian somewhere in my bloodline, (not hard considering my ancestors built their houses on what used to be indian land) or else where the hell did I get the slanted eyes from?"

In the US ever other White or Black person you meet claims to be 1/16 or 1/8 Cherokee. I don't use the one-drop rule. I don't know why people treat White/light mestizo Latinos any differently. Only in the USW Johnny Depp (1/2 or 1/4 Native American and looks it) considered White and someone who looks like you is considered non-White. To me White people are White and Blacks are Blacks regardless of whether they be Americans or Colombians or Martians.

"You are right, there are a lot of white Colombians, but here in North America, we are not thought of as white, we are "off white" at best. As long as people find out my last name is "lopez, gomez, perez" (one of the three), they no longer consider me white, they consider me a latina."

That's ridiculous on their part. Only an idiot would think that all Hispanics are short and tan. But like I say, que se joda esa gente.


"When I was down in Mexico they called me gringa or guera, here in Canada I am called everything from Greek to Russian to Persian to flat out spic. It's a piss. I know a lot of latinos have the exact same thing happen to them.....I love the ambiguity!"

And then you'll have PRs and Dominicans here who will treat you like a piece of crap and call you a blanquita and a gringa, but then preach all the "Latinos unidos" basura and try to get you against non-Hispanics Whites once they see your last name. Race and ethnicity are very odd things.

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Lucia Rojas says on Aug 31, 2005, 08:37:

I met a woman I met a white gringa theatre director in Ny this summer who had a two year old. She had recently moved to an area in brooklyn and she had just found a park to take her kid to. The story is that a soon as her kid started playing with alittle latino kid on the sandbox, some of the other white mothers came up to her and told her she shouldn´t allow her kid to play with latinos... they said they were filthy kids... The first days she thought this is crazy, my kid can play with whoever... then the other white mothers stopped talking to her completely. She said she was ostracized by the other white mommies for letting her kid play with the latinos.

I have yet to meet a filthy latino, no matter how poor they are.

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Colombiche says on Aug 31, 2005, 09:12:

BxUnika That is a very good point, if every other white American claims to have a small percentage of Cherokee or African-American blood, then why does the United States not come forth and recognize itself a Mestizo nation? Colombia calls itself a mestizo nation, eventhough in places like Antioquia, Eje Cafetero and the Santanderes, the white blood was more predominant in the mix than the indian blood. I am happy to call myself a mestiza, the theory is that when races mix, intelligence and resilience increase, just look at dogs for instance, mutts are smarter than purebreds. I guess our mix is what makes colombians so resistent to even the worst of circumstances. The native malicia (cunning), the African's strength, the Spaniard's zest for life and the Jew's interprenurial thinking all mixed in our veins and made us into a very strong people!

The fact remains however, that white North Americans, don't regard latinos as white, black or native, they just lump us into a non-white, non-black, non-native category, when in reality we all range between the three.

I have had problems with latinos that mock me and call me blanquita, I just laugh it off, I don't care, back in my Colombian hometown I fit right in, so I don't need some latino punkster to come tell me what I am supposed to look like according to his limited ghetto mentality. What have these Latin Kings and Mara Salvatruchas done to better the status of latin people anyway? They are doing the opposite and I am ashamed to have to count them as one of my own!

Viva colombia!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Colombiche says on Aug 31, 2005, 09:14:

Filthy Latino? If anything we are like the most meticulously, obsessively clean people on earth.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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Lucia Rojas says on Aug 31, 2005, 10:46:

exactly!!! Obsessively clean.... It doesn`t matter if the house is alittle wooden, shattered thing that seems to fall down... it will probably be inpecably clean...They actually sweep over dirt floors, when their house doesn´t have a proper floor.

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t25 says on Aug 31, 2005, 14:18:

..... "guess our mix is what makes colombians so resistent to even the worst of circumstances. The native malicia (cunning), the African's strength, the Spaniard's zest for life and the Jew's interprenurial thinking all mixed in our veins and made us into a very strong people!" - COLOMBICHE

sounds a bit rather mestizo-centric to me. what about the pure indians, blacks, or even spaniards who make up a significant part of the south american population?

the last time i checked, no ethnicity has a particular claim on personality traits, positive or negative.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 31, 2005, 17:49:

I agree with Colombiche that mutts make the best dogs so there should certainly be no shame in being a mix of various races or ethnicities. Actually most people in the US ARE mixes even though they don't like to admit it. I think some studies show that as many as 40% of US residents have some African blood. Hell, be proud of it!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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BxUnika says on Sep 2, 2005, 22:56:

I Believe That, Lucia And I'll bet you anything that those anti-Latino White parents are the same people who call themselves liberals and preach diversity. I could definitely see that.

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BxUnika says on Sep 2, 2005, 23:54:

Re: BxUnika Yeah, sounds like you are dealing with a real intelligent, classy group of people. I have noticed here in NYC that many racially mixed Latinos, especially Carribean ones, are almost obsessed with color and putting down White Hispanics. I have friends who have had a lot of trouble with, sometimes even more trouble with other Hispanics than from non-Hispanics because of that. I have a very light PR friend who is usually thought to be Italian and talked about in front of his face in Spanish by other Hispanics. I had a caleño co-worker who was blonde with green eyes who used to have to rountinely "prove" he was Hispanic and have people tell him that his parents "had to have been" from Germany or Holland. Had another White/light mestizo co-worker who was sometimes addressed in Italian because of his appearance and dealed with their impatience when he replied back in English or Spanish.

To be honest with you, I think there is a lot of resentment and even jealousy between darker, more "obviously" Hispanic people and those Hispanics who are White or light. I personally, unfortunately, know a few Hispanics who would call you a gringa and White girl and then five minutes later tell you that you aren't really White. It's like you are damned either way whether you identify as White or as Hispanic because that don't understand that you can be both. I am Irish but deal with a little bit with this myself because I live in, shop in, and mostly interact in African-American and Hispanic communities. Sometimes I'm just assumed to be a Colombian or Argentine or Chilean or even an island-born Puerto Rican because of my looks and the fact that I speak Spanish fairly well. Sometimes I just let people think that without correcting them to avoid issues. Sometimes people are very cool and nice to me when they think I'm a blonde, blue-eyed White "paisa" but I know those same people would react with coldness, contempt, and rudeness if they knew I was Irish-American. Use it to your advantage, I say. Their problem, not ours.

By the way, I read that you are going back to Manizales on vacation. Everyone talks about Cali or Cartagena or Bogota on here, but I am dying to go to Manizales. Maybe it's partly because sometimes people think I am from there. I know you'd better take some nice pictures there to post on here, girl! This whole Eje Cafetero area sounds awesome. Have a great time!

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BxUnika says on Sep 2, 2005, 23:54:

Re: BxUnika Yeah, sounds like you are dealing with a real intelligent, classy group of people. I have noticed here in NYC that many racially mixed Latinos, especially Carribean ones, are almost obsessed with color and putting down White Hispanics. I have friends who have had a lot of trouble with, sometimes even more trouble with other Hispanics than from non-Hispanics because of that. I have a very light PR friend who is usually thought to be Italian and talked about in front of his face in Spanish by other Hispanics. I had a caleño co-worker who was blonde with green eyes who used to have to rountinely "prove" he was Hispanic and have people tell him that his parents "had to have been" from Germany or Holland. Had another White/light mestizo co-worker who was sometimes addressed in Italian because of his appearance and dealed with their impatience when he replied back in English or Spanish.

To be honest with you, I think there is a lot of resentment and even jealousy between darker, more "obviously" Hispanic people and those Hispanics who are White or light. I personally, unfortunately, know a few Hispanics who would call you a gringa and White girl and then five minutes later tell you that you aren't really White. It's like you are damned either way whether you identify as White or as Hispanic because that don't understand that you can be both. I am Irish but deal with a little bit with this myself because I live in, shop in, and mostly interact in African-American and Hispanic communities. Sometimes I'm just assumed to be a Colombian or Argentine or Chilean or even an island-born Puerto Rican because of my looks and the fact that I speak Spanish fairly well. Sometimes I just let people think that without correcting them to avoid issues. Sometimes people are very cool and nice to me when they think I'm a blonde, blue-eyed White "paisa" but I know those same people would react with coldness, contempt, and rudeness if they knew I was Irish-American. Use it to your advantage, I say. Their problem, not ours.

By the way, I read that you are going back to Manizales on vacation. Everyone talks about Cali or Cartagena or Bogota on here, but I am dying to go to Manizales. Maybe it's partly because sometimes people think I am from there. I know you'd better take some nice pictures there to post on here, girl! This whole Eje Cafetero area sounds awesome. Have a great time!

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SweetNess says on Sep 15, 2005, 03:40:

skin deep I've had all kinds of stupid comments made to be because of how I look. I have long dirty-blonde hair, white skin and I guess European features. I have had people tell me that I look portuguese when I wear one outfit but puertorican when I wear another. That's another thing, why is it that when people see me, they think I'm white, then I tell them I'm Hispanic and they're like "oh, are you PuertoRican?". If I don't look Hispanic then how do I look Puertorican???? Then of course there is, "oh, you're Hispanic, say something in Spanish". Like what? " Tu eres ESTUPIDO!!!!" Is THAT satisfactory??? I've had guys have entire conversations about who should talk to me and what to say RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME... I just look up and say "HI" would be a perfectly fine way to start. Hispanics always say they can tell I'm Colombian because my spanish is so proper, but Colombians always say they can tell I'm a Gringa because of the way I speak. What's up with that??? Every time a Hispanic who thinks that I'm "white" finds out that I'm Hispanic, all of a sudden I'm "down" with them. The worst is guys who try to kiss me on the cheek because "it's how Hispanic people do thing". F*** that, even a Hispanic woman can exercise her right to not put her lips where she does not want to. Okay... that's the end of my rant... for now.....

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