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Study: Latinos bring view of blacks

Found this article today while browsing around, figured I'd post it here. What I found most interesting was perception. I think it does indeed pertain to Colombia, as I've had my share of "experiences." Thankfully, the better experiences greatly outweigh the negative ones. Some of them are pretty funny. One day, I'll share. LOL!!!

Feel free to coment on this if you'd like, just keep it civil. No bashing.

http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-751477.html

Study: Latinos bring view of blacks
BY PAUL BONNER : The Herald-Sun
pbonner at heraldsun.com
Jul 10, 2006 : 8:34 pm ET

DURHAM -- Latino immigrants bring negative attitudes toward blacks with them from their home countries rather than develop them after they arrive here, a team including four Duke and two UNC researchers say.

The study, which will appear in the August issue of the Journal of Politics analyzed survey data drawn from Durham residents in 2003.

Latinos also more often identified with whites than blacks, although whites were less likely to see themselves as having much in common with Latinos.

The survey asked 500 residents nearly equally divided among the three groups. The researchers chose Durham because of its nearly 500 percent increase in Latino population between 1990 and 2000, and because its black population spans socioeconomic levels.

"What surprised us most was the high level of negative stereotypes on the part of Latino immigrants," said Paula McClain, a professor of political science at Duke University and the study's lead author. "We were also, I guess, pleasantly surprised at the low level of stereotypes of blacks held by whites in Durham. Less than 10 percent of our sample of whites held negative stereotypes of blacks. And that blacks were more tolerant of Latino immigrants than Latino immigrants were of blacks."

The survey asked such questions as whether members of one group saw the others as hardworking, trustworthy or easy to get along with.

A majority of Latino immigrants, 58.9 percent, said few or almost no blacks are hardworking. Nearly one-third said few if any blacks are easy to get along with. And nearly 57 percent said few if any blacks could be trusted.

Only one-third of blacks, on the other hand, said they distrusted Latino immigrants; 42.8 percent said most or nearly all Latinos are easy to get along with; and 72 percent characterized them as hard-working.

Negative views toward blacks tended to be higher among male Latinos but lower among those who were more educated. Although it was too small to be statistically significant, some evidence suggested that unfavorable perceptions lessen with time spent in the United States.

Latinos seemed unlikely to have absorbed the attitudes from whites, the researchers said, mostly because whites were more positive toward blacks. Only 9.3 percent of whites said few blacks work hard, only 8.4 percent said few or no blacks are hard to get along with and only 9.6 percent said few if any blacks can be trusted.

More than three-quarters, 78 percent, of Latinos said they have more in common with whites than blacks. But whites said they have more in common with blacks -- 45.9 percent, as opposed to 22.2 percent saying they have more in common with Latinos.

Blacks were split on whether they have more in common with Latinos or whites -- 49.6 percent and 45.5 percent, respectively.

Through El Centro Hispano, Durham's Latino community supports advocacy for the economic interests of poor people of all races and ethnic backgrounds in Durham, said Alba Onofrio, El Centro's director. One way it does so is as a member organization of Durham CAN, which stands for Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods.

Friction arises from causes besides race, she said.

"We find that more often it's a matter of class and not of race," Onofrio said.

And although Hispanics are El Centro's main constituency, it aids other local immigrants, such as the Tanzanian Association, which meets at its offices, she said.

Onofrio suggested that Durham Latinos' attitudes toward blacks may be affected by black-on-Hispanic robbery, which gained a high profile in the mid-1990s as Latino immigration to Durham increased. But that, too, has more to do with blacks and Latinos living in close proximity, with both groups in dire economic straits, rather than race per se, she said.

"That creates a tension, because people aren't able to see out of that box that they live in," she said.

Although the study didn't look at crime, other evidence suggests Latino immigrants' attitudes about race may be formed in Mexico, where most Durham immigrants are from, McClain said. Recent studies there have documented racism and discrimination toward darker-skinned people, she said.

Three others of the study's 10 authors are at Duke: Niambi M. Carter, Victoria DeFrancesco Soto and Monique Lyle. UNC researchers Gerald F. Lackey and Kendra Davenport Cotton participated, as did J. Alan Kendrick of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh.

In the United States, relations can improve as long as people are willing to examine their presuppositions, McClain said.

"If you recognize these attitudes exist, you can begin to ameliorate them," she said. "The question is, since they exist, what do we do about them?"

By toneloc24 on Jul 11, 2006, 14:33 in Friendly Talkzone.

Colombiche says on Jul 11, 2006, 14:44:

Negative stereotypes of recent arrivals toward blacks are usually brought from their home countries.

All that the black on latino robberies do is reinforce the negative stereotype.

Many light skinned (and some not so light skinned) latinos tend to try identify with whites when they arrive. That tends to wear off with time though, when they realize they are just as much at the butt of negative generalizations. There are plenty of negative stereotypes about latinos out there as well and you learn that with time. I

t doesn't matter how light your skin is, your last name is Lopez and you speak with an accent you are "latino" or "hispanic". We just get lumped into that one category, nobody really breaks us up into races.

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

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Simon says on Jul 11, 2006, 14:45:

"What I found most interesting was perception. I think it does indeed pertain to Colombia, as I've had my share of "experiences." Thankfully, the better experiences greatly outweigh the negative ones."

We colombians have also had our share of "experiences" in terms of perception here in the States.

BTW, were those latinos that were surveyed mestizo, white, black, mulatto, indigenous, etc? I think it's pretty inaccurate to just lump us all as one. I bet 99% of those surveyed were just mexicans or central americans.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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utopiacowboy says on Jul 11, 2006, 15:02:

I love it. Of course it will be met with denials by the PBSH crowd.

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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toneloc24 says on Jul 11, 2006, 16:50:

at Colombiche "Although the study didn't look at crime, other evidence suggests Latino immigrants' attitudes about race may be formed in Mexico, where most Durham immigrants are from, McClain said. Recent studies there have documented racism and discrimination toward darker-skinned people, she said."

Nothing enforces your perceptions like a good ole' upbringing. That and media images. You could probably replace Mexico here with, Argentina or Colombia or Chile, et al. It's the same perception, no matter how people try to downplay it.

Black-on-Latino crime, Black-on-Black crime, Latino-on-Black crime (yes, it happens frequently - trust me in NYC), Black-on-White crime, Latino-on-White crime, White-on-Black/Latino crime (where would we start? LOL!!!) Point is, crime happens. The other groups seem not to use it as the basis of their perception.

"PBH is dead!!!!"

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platano says on Jul 11, 2006, 16:55:

...

plátano

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platano says on Jul 11, 2006, 16:56:

toneloc24, Is it going to have to be the green banana who first uses the "R" word? The attitudes they bring with them are racist attitudes prevalent in Colombia. I heard very racist jokes in Colombia when it came to blacks, jokes that were only negative and denigrating. It's in the popular consciousness.

Si Dios fuera "verde" compay, todo cambiaria... fuera nuestra raza la que mandaria...plátano

plátano

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 11, 2006, 17:05:

the media just loves to cram it down our throats every day too. if everyone just went about their business and stopped concentrating on their own differences & inferiorities, then the rest of us might just start to realize we really have much more in common than previously admitted.

that being said, what one has to remember that competition for employment also drives alot of this perception just as it drives perception amongst the sexes as well (one example).

the summaries to be derived from this report can only be perceived to be just that, perception. in fact, the real roots are deep seated as blacks have a much longer oppressive history in the good ole USA. the goverment has in turn trained a very negative attitude from this group as a consequence and even built in motivational factors to turning away what one might consider work or a job. latinos seem to be the most recent substantial mix into the working population taken the last 10 years as compared to the prior decade.

i wonder what the real natives think about all of this? who cares about them though. their statistical relevance stopped making headlines after we diminished their numbers to next to nothing. the media can't get their dollars worth out of that ethnic group anymore.

nothing can be derived from these type of reports but cheap "your different from me" arguments that lead to inevitable "i'm better than you" conclusions. the real culprit lies right there between your ears telling you and reassuring just how important you really are and hence you will always deserve more and are entitled to it.

go write your congressman............

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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toneloc24 says on Jul 11, 2006, 17:07:

at Simon No one's disputing nor downplaying that Colombians have had to endure their own "experiences" here in the USA.

Somehow I sincerely doubt that 495 out of 500 Latinos surveyed were of Mexican or Central American descent.

Anyway, by any chance, can you see any way in which there might be any truth to this study? Not trying to be confrontational at all. Just found this study interesting.

Later, I'll share some of my return flight experiences from Bogota and Lima back to Atlanta to lighten the mood. Funny how material circumstances and environment can quickly change someone's whole outlook.

"PBH is dead!!!!"

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platano says on Jul 11, 2006, 17:10:

Si Dios Fuera Negro Compay... Compositor : Roberto Angleró
Album de R. Angleró :Tierra Negra : Si Dios Fuera Negro

Si Dios fuera negro -mi compay- todo cambiaria
Fuera nuestra raza -mi compay- la que mandaria

Negro el presidente y el gobernador

Negro el abogado y negro el doctor compay

Si Dios fuera negro -mi compay- todo cambiaria
Fuera nuestra raza -mi compay- la que mandaria

(...)
Negra Blanca Nieve
Negra Mona Lisa
(...)

Si Dios fuera negro -mi compay- todo cambiaria
Fuera nuestra raza -mi compay- la que mandaria

Negro fuera el dia
Negro fuera el sol
Negra la mañana
Negro el algódon -compay-

Si Dios fuera negro -mi compay- todo cambiaria
Fuera nuestra raza -mi compay- la que mandaria

Negro fuera el Papa
Y negro el ministro
Los angeles negros
Negro Jesus Cristo -compay-

Si Dios fuera negro -mi compay- todo cambiaria
Fuera nuestra raza -mi compay- la que mandaria
(...)

Voz 1 : Tu ves este tipo blanco que está aquí?
(...) tiene el corazon negro

Voz 1 : Oye ¿qué pasa chico?
Voz 2 : ha pasado usted la linea negra

Voz 1 : Muchacho, tengo una hambre blanca !plátano

plátano

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caslug says on Jul 11, 2006, 17:42:

i find this funny n a sad way.. i remember whenever the subject of "racism n colombia" gets brought up on this board.. many posters cry that it VERY SMALL, BECAUSE there's NOT alot of blacks n COL! Due to govt census stating that ONLY at 1.5% of COL are black! lol!

But why should it be suprising that people bring their personal views when they move from one country to the next? we foreigners do the same when we visit col or other countries.

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Crazy4Cali says on Jul 11, 2006, 21:51:

you see what you look for... It's just like when driving your car, you could pass or be passed by 100 SUVs/pick-up trucks/Porsches/Minivans-driven-by-soccer-moms-on-cellphones or what ever and never notice them. But as soon as one of them changes lanes and cuts you off, all-of-a-sudden, it's "Those damn (fill-in-the-blank) drivers!"

I think people are tuned to pick up on the exception and ignore the norm, as such, they remember the exception AS the norm (after all, it's all they picked up on). The latina in G.D's example could have worked with 100 black women, but as soon as she worked with only one who had a questionable work ethic, it's now "ALL" blacks...

It takes a concerted effort to be aware of the people around you that do not fit a particular negative stereotype becuase you're programmed to ignore them as "normal." Many people just don't want to take the effort to a) observe their surroundings more accurately, let alone b) change their views as a result. They're just too busy (or self-absorbed).

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Rubiazo says on Jul 11, 2006, 22:25:

It also has to do with People simply not being stupid, they see that being black is NOT a good thing in the USA and that you can have a hard way to go. So they want to identify with white people, because in their perception that is where all the opportunity is.

Of course white people in America really do have a lot more in common with black people in America than people from anywhere else. They share most of a culture and a language, whereas people from Latin America really do act and think differently.

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Rubiazo says on Jul 11, 2006, 23:02:

There are differences but whites and blacks in America are a hell of a lot closer to each other than they think they are. Actually if anything, from past experience I would say that blacks are socially more conservative in general.

Both both white and black people have more in common with each other than they would with first generation immigrants from Latin America, almost no matter from where. As different as the language can be (and the media has gone a long way to eliminating those differences), it's still not as big as the difference between English and Spanish!!!

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Albatross says on Jul 12, 2006, 04:20:

. I gotta agree with Rubiazo on this one, whatever the differences (and there are many) Black and White Americans share over 200 years of history and a relatively common culture together. I think it's hysterical when pea-brains like Oprah trot on over to Africa and pretend that they actually have shit in common with a poor Somalian or Namibian. Most black Americans would last about two days with their "brothers" in Africa before they scrambled for the first plane back to Cleveland.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Albatross says on Jul 12, 2006, 04:24:

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Albatross says on Jul 12, 2006, 04:24:

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Rubiazo says on Jul 12, 2006, 07:50:

My point exactly We get a LOT of recent arrivals from West Africa here in the Bronx, and they and the Afro-Americans just HATE each other's guts like you wouldn't believe. The Africans are really shocked when they find out just how informal and brash the Americans really are, many of them are actually polite and formal to the point of being pompous!!

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larumberainglesa says on Jul 12, 2006, 07:55:

The report doesn't mention black Latinos. I suppose there are not many in Durham if most of the Latinos there come from Mexico. I spent a month travelling round Mexico and can't remember seeing any blacks. In fact in a city as big as Mexico City I was very surprised how few other races there were there. So it's not surprising what the report found. Would be interesting to go back there now I am married to a black Colombian!
By the way Platano - Si Dios Fuera Negro is one of my favourite songs!

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Simon says on Jul 12, 2006, 08:21:

Yeah, what about the black latinos? Do you guys know that many americans don't even know that there are black latinos? I remember watching an episode of 'Good Times' where the youngest son was mentioning famous african descendants to his father and when he mentioned one who sailed with Columbus named 'Pedro Alonso' the dad immediately responed "ain't no way that's a brother!" As if speaking spanish didn't make them black....what ignorance!

They probably don't know that most blacks in the western hemisphere actually speak portuguese, since Brasil is the nation with the second largest black population in the world, after Nigeria.

Colombia has the third largest Black/African-descent population in the western hemisphere after Brasil and the USA.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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larumberainglesa says on Jul 12, 2006, 08:45:

When I tell people my husband is Colombian of course they are interested as we live in a small town in the UK then when they meet him they say things like oh, he doesn't look Colombian (how the fuck would they know what a Colombian looks like anyway I wonder but don't say!!)but what they mean is oh! He's black! I didn't know there were black people in South America.They think they are saying it in a PC way but we could actually have a better conversation if they just came out and said it! I then sometimes say 'because he's black?' then they squirm etc so I judge the situation first. I think there is a lack of info about South America her in the UK anyway. When I went to live in Ecuador everyone thought I was going to Africa. The majority of blacks in the Uk come from the Caribbean so when he opens his mouth people are confused. A neighbour thinks he is from Nigeria. I think it's all down to lack of information. Perhaps the world cup has helped - all but 2 of the Ecuadorean players are black which probably surprised some people.

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Colombiche says on Jul 12, 2006, 09:14:

Simon That is just the thing.

If you are a black latino you are automatically just latino, but not really black.

If you are a white latino, you are not really white, just a latino, or hispanic.

I have had idiots who never met a colombian in their lives tell me "You don't look colombian". When I ask them what a colombian is supposed to look like they say "Uhmm, I don't know.... dark?"

What you have to explain to these dimwits is that latinos can range from being 100% of black African descent to being of 100% European descent or 100% native descent (most being somewhere in between the three).

We just get lumped into one big pile, it's almost like they replace your race with just "latino", "hispanic", "spic" or what have you.

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

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elmodefoque says on Jul 12, 2006, 09:34:

I lived next to a black neighborhood and former home of Edgar Renteria, in el Barrio Abajo, Barranquilla. Sometimes they used to come over and chase our ass around when they found us messing with burritas in the woods. They did not like sloppy seconds, but all changed when black families from San Andres moved to our block and became our allied and buddies to the end. One thing we all shared was our dislike for the pendejito looking light skin Colombian A-holes, but they knew better than to set foot in our neighborhoods.
As far as my relationship with gringo blacks, shit, I live smack in the middle of those modefoques, had my ass kicked a number of times by them but I still wanted to be a soul brother, specially back when the Spinners, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, The O’Jays, the Delfonics, Curtis Mayfield etc. were kings.
I wanted to be freaking “Superlfy” and even tried to perm my hair into an afro, infuriating my best buddy of all time Darrell. He said my hair was too damn dead and straight, it was hopeless.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Miguel says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:08:

Colombiche I am with you about that "lumping into a pile" comment. A few years ago I had a girlfriend from Guayaquil; her father's family was Italian and her mom's equatoriana. She was a blonde knockout with the latina body, spoke good English, and was very classy. I always introduced her as my "southern girl", and usually people asked if she was from Texas, Atlanta, or Miami. When she told them "I'm from a little more south of Miami" and those asking the question where dumbfounded to find out she was from Ecuador...same thing with a buddy of mine here in St. Louis who was born in Havana and owns a restaurant/grocery store specializing in Cuban and Mexican food. He is one of those people that can slide from speaking Spanish to English in a heartbeat. He gets that "but you don't look like a Cuban" all the time, and replies like you would.

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Colombiche says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:15:

Elmodefoque parece que tenia "pelo ingrato".

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

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Colombiche says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:24:

Yes Miguel I am very familiar with those comments, and I am not even blonde. I have dark brown hair and green eyes, white skin that can tan easily but I guess that is enough to put me in the "albino spic" category.

My friend alejandro from Medellin is so pasty, he puts any Canadian to shame. He has light blue eyes and light blonde hair and his skin is so tranluscent you can see his blue veins. We call him "sapa-blanca".

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

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elmodefoque says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:27:

lo que tengo es un pelo bien hp. muchos todavia me dicen pelo de burro, y yo le digo, burro tu maldita madre, cara de verga

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Colombiche says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:29:

ja ja ja pelo de alfiler, o peli-chuzudo.

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

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elmodefoque says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:31:

cabeza de cepillo o es sepillo?

I'll get there, when I get there!

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webmanco says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:32:

pelo de cuca "cepillo"

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Colombiche says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:34:

Elmo
Cepillo.

Webman - pelo de cuca si fuera crespo.

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

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elmodefoque says on Jul 12, 2006, 10:35:

porcupine head
porcupine head

I'll get there, when I get there!

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riomagdalena says on Jul 12, 2006, 17:37:

Black and from Colombia Boy do I know how he feels and you. I am a native of Suba and have a medium brown complexion and the other week, en mi casita, here in N.C. a "true" Colombiana curled up her brow when the owner told her that I was a Colombiana too. She just couldn't believe that I, a latinegra, could be from Colombia because I'm not pasty white. I wanted to flip her off and cuss her out for being so friggin' ignorant. It's bad enough we get alot of BS from el gringos, but to get it de sus gente....well that really stings. Tu sabe?

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miamimike says on Jul 12, 2006, 18:57:

The Black Cubans see it(racism) all the Time in Miami BTW, someone alluded to the fact, no blacks in Mexico. Wrong, there is such a person(s) in the coastal towns of Mexico. I have a Black Cuban friend and she tells me all the Black Cubans live in Miami Beach or move to NYC because they are widely discriminated aginst in typical Latino Miami strongholds such as Hiahleah, Weston, Kendall, Adventura, Coral Gables. Miami Beach is a lot more open minded, jews, tourists, Russians, europeans, Gays ect, all people who at one time or another in their recent past experienced discrimination.. She tells me of a lot of Racism in Cuba and its transported here when they immigrate. Racism is not an inate quality but a learned one from from parents and peers...

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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tejasmarcos says on Jul 12, 2006, 20:57:

when my latinegra novia explained to me one day that blacks from the US were also Gringos, it kinda made me stop and think a minute. it should not have, but it seemed a little out of place for some reason at the time.

so now i'm thinkin about starting a new organization called the NAACG or better known as The National Association of the recognition of Colombian Gringos. we're gonna start pushin for some rights down here......

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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webmanco says on Jul 13, 2006, 06:56:

Afrocolombian Art Taken from El Tiempo

Afrocolombian Art at Luis Angel Arango Library

Medio centenar de obras de arte afrocolombiano se exponen en la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango

Durante dos años, dos curadores realizaron una revisión para mostrar la presencia afro en las artes plásticas del país. Aquí está.

Para dar una mirada a las artes plásticas afrocolombianas y su influencia en el país, los curadores Mercedes Angola y Raúl Cristancho hicieron lo mismo que los mochileros cuando van a las selvas, ríos y playas chocoanas: caminar sin afán y sin una ruta exactamente preestablecida.

En dos años dieron forma a ‘Viaje sin mapa: representaciones afro en el arte contemporáneo colombiano’, una exposición en la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango con casi 50 obras de 18 artistas que, independientemente de sus raíces, trabajan el tema.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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JLynISU says on Jul 13, 2006, 08:43:

Sadly, I used to be stuck in my own ignorant assumptions that all Latin Americans were brown. This was years ago way way before I met some Cubans, Panamanians, and Colombians that seemed to resemble 100% black or 100% white. When I took a trip to Spain I had met tons of blond-haired blue-eyed Spaniards, which squashed my assumption that Spaniards were more olive complected with dark hair. I think the media has some part to do with the brainwashing that goes on, cause I myself bought into the stereotypical BS. I'm extremely embarrassed that I used to think that way. And even now I cringe or get pissed off myself at folks who say, "He/She doesn't look Latino, He/she's black-skinned/white-skinned."

I can also relate a bit. I'm an American but half black/half white. I'm very fair skinned with dark curly hair, and more stereotypically resemble someone from Italy or Greece. I constantly get my black half questioned and downsided because I'm fair-skinned. "You can't be half black, you're so light-skinned." I get this more from Asians/Indians and Latinos rather than blacks or whites. A lot of uneducated numbskulls do not know how genetics work. Then again, we have the lovely media as well to thank.

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