Race Designations

Corrine Ardoin · 2007-05-09T16:45:07Z

I wanted to thank everyone, Paula, Emilie, Robert, and Esperanza for the tremendous help you have given me regarding this sensitive issue of race classifications in Mexico and, as you pointed out, in America, as well. We I wanted to thank everyone, Paula, Emilie, Robert, and Esperanza for the tremendous help you have given me regarding this sensitive issue of race classifications in Mexico and, as you pointed out, in America, as well. We see this sadly all over the world. People ask me if I am Hispanic and I say, I'm an American of mostly Mexican and German ancestry. Since I have been doing genealogy, I have been thinking, well, my Mexican ancestors were of Spanish ancestry, so maybe I should start saying that, which gets me back to being "Hispanic." Yet, there could be some French, some indigenous mixture there, so it just doesn't work to get down to classifying ourselves or others anymore. I could say I am of European ancestry, but that still excludes all possiblities. That's what they have been finding out in the census taking, that people are no longer simply white, black, brown, yellow, green, or purple, but a blending of races. When it comes down to it, what is the purpose of this kind of accounting anymore? My mother was born in Guadalajara, spoke Spanish, and she grew up with her family in Los Angeles. The story is told a million times over, family members one by one immigrating to the U.S. during the Mexican Revolution and then staying here. My mother's mother only spoke Spanish, grew up and went to college in Guadalajara, but worked in LA in the garment industry as a factory worker until retirement. My mother's father was born and raised in Chihuahua and El Paso. He was a musician, like his father, worked as a film extra in silent movies, but eventually became a clothing salesman for Victor Clothing Company in downtown LA until his retirement. I used to see him on their television commercials in the 1960's. He had changed his name from Jesus to Fred. My grandmother's aunt owned a shoe store on the plaza right by the Cathedral in Guadalajara, lived a well-to-do lifestyle and had servants. Her store was burned down during the Revolution, so she immigrated to the U.S. She worked all the rest of her life for the Diamond Laundry Company in LA. Why didn't the women do as well in this country as their own? I know that they lived in fear of getting sent back to Mexico, they isolated themselves, they did not want to stand out or make waves, make a fuss, and they all had a great deal of pride. I married a man of French and English ancestry and live far away from my family now. The Mexican influence of my upbringing has worn off quite a bit, I have found out. At a Mexican restaurant last Mother's Day, we had brunch with my mother and my brother and his wife, who is Mexican. He asked me if I had tried any of this particular dessert they had there. I said I didn't know what that was. He looked at me and asked, "You don't know? What kind of Mexican are you?!" So, you can get it from all directions, put down for being too dark, too light, too Mexican, not Mexican enough, for speaking Spanish, for not knowing Spanish, etc. etc. Enough said. Thank-you, all! Corrine Ardoin American Heinz 57

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tehuima2

(@tehuima2)

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not to confuse the issue or to kick a dead horse . . . pelotas in Europe (futball) did not bounce until they added bladders made with Mexican ulli (rubber) . . .many people of the time were so facinated with the added movement as compared to their hides stuffed with annimal hair that the king had to put a moritrium in place so that the townspeople would go back to work . .

victorianonavarro wrote:
I lived several years in the USA and for me the racial designations used there were rather confusing.
Most of my black friends back in the USA were African, but not American; they were born and raised in Nigeria, Kenia, etc.
Same with my Asian friends in the USA, they were fom China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, not American at all.
As a Mexican, the one I foud really silly (por no decir estúpido) was Mexican-American. Here in Mexico we learn that America is one continent (not two; North and South America). So, any citizen from any country of the continent is an American (Canadians, Cubans, Brazilians, Hondureños, etc.). So, pretty much ALL Mexicans are Americans (unless you happened to be born in Europe or so, but have Mexican citizenship). So, the term Mexican-American is just redundant.
As for referring to people from the USA, I never call them American, but “citizens from the United States” or, in Spanish, “Estadounidenses”, unless I’m trying to make a distinction among them and Europeans, Africans, etc. I also have heard the term “Unitarios” (Unitarians, from the UNITED States).
By the way, my favorite football team is Mexico’s Club América, their logo is a ball (the kind of ball you play with your feet, as the name of the sport indicates) with a map of the American Continent. What they call football in the USA we call American Football (as opposed to the European Football of Soccer, so no problem there with the term American) and I root for the Chicago Bears, although they kind of sucked last Superbowl. Go Bears! Go Illini! ¡¡¡¡Viva América!!!!! ;P
Regards,
VN

Posted : 11/05/2007 8:30 pm

tehuima2

(@tehuima2)

Posts: 17

Posted : 11/05/2007 8:30 pm

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