[J.C.]

I work at a Mexican restaurant where employees sing if there is a birthday, and if we don’t know the name of the person we’re singing the ‘Happy Birthday song’ to, we use the name Pancho. A couple of white people, however, have taken offense to this. Since Pancho just means something like Frank (help me out if I’m wrong) why were they upset? Or could they have been racists who used the term as an expletive?

User Detail :  

Name : J.C., Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 21, City : San Antonio, State : TX, Country : United States, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[ACC25020]

I’m surprised you haven’t heard of these names being used as epithets before. Maybe epithets is a bit of a strong way of saying it, but white racists routinely use these names as generic indicators for Mexicans. Remember Pat Buchanan baiting Latinos with his speeches saying ‘Jose, we’re not letting you in [the United States] anymore!’ Chances are, these whites had heard the names used that way by fellow whites who were racists, and assumed you were using them the same way. I don’t think they were racists themselves, though, or they wouldn’t have objected. If they were racists, they would have cheered or laughed.

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Name : ACC25020, Gender : M, Race : Mexican and American Indian, City : Phoenix, State : AZ, Country : United States, 

[Gabriela Davis]

The people who were offended by the use of ‘Pancho’ in the birthday song were either 1) being overly PC (which can become offensive in itself); or 2) were used to hearing that name in derogatory terms. Pancho is a nickname. I know of several people who are Latino and refer to themselves by that name. Also, the name fits in with the theme of the restaurant, Mexican food an heritage. I say keep using the name, you’re not doing any harm.

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Name : Gabriela Davis, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Racially mixed Hispanic and Black, Age : 21, City : Washington, State : DC, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Chris Baker]

I agree with the previous post. But I would like to add that being insulted by this ‘Pancho’ thing really has nothing to do with race. It is simple respect…whther you were singin to mexicans or whites it is disrespectful to gloss over someone’s name and replace it with anything else. take the time to find out the person’s name before you sing to them. If you sang happy birthday to a stranger who came into your restaurant who was mexican would you just call him John? or Juan? or would you ask his name first? I think that this is the simplest solution to the expression. I for one am not offended by being called pancho…but then again no one has ever called me pancho. Now if you meant for me to be offended it would upset me. Just like if you are angry at me and say my real name – chris- in a demonstrative manner, it would upset me as well. So I think it is all in context and you must simply be sensative and thoughtful. Say something like…. Hello we would like to serande you with a birthday song, my name is J.C. – what is your name? And then shake their hand. then sing the song and insert the name.

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Name : Chris Baker, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 26, City : Summerville, State : SC, Country : United States, Occupation : Graphic Artist, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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