[Paula]

Is it true that people with Italian or French origin are considered in the United States to be white (European Americans), but people with Spanish origin are considered ‘Hispanic’ (a ‘different ethnicity’)?

User Detail :  

Name : Paula, Gender : F, City : Buenos Aires, State : NA, Country : Argentina, 

[John29273]

I know where your coming from. Many times a Hispanic person will have the same comlplexion and features as someone from the Mediterranean. Considering that most Argentines are of Italian and Spanish origin, you probably notice that. However some countries have populations that look very sub-saharan African (Dominican Republic, for example) or Native American (Mexico, for example). Since the 1st Hispanics in the US were Mexicans (via the takeover of the SW) that didn’t look white, that’s probably how Hispanic became a ‘race’. What I don’t understand is that a Puerto Rican will be considered ‘Hispanic’ and sometimes a Spaniard will be considered ‘White’ even though they’re the original Hispanics.

User Detail :  

Name : John29273, City : Albany, State : NY, Country : United States, 

[C19200]

Last time I checked the official US Government designation of ‘Hispanic’ would be cultural origins from Latin/South American continent (ie Brazil), Central American sub continent (i.e Mexico)and Carribean Islands (ie. Puetro Rico)

User Detail :  

Name : C19200, City : Pontaic, State : MI, Country : United States, 

[Pena19829]

I think people from Spain,Portugal,Italy,and France are considered white because they are European. As if European is somehow better. People from Spain are sometimes considered Hispanic or Latin too. I think it depends on how dark or light their skin is.

User Detail :  

Name : Pena19829, City : Herndon, State : VA, Country : United States, 

[Michele]

So funny that you asked that. I’m Italian and my boyfriend is Puerto Rican, and we were saying just the other day how funny it is that our cultures are so similar, yet I am considered white and he is considered Hispanic. Italian Americans have their own traditions and customs, are darker complected, and have more in common with Hispanics than Whites. It’s something that’s happened over time, I guess. When Italian immigrants first came here, they certainly weren’t considered white. I’d say only in the last thirty years or so that it’s changed, although I’d say some people think of us as ‘Ethnic White’. Kind of shows you how stupid labeling people are. I’m glad we’re not the only people who thought it was odd!

User Detail :  

Name : Michele, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : New Age/Metaphysical, Age : 32, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : Reservationist, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Wayne24402]

Uh, yep that is generally true in this country.

User Detail :  

Name : Wayne24402, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 43, City : Parsippany, State : NJ, Country : United States, Occupation : marketing, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Mike]

I have friends from Spain, and they don’t consider themselves Hispanic. Same thing for my Peruvian friends. I’ve heard the term most commonly refering to people from Mexico, Central America and the Carribbean. French speakers in the Western hemisphere have distinct cultural and ethnic distinctions, too. Creole (usually black French speakers) Metis (a French/Native American hybrid culture) and Cajun. Other Mediterranean people like Italians, Greeks and North Africans never set up colonies here that might have developed new ethnicities.

User Detail :  

Name : Mike, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : American Indian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 35, City : Middletown, State : CT, Country : United States, Occupation : programmer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jamie]

I am an Italian American. I do consider myself Caucasian simply for instances where you have to check a box. I’ve yet to be confronted with the opportunity to check off the Italian American mark–yes you can hit other and type it in like I did just now–but that is a pain. However, when it comes to discussions of culture, I use the classification of Italian American. I think that in the US today that it is simple for people of white skin just to blend in with caucasians of European appearance making it more common. As for the inexistance of Italian ‘colonies’ as being the cause, they did exist once upon a time. SURVIVAL of Italian communities, on the other hand is a different story. My grandfather is first generation in my family. He came here when he was 10 and did not begin to speak english at all until he was 15. He simply didn’t have to because in no one in his West Virginia, Italian community spoke english either. So they did exist, just didn’t last.

User Detail :  

Name : Jamie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Italian American, Religion : Catholic, Age : 21, City : Springfield, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student/Insurance Agent, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Kari]

I am part Corsican from the Mediterainean Sea and I would not call Cosicans white because they are so dark skinned compared to other peoples of Europe.

User Detail :  

Name : Kari, Gender : F, Race : American Indian, Age : 19, City : Seattle, State : WA, Country : United States, 

[Jade19456]

I am Spanish (from Spain). Mostly I have been considered as White (by informed people). Other times I have been referred to as Latin (which I am not). Spanish celebrities such as Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz are referred to as Latino in the US. It drives me insane.

User Detail :  

Name : Jade19456, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 18, City : Sydney, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper class, 

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