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In reply to the discussion: George Zimmerman is part black. [View all]a la izquierda
(11,791 posts)My sister-in-law is 100% Mexican. And she hates Mexicans. She's joked that we should switch ethnicities. I have been told countless times "Don't go over by that Walmart, that's where all the wetbacks, narcos, and border jumpers hang out." She doesn't know Spanish, nor does she allow her kids to learn it. Yet, I've asked her if her kids will check the "Latino" box, or whatever the hell it's called, when it's time for college.
Her answer, of course, is yes. Ridiculous.
In Latin America, FYI, you are what you identify with. Example: one can be an indigenous person by blood, but in no way identify or be identified as such; case in point with "Mayan" members of the Guatemalan military slaughtering Mayan peasants during the Civil War. Those members of the military likely did not in any way identify with an indigenous ancestry or culture. In many (not all) parts of Latin America, your skin color is really not that relevant. This has a long history that most Americans do not fathom because it's very different up here.
This is especially true of people of mixed ancestry, and especially true of indigenous folks.