Latinos Should Acknowledge Their White Heritage

Not to say that I don't agree with you in some respects, but I think as an Afro-Latino, the reason why I don't acknowledge any white lineage is exactly because the regime that existed in my parents' respective homelands created a dynamic where only the white heritage was acknowledged, and many people strived to be more White even if they didn't have noticeable traces of White in them. I think that's why so many Latinos say what they do, and I have a feeling that this still exists all throughout the Americas.

So what?
Culture is not passed on in the blood, it is taught at home.

If we follow the logic of genetics then we go down the path that others, like the Nazis, used to say that some people were genetically better than others thus they should rule over the lesser people. In a society that incorrectly values purity over hybrids we are opening a Pandora's box with genetics.

Also, 'mated' is too kind a word, it was rape.
The mestizo children of these rapes were not valued unless they agreed to serve as slave masters to appease their 'fathers.' We have been following that paradigm too long.

Accept? We weren't accepted and still aren't. They want to emphasize their hyphen Latino name in order to get jobs, books and movie deals as our population grows and they realize they need to 'brown up' or would it be 'brown down?'

Funny, but sad.

It suggests male European settlers mated with native and African women, and slaughtered the men.

What a nice little euphemism for "raped and plundered."

I agree with jose except on the not acknowledging the white heritage. You have to acknowledge all of your heritage and come to terms with it: white european conquerors raped and killed the native and enslaved Africans to bring them over to work for them. Thus, any celebration of "mixed" heritage has to be accompanied by a recognition that it came about as a result of relentless violence perpetrated against Natives and Africans.

We cannot do anything about it. It is what it is. But we must acknowledge that.

The other thing is that since "white europeans" and, subsequently, criollos were the dominant ethnic and cultural group in the Americas, our history is told through their eyes and point of view. That's why a conscientious search of the "Afro-Latino" or "Indigenous-Latino" perspective is needed. To get the full picture.

"We cannot do anything about it. It is what it is. But we must acknowledge that."

- GOLD!

So is the next part, but I feel there is too much racism that Latinos hold against whites...as you said, it must be acknowledged - like it or not. :)

While avoiding any hint of Negationism it's worth noting that our vision of the past has been heavily clouded by the politics of the past. It would be convenient to believe that every Spaniard was a blood-thirsty conquistador embodying a decadent and retrograde aristocracy. It was certainly convenient for the Dutch and English who popularized the Black Legend to justify their own imperialist ambitions. The Spaniards that came to the Americas certainly included the soldier of fortune and the missionary (cruel, ruthless, lusting for gold and converts) but they also included peasants, artisans, merchant, religious outcasts,etc. The picture is more complex. One gets the sense from discussions like this that history is meant merely to edify, to inspire noble feelings of pride or righteous shame. Can one really say it is a choice between the noble savage or the conquistador. Either characterization is as patronizing as the other. Besides, the Anglo-American evaluations of our "type" have always deemed us the worst of both. Who benefits from these feelings? Our lineage does not make us murderers, rapists, fanatics--violent, sensual, cruel. Those, unfortunately, are traits we share with humanity. We hope our virtues require no numeration or genetic proof.

Latinos have acknowledged their European roots since the arrival of Columbus. Remeber Jose Vasconcelos wrote about the "new" RAZA in Mexico that has come about due to the mixing of cultures.

However, Mexico and other Latinos continue to disregard their indegenous ancestry. Have you seen any of the "Spanish" tv networks. I know you understand what I mean. Is that truely Latin America...not what I see when I travel.

THe fact athat we are "AMERICANOS from the Americas" is the tragedy in this whole debate. So much knowledge was destroyed when our mother were raped...that we must now wait for archeologist and scientist to tell us about our selves. I just read today in the newpaper that they have found a gold necklace in Peru that dates back about 4,000 year ago. Every day new discoveries are made that change past interpretations of our world. The story of Latin America is still being written.

The truth is that many Latinos view the Americas just as Blacks see Africa...a mother land. La madre patria es Esapna, Whatever! What has she done for us? What sets Latinos apart from other in our world is aMErica.

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Latinos and African Americans (AA's) face the same identity issues. AA's that talk about being mixed, or of mixed ancestry are ridiculed. So when we (yup I'm an AA) meet Latinos the fact that some tell you they're Black, and that persons full blooded sibling, might tell you that they're White, because they are a shade or two lighter.

In the US, they made it pretty simple 1/32 Black, you're Black. That's why Carole Channing finally came out and said that she is really Black. If she did not "pass" she would not have worked in Holly and a confusingly light Black person.

Also, so many Litinos I've met will tell me "Yes, my Great, Great Grandfather was a Spanish General", To AA's always sounds like, "Oh yeah? Mine was a slave ship Captain. You think they met?"

And nobody ever says, "Hey yeah, my Grand Dad, was an escaped WWII war criminal."

The truth is, the mixed races of the Americas are the product of bad shared experience. The pride comes with a dose of sorrow.

In the end, that is what is like to be a human being.

Just love who you are. All of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I don't get it!?!? Just because it is or might be in your past, why do you have to be proud of it or even acknowledge it?

Genes do not make us who we are, they don't shape our character. To say otherwise opens up discussions that we have fought against such as: then who is the superior race?

Be proud of who you are based on your experiences and who and where you were brought up. What dust and air fills your body? What thoughts and ideas were told to you while held as child or what you learned on the streets or in pages written by minds you connect with. That is who we are, not some great great great grand child of rapist.

I agree with having pride and identity based on the experiences that occur in our lives. I think that's the main reason Latinos find themselves in the USA. We are here because of the potential that this land has provided others. It entices us!

In the end its all about knowedlge of self, simply being human. It is what it is! I agree.

Yet, we don't call blacks "English" because they speak ingles. Pero a mi, hablo espanol and they call me Spanish! Por que!

Lastly, I always see kids with shirts with indegenous messages, warriors, pyramids, symbols. However, they don't seem to take interest in wearing a shirt of a conquistador, a knight, a sailing vessel.

You have to listen to the youth.