Isn't in colloquial usage, hispanic seen as a synonym for mestizo

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In summary, the conversation discussed the classification of different Hispanic groups and the discrimination they may face. It mentioned a Supreme Court case where two Spaniards were discriminated against and how their Hispanic surnames played a role. The topic also delved into the complexities of grouping people based on surnames and the absurdity of this practice.
  • #1
Dremmer
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And thus treated as a race? White hispanics and black hispanics aren't seen as hispanics, and mestizo people are seen as being the hispanic race.
 
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  • #2
I posted this in the wrong forum. Could someone move it to the Social Sciences forum?
 
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  • #3
There was a Supreme Court case a few decades ago in which two Spaniards working in the U.S. filed suit against their employer for discrimination. The employer contended that they couldn't claim discrimination because they were both caucasian. The court decided that they did qualify for a discrimination suit because of their hispanic surnames. Considering the court's decision and that I am not hispanic, is my adopted daughter from Mexico, now with a non-hispanic surname, still hispanic?

Frankly to me, the idea of treating group with nothing in common except a collection of surnames is absurd. To include Spaniards and citizens of the Domincan Republic in the same group is as absurd as including citizens of France and Haiti in the same group.
 

1. What does the term "hispanic" mean in colloquial usage?

In colloquial usage, the term "hispanic" is often used to refer to people of Spanish-speaking descent or origin. This can include people from various countries such as Mexico, Spain, and Latin American countries.

2. Is "hispanic" a synonym for "mestizo"?

No, "hispanic" and "mestizo" are not synonyms. While "hispanic" refers to people from Spanish-speaking countries, "mestizo" refers to people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, specifically in Latin American countries.

3. Can "hispanic" be used to describe someone's race?

No, "hispanic" is not considered a race. It is an ethnicity that encompasses a diverse group of people from various cultural backgrounds and races.

4. Are all hispanic people mestizo?

No, not all hispanic people are mestizo. While mestizo is a common racial identity in Latin America, there are also white, black, and indigenous hispanic people.

5. Why is the term "hispanic" sometimes seen as controversial?

The term "hispanic" can be seen as controversial because it is often used as an umbrella term that erases the diverse cultural and racial identities within the Spanish-speaking community. It also has historical and political implications, as it was first used by the US government to categorize and label people from Spanish-speaking countries.

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