General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am Latina but pass as White [View all]DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Both my parents are from the island, but my mom has skin that looks outright Norse, and my father is about the same shade is Halle Berry or Beyonce, though his long nose tends to make people mistake him for Arab or Amerindian. I have run into many times when my white firends would talk about Puerto Ricans, although to be fair, the ones they thought of were what we call "Tregena" the sort of very tan image most people associate.
However, the fact is, race is very often assigned by the society, regardless of the culture we have in our homes. A lot of people say Barack Obama should not be considered black. Yes, Barack was raised by the white side of his family, but all you need to do is watch the umpteen signs that tell him to "go home to Kenya" and you know that no matter how he talks or walks, he will be considered black enough to be hated and killed. Those of us "pass for white" latinos always know that the same people who "like" you will suddenly turn on you the minute they think you have anything to do with "them" and yes, we do keep that in mind when we select who we truly consider friends.
There is a saying in Spanish "Y tu abuela donde?" When someone puts up very fancy airs, and tries to impress you with how high class they are, the questions is asked "and where is your grandmother?" The reason is that if the Grandmother was black, and the grandchildren were white, the grandmother would hide herself so that the grandchildren would not be discriminated against. Said grandchildren would always be the most practiced in "white ways" i.e. the ones that insisted they were pure sons and daughters of Spain blood and act like it. Racism is a weed that grows in all soils, sadly.