Race mix-up and the term 'gringo'
I know that there have been many threads on the term 'gringo', including this one.
I have a couple questions that go further into this subject...
1.) Nowadays, does the term 'gringo' refer to just white people?
My problem is that I get really offended. I am multiracial and for some reason I hate it when people say otherwise. Even though most of the people that I associate with here know that I am not "white", they still refer to me as gringa when talking about me. In previous threads, I see that some think the term is used for anybody from the United States. Is this true?
2.) Do any of you have issues with people getting confused about your race / heritage? If so, does it upset you?
I am not sure if getting upset is something unnecessary. I do try not to take things personal, but it is a bit hard in this case. I already am a foreigner, and adding the term 'gringa' just makes me feel more of an outcast.
17 Answers
My Mexican friends assure me that when they refer to me as a gringa that they mean no offense, and I have no reason not to believe them. I know that for many race is a very touchy issue, but in my life it is a total non-issue. On my father's side I am of unknown liniage, and I don't waste any time wondering about it. Forty years ago MLK hit it on the head...that one should not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character (paraphrased slightly).
For the sake of your own blood pressure if nothing else, try not to take offense when none is intended. Trust in the good intentions of the people who surround you. I'll bet you anything that you think of yourself as a foreigner much more often than they think of you as a foreigner. Make it a non-issue just by being yourself.
And as far as being "proud" of one's heritage, I've never understood that. How can one be proud of something they have had absolutely no control over? Your heritage was either 1) chosen by God or 2) a matter of complete chance, depending on what you believe in, but in either case you had absolutely no hand in choosing it.
If nothing else, the world-wide participation in this forum proves that we are of one race...the human race. That is the only race by which I will identify myself.
I married into a Latin family. My mother-in-law was Colombian, of pure Spanish decent, white with red hair. My father-in-law was full blooded Inca Indian from Ecuador. All six of their kids are "mestizo" or mixed blood with a wonderful mixture of the features from both parents.
My husband's sister married an Irish American guy. His skin and mine (I'm half English and half German) are pretty similar. Although just like her brothers and sisters, there is a mix of the Indian and European features among her kids. One of her four children came out "white," looking more like me than her mother.
The way they deal with it in their family is to refer to people as "chocolate" and "vanilla." The chocolates don't need sunscreen when they go to the pool or beach. We vanillas do.
We don't use the word "gringo/a" and we don't use any nicknames for the Latin/Indian people either.
I am a white northern European with Irish and French ancestry (a while back) - and probably others I don't know about.
I don't care what anyone calls me - I remain what I am.
PS I had nothing to do with it.
I think this is one of the biggest misunderstandings that occur between Spanish-speakers and foreigners (specifically North Americans). Hispanics, Latinos, Spanards, Ticos, Catrachos... whatever you want to call "them" almost NEVER use this term to be offensive. I thought the same thing when I first went to Honduras but the fact of the matter is that, because of their complete unbiasedness (word? I don't know...) regarding race and skin tone, they playfully and lovingly call people by what they look like. In Honduras I had friends that looked Asian and they were called "chinos", even though, they were HONDURAN!
Don't be offended by it, it's an endearing thing for them and they don't mean to be offensive whatsoever. I've learned the best thing to do is embrace your status as a gringo/a! I always joke with my friends about being a gringa... especially when I make a Spanish mistake. And, they laugh and tell me I'm a catracha (Honduran).
the fact of the matter is that, because of their complete unbiasedness (word? I don't know...) regarding race and skin tone, they playfully and lovingly call people by what they look like Boy do I every agree with Rachel, I lived and worked in Caracas for a short while - six months - and one of the first things I took note of was exactly what she says - I heard a girl in the office comment about the delivery guy who had just dropped off a package 'vaya has visto ese negrito' my hair almost stood up and I said 'nooo, what did did he look like' and she pretty well drooled so I knew it was a good thing. From then on I observed exactly what Rachel said, I really love the way they are - it is absolutely wonderful. 
That can be confusing if you come from a mixed family... even hard on the children at times. Personally, I like being mixed. You get to experience more than one culture. 
I also notice a lot that some Americans call all Hispanic people "Mexican", no matter where they come from. This happened a lot to a friend I once had, and it always offended him.
I wouldn't let it get to you, it's just as insulting as "immigrant."
You know, that is a good point, but would you want to be introduced to everyone as "the immigrant". It does get quite old.
This reminds me of a scene in Monster-in-law, where the women gets introduced as being "a temp" to everybody. She loved her job, but I did make her quite mad. The mother-in-law did do it to upset her, but I feel like that is the position I am in... haha.
For me, I really dislike the term "güero,"
Every time I hear this term here, it is referring to hair color. They would say, "Ella es güera pero se pintó el cabello...". You also hear 'cabello güero' for blond hair.
It is believed that "gringo" comes from native Mexicans overhearing the campfire songs of American, German, but specifcally Irish soldiers. There are other possibilities, but one way or another it is believed to be a misunderstanding of English pronunciation.
Therefore, the word has its place in history. While the term is often directed at United States citizens it has slowly come to refer to a broader spectrum of foreigners, but specifically Europeans. I have heard residents of Mexico City refer to French and British tourists as gringos.
I wouldn't let it get to you, it's just as insulting as "immigrant."
Gringo is a bit of a fluid term. Sometimes it means foreigners, other times it refers to white people. It can be used negatively (like saying "You're not from around here,") but can also just be a way to distinguish someone.
If I can make a generalization, I'd say that Hispanics (at least my friends from Central America) don't have as much of an issue with talking about a person's race or ethnicity as we sometimes do in the U.S. It may sound insensitive to our ears, and I occasionally have to ask my friends not to use the term "morenito," but talking about someone's race is not that uncommon.
If it bothers you, take it as an opportunity to educate others. For me, I really dislike the term "güero," but I've learned to pick my battles. I've had so much confusion over my ethnicity and nationality with Hispanics that I've pretty much given up on people being able to guess right every time. I've met some people who thought I was a Spaniard because of my accent and others who thought I must be Eastern European and was told that I don't look like an "American."
But, really, does it matter that much?
You know, I wish it didn't matter! That is why I do not like these terms. It is like they single you out from everybody else.
I asked question #1 because the people I was with made it a point that I was 'gringa'. They said I was American and gringa. Obviously if I am American I am a foreigner. I was a bit confused... haha. Also, once people find out that I am from the states, they ask me, "¿Eres gringa?", which I assume means 'white' in that context.
We may all have different backgrounds, but in reality we are all the same.
- I believe so, yep. I'm part of an international missions organization group of friends that sends missionaries from Canada and US to Mexico, and all the white people are comically referred to as the gringos, regardless of origin.
- Absolutely not. I'm about as plain white as they come, but my circle of friends is very NOT white. Heck, my wife was born and raised in Mexico City, and her maid of honor in our wedding was half Japanese, half Ukrainian.
I dunno, it's just my opinion, but I think people get a little too bent out of shape about their race, heritage, etc. Genetics and interracial marriages are blurring the lines between races badly, so much so that it's hard to tell a person's true "race" sometimes. But, really, does it matter that much? Technically, I have a very heavy Norwegian heritage, but in America, I'm just plain white. I don't find it's worth quibbling over.
I've always thought of "gringo" as referring specifically to Americans, though I think calling an Hispanic American a gringo would be weird. But to my ear so would be calling an Englishman a gringo.
I'm afraid my race and heritage are rather obvious, so I shouldn't have an opinion. If it makes any difference, my brother married into a mixed race family. His wife is Hispanic, her ex-husband is African American, and his stepdaughters do have this issue.
I have a Bolivian friend - his name is Eduardo - nobody calls him that he is called Turi" (no idea why) or "Gato" because he now has a Spanish passport. I call him "Amigo"
I'm not sure about all of the parts in Centro America, but I know in Panama the term "Gringo" was originally meant as foreigners with money. (Namely, but not restricted to the USA, where the currency is green) Green Go, money go! I don't think that it is used that way now. It is simply a name that has stuck.
I was told this story by a local born and bred Panamanian. This could be the culture he has been brought up on, or simply his own thoughts. I cannot be sure.
This is the first time I have heard someone say that the term immigrant is offensive.
My wife is an immigrant - when we're in the USA and I am an immigrant - when we're here in Mexico.
How is "immigrant" any different than "ex-pat" or "resident" or "tourist"? It's just an official term describing citizenship or visa status.
As for other terms - like güero - c'mon. Those are descriptive terms like blond or brunette.
And finally, it has always cracked me up a little bit that here in Mexico people call each other terms of endearment like "gordo" or "flaco" or "chino". People's physical attributes are not thought of as being offensive. They are what they are.
I guess that people can get offended by whatever they want. I once owned a little house that I was very proud of (my first), and on the official documentation with the county it was classified as a "shack". Yep - that's an official term. I thought it was funny and told people that the new house I just bought was a shack.
