Jessica Alba: Don’t Call Me Latina!
Posted by: on July 2, 2007 at 5:48 pm
 In a recent issue of Para Todos magazine, Jessica Alba denied her Hispanic heritage. Among her quotes concerning her ethnicity: “I’ve got cousins galore. Mexicans just spread all their seeds. And the women just pop them out.” [Media Takeout]
47 Responses to "Jessica Alba: Don’t Call Me Latina!"1 | Jimmie Robinson To be honest, I agree with Alba on this… to a degree. Granted she’ll be standing aganst the tide of history, and culture, but as a person…. her own person… she has the right to call her own shot, and if she thinks of herself as an American actress, and not a latino one, then there ya’ go. I think the question might be should she loss her Latino support as a role model? When someone gets to her level it’s not a “me” issue any more. Once you’re considered public material you either go underground and stay out of magazines, or you embrace the merry-go-round and play the game like the rest. To do otherwise brings the hammer down. However, she’s riding high right now. Got her youth and her face plastered around and she’s in demand. But when that star fades I wonder if she’ll look for that Latino support? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, I support her personal stance. It’s a bold move in a strange world. Jimmie Robinson 2 | Beyondhairy Honeslty its people like this who piss me off. Jennifer lopez tried the same stunt after Selena came out. She doesnt know spanish and claimed she wasnt Puerto Rican and now she is all about Puerto Rico? 3 | Kayode Kendall Damn, Beyondhair, tell us how you *REALLY* feel! I do agree with you on one point: I’m tired of well-known actresses taking roles as strippers and NOT nuding up!! (I excuse Natalie Portman in Closer, only because the movie was more about couples discussing sex than actually showing them doing it, so I’d extend that to not showing her character nekkid) Thank god for Rosario Dawson in Alexander! 4 | Dave Samuels You see…what you have to understand that these words…’Latino/latina…hispanic’….have no meaning. They were made up to segregate peoples. For example…people from Spain are offened if you call them hispanic or lantino…they’re Spanish. Puerto Ricans (my mother is Puerto Rican) consider ourselves Spanish since mostly Spanish peoples populated the island amonst the Boriquen natives. People from Brazil speak mostly Portugeuse…they consider themselves Brazilian. So with Alba…if she was born here in the USA, she’s America folks. If she grew up with American culture she doesn’t have to follow the ‘fake’ word latin american. I myself was born here…my friends and culture are here. I’m an American…I don’t say ‘hispanic’ or ‘latino’…my mother is from Puerto Rico..so I’m from Puerto Rican descent. 5 | John Morales She just does NOT want to be labeled as GHETTO or BARRIO. The media just loves to tie every ethnicity to the poorest and least educated. given that other latins do NOT give her an out – by that I mean allow her to be latin AND educated AND successful, what else is she supposed to do? Same goes for JLo – as soon as she came clean – the ghetto/bronx jokes started and all the “home boys” started to talk about her like a whore. As long as ghetto types think being one of them means a woman is a whore or a bitch don’t expect any successful latin woman to “claim” her heritage with pride. Expect the opposite – denial since most women would rather die than have their “own kind” disrespect them to the world while the struggle for success. 6 | Karen Jessica is right in that she’s American. If you fight in the nation’s wars, as Mexican-Americans have dating back to the Civil War, then you are an American. What Jessica doesn’t understand though, is that SHE is in a position to change stereotypes about Mexican people. Instead, she’s running like her grandpa. You can’t run dear. Wherever you go there you are. 7 | gABY IF SHE WAS TO BE FIRST RECOGNIZED BY THE LATINOS THENNNNNNNNNN SHE WOULD SAY THAT SHE WAS LATINA!! yOUR LATINA AND SHE BE DAMN PROUD OR THAT! 8 | coco Seriously I am sick and tired of mixed celebs saying : I couldn’t fit in. I am also tired of her saying she has big butt and comparing herself to JLo. She always says she is curvy and stuff but she is size 0 or 2 maximum. Now she says don’t call me a latina. Well she is a latina cause she ain’t white at all, maybe a wannabe white but that’s it. She is saying to all Mexican girls born in America that they have to become white to be accepted and that’s not true. You can still keep your heritage and be proud of that while being an American. I wonder why Italian Americans don’t ditch their heritage. 9 | Sandra My parents are Puerto Rican because they were born and raised in Puerto Rico. I am born and raised in New York and therefore I am American. While I speak Spanish fluently and love what I know of my heritage…the foods, the language, the traditions, I am just as entitled as the next person born here to say that I am American. What does it mean to be American anyway, but to be born here. It does not mean that you’re caucasian. I would never deny my heritage but simply feel that I am different from my people in PR because my experiences are different. While to a degree I understand Alba’s view on the subject, I do not agree with her talking about Mexican women in the way that she did. It’s insulting and completely unnecessary to say such things in an attempt to really seperate herself from Mexican women. That was dissappointing. 10 | RLS Jeezus christ. It’s frigging Jessica Alba! If people use her as a role model or an example then they need to get different role models. She isn’t even a good actress. She’s just hot. 11 | Raymond Stolp “I am your nurse… and you are my hospital.” 12 | lindsay actually jessica alba is half mexican, half danish/french. 13 | coco Well, every race has its issue. “American” is not a race. It’s a nationality. You can be American but Latino, African American, Asian, or Caucasian. She needs to learn that. Jlo is an American but her ethnicity is Latina. What’s wrong w/ that? Ms. Alba is just looking for attention and adds to all the other complaints she already has like being pretty. Frankly, she is overrated. 14 | SikhAvenger Hispanic (or Latino) is not a race. Unfortunately it has become a cultrural group that has been foisted upon American categorization in order to group all Spanish speakers into one area. In fact, just like “American” comprises many races, so do Spanish speakers, and even different countries. You have black, Indian (or Native American for you PC-philes), Chinese, and yes white. It is the only group officially put together by its culture and not its race; that’s why they have that conspicuous White (non-Hispanic) and Black (non-Hispanic) listings when you look for a job. The really fucked up thing is that when you try to get a job and look up the distinction the distinction for who is white, they list all peoples from Europe (which I presume includes Spain), North Africa, and Arabic origin! 15 | Annonymous I don’t get Jessica Alba. Yes, she is very overrated. I dont hate her though, but she is a huge dissapointment to mexicans (latino’s) everywhere. Specifically mexicans. She can be proud of being American and all,but it seems like she really doesn’t care about mexican culture. She just wants to fit in with all the other American actresses. Whats the big deal? J-lo is puerto rican (latino) and she proud of who she is! Why can’t she?!? I’m not mexican though. There is nothing wrong with mexicans. She’s also high maintenence. I’m not a fan of her. I’m more of an Adriana Lima fan. She’s proud of who she is (African,Native,Swiss born in Brazil) She doesn’t deny her own culture. Jess Alba should do the same. Also, SHE DENIED BEING MEXICAN, BUT HOW COME SHE DIDN’T DENY BEING FRENCH OR DANISH? HMMMMMMM……. 16 | rob September 6th, 2007 at 5:19 am She’s not a Mexican you ignorant jerks. Just like John Travolta isn’t Italian. Dwight D Eisenhower wasn’t German, he was an American. That is their heritage, but they were Americans born and bred in the USA. She wasn’t born in Mexico and doesn’t even speak Spanish, so she’s not Mexican. Her parents weren’t Mexican. Her grandparents weren’t Mexican. Do you get it now? Dolts. Should Americans of Scottish descent have to walk around in kilts and play bagpipes and consider themselves to be Scottish? Should Americans of Irish descent have to eat potatoes everyday and keep telling people they are Irish? Should Americans of Italian descent have to speak Italian and eat pasta all the time? So why is Jessica Alba supposed to “act” like a Latina and push her heritage? She just wants to be a regular American. I see nothing wrong with that. You fools need to get a grip and stop being so worried about race and ethnicity. I applaud Ms Alba for not being small minded. She is an American. 17 | rob September 7th, 2007 at 11:04 pm I’m sorry, I take it all back… I guess I got a hold of some bad crack. You guys aren’t fool. Yes, you’re all right about JA, she is a sell out… I’m such an asswipe 18 | NYMedStudent September 7th, 2007 at 11:30 pm Dear Ms. Alba, I’m a proud American too. My grandparents were from Mexico, but my dad was born here. He is a decorated war veteran from the Vietnam War. And now I’m medical student here in NY. I feel part of the American Dream… Yes, I’m proud to be an American. But you know what?… as strongly as I love my country and as strongly as I feel that I am a unique individual, I still feel proud of my Mexican heritage. And if I were an American of German, British, or Chinese, (etc) heritage I would still be proud. Where “Rob” (and Ms. Alba) have it wrong is that it’s okay to be an American and still embrace one’s ethnic roots. Rob is also wrong about other ethnicities not expressing their pride… they do. Here in New York City, they have the Irish-Day Parade and it’s awesome… good for them. Why, I’ve even heard bagpipes played by proud Scotsman at the Tartan’s Day Parade (Scottish). But, I guess it’s different to be proud if you’re of European heritage: Case in point is Sean Connery… a proud Scotsman… yet no one faults him for this. To deny one’s heritage, as Jessica does, demonstrates a type of self loathing that is not only hurtful to herself, but it is also hurtful to others who share similar heritage. Her behavior is best explained by a lack of education, maturity, and good parenting. Shame on her and her parents! I sincerely hope that Ms. Alba seeks out help so that you can reconcile her past with the lady she is today. 19 | Gustavo September 20th, 2007 at 10:02 am Well let me see here…..Jessica alba is beautiful and when i found out she had some mexican in her (no pun intended) I thought that was cool. since im mexican too and i think “latin” women are the most beautiful women in the world. But now that I hear that she is trying to distance herself from her mexican heritage, by saying she is not a latina well i think shes full of shit. I mean you cant pick your ethnicity you just have to be proud of what u are. And i think shes a fool for making such ignorant comments…..shes still beautiful though call me girl! 20 | MZ BOSSY September 23rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm WELL IF YOU ASK ME THE BITCH IS RACIST AND THAT IS SO WRONG THAT YOU DENY YOUR OWN RACE. THAT UGLY BITCH IS HISPANIC SHE AINT NO AMERICAN. IS LIKE MIKE JONES SAYING THAT HE IS WHITE HAHA. STUPID LAME TRICK SHE NEEDS TO CHECK HERSELF!!! 21 | ~♥Alma♥~ September 24th, 2007 at 3:56 am I am a Mexican-American–born in Mexico, and raised in the United States since the age of 4. I have now lived in this beautiful country for 24 years and have loved every minute of it. ♥ I will always love the U.S. for “taking me in”, for the wonderful skills & education I have acquired, and because I’ve met the love of my life here, with whom I plan to raise a family. As far as Mexico goes…I have to be honest. I don’t have too many memories of living in Mexico, as I lived there for only 4 short years and didn’t attend school there. But you know what? I LOVE Mexico and I love being Mexican. My parents made sure that I learn to read, write, and speak Spanish fluently and they taught me to love my home country, just as I love the U.S. This is why reading Jessica’s comments upset me. There are other actresses in Hollywood who are proud to be who they are and even credit their roots & upbringing for their success. If Jessica were anything like them–as intelligent as she is beautiful–she could have a brilliant career with a huge (latino) fanbase. I understand that she doesn’t want to be typecast, but she went about it the wrong way. She should be proud of all the little branches in her family tree, embrace who she is and learn to love herself. It would be great if she retracted her comments and maybe apologize to anyone who may have been offended by her them. Although I was upset to read that one of my favorite actresses isn’t who I thought she was, I was not offended, because I KNOW that her comments regarding Mexican women were erroneous and I am proof of that. 22 | Princess Jessica Alba is 100 % right when she says she is an American actress not a latina actress…she does admit to being PARTLY of mexican heritage….She wasn’t born in Mexico to be considered a latina actress, she doesn’t speak spanish, she wasn’t influenced by mexican culture just like she wasn’t influence by french or danish…so what’ s the problem? She is not saying she is french or danish just like she is not saying she is mexican-she is a 3rd generation AMERICAN-I am white/non hispanic but I will agree though…her statements about mexican women, etc…were ignorant , sterotypical and very offensive-the truth is…the society judges people based on their appearance and she looks hispanic more then anything so people expect her to consider herself that and get upset when she doesn’t …noone considers Cameron Diaz or Cristina Aguilara a “latina” even though they are half-why??? cause they look “white”- 23 | mixed girlie who cares? she can say whatever the heck she wants about her OWN heritage, because it’s her own. not yours. and btw, that heritage is american, since her family raised her that way. and (in reference to an earlier comment,) the only reason why she doesn’t deny her danish/french heritage is because she doesn’t have to! nobody tells her “oh, so you’re a french/danish actress” and doesn’t she embrace either of those cultures too! do you see her learning french or danish? NO! because she’s american, so she talks and acts like one. duh! 24 | ~*~Liz~*~ I found this article that would help explain a little. I guess. I still think she’s an ignorant white washed trash, she’s no good example for anyone, she is having a child out of marriage, I know it’s the thing for these famous people, I don’t care what she is, I just found it entertaining, I won’t be giving my money to her movies… *LOL* I’m glad she’s not claiming MY heritage, she’s a disgrace anyway… Here is the article I was speaking about… by Gustavo Arellano Dear Mexican, Dear Spic, Because Mexicans aren’t Hispanic—Mexicans are Mexican. Besides, the history of “Hispanic” involves two attributes Mexicans despise: political correctness and a clueless bureaucracy. In 1975, Caspar Weinberger—then Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare—created the Ad Hoc Committee on Racial and Ethnic Definitions to address the country’s increasing diversity and to force bureaucrats to evolve beyond such antiquated, offensive terms as “colored,” “Oriental” and “Guatemalan.” According to a 2003 Washington Post article, the secretive committee—no minutes exist of their meetings—decided that the government would use “Hispanic” rather than “Latino” to describe the hordes that, then and now, swarm across our southern borders. Not all the committee members agreed, and the debate over whether to use “Hispanic” or “Latino” has raged since. Ultimately, though, neither side wins: a 2002 Pew Hispanic Center study discovered that 54 percent of Hispanic/Latinos/wabs primarily identify themselves by the country of their ancestry, while only a quarter of those surveyed called themselves either Hispanic or Latino. Contrary to Chicano urban legend, the Richard Nixon administration didn’t institute “Hispanic.” Although Weinberger was Richard Nixon’s Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, the Dickster was far from Washington when Weinberger, then reporting to President Gerald Ford, created the ad hoc committee that settled on “Hispanic.” Sucks, doesn’t it? I mean, wouldn’t it have been swell if we could’ve included “Hispanic” alongside Proposition 187, the Minuteman Project, Mendez vs. Westminster and the Taco Bell Burrito Supreme into the Orange County Mexican-Bashing Hall of Fame? 25 | kandi I have to agree with Jessica Alba 100%. I hate how the hispanic community is always trying to take credit for non- hispanic actresses. Her success is not because she is half or third of something, it is because she is ayoung talented actress. Halle Berry is half white and half black but you will never hear her be proud of the fact that she is half white. She is right away labeled as an african -american actress. Sshe constantly talks about not being accepted in school and being picked on. Everyone gives this excuse to be more interesting or so us people feel sorry for them. I’m not born in the USA but this country has been wonderful to me and im proud to be part of it. For all those people who are not proud to be American, they should get the fuck out now. Period. 26 | Daisy and Nancy We ThInK Dat foR SaYiNG thInGs Like That HEr BabY Is GoinG to LOOk LiKe a StraiGht uP BeaNeR> We R LaTiNas 2 anD BorN iN CALI AnD oUr ParenTs oR GranPapIs WhEre BorN iN the USA aNd We R Proud Of BeInG LaTiNaS We HaVe HiDDEn DaT Fact. If SHe aInT HisPaNiC Y Did She MakE Dat LaMeAsS MoVie “HoNeY” WhErE She PLaYs a HISPANIC!! HELLOoOOoOo!!! Am I MiSsiNg SoMEtHiNg HERe CauSe UhhHmm Dat BiTch GoT FuLL Lips, DaRK Skin, And MEaN oH CurVes I HavE NeVa SeeN DaT oN a WhIte WoMan!! PeaCe In Da MidDLe East I aM OUTS!!! 27 | mireflejo February 6th, 2008 at 11:15 am this is so sad i think….. i dont care what generation you are… you are what u carry in your blood… and let me tell u.. she looks more hispanic than me! but its true… she has the right to say whatever she wants.. as ignorant as it may be … just dont be lookin for the Latin suppost, .. Latin awards, shows, magazines… stand on your own.. if you are gonna be a sell out… then fine.. but dont lean on us… cuz.. ur not really hispanic…right? 28 | Kathy She, like many people in the damn RACIST U.S., lack knowledge and are full of stereotypes. Hispanic/Latino is NOT a RACE, it’s a CULTURE. If you’re born in the U.S., you’re American. Full Caucasions and full African-Americans aren’t the only Americans for the love of God! However, when we get into ethnicity, you’re either Latino, Caucasion, African-American, Pacific-Islander or Asian. In ethnicity, Jessica Alba is OTHER(that’s also a category for you idiots out there). She, like many people who are half Latino or full Latino, are sick of STEREOTYPES. They’re sick of people telling them they have to act a certain way, the have to eat a certain way, they have to talk a certain way, they have to live in a certain area, they have to look a certain way; when there are Latinos who have white skin,blonde,red hair, black skin, narrow eyes, etc, NOT JUST BROWN. I’m sure if she had blonde hair, people wouldn’t be bothering her so much. Cause like she said, Cameron Diaz is half Cuban, but because she has blonde hair and people are so uneducated of what a Latino is, they don’t bother her at al. 29 | Kathy Also, why do they ALWAYS put Latina before Jennifer Lopez? Fine, Jennifer Lopez is of Puerto Rican backround and she’s always screaming it like a low-life Nuyorican, but she was born in New York and doesn’t know one damn FACT about Puerto Rico. (BTW, Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico highly despise Nuyoricans) They say Latina because she’s brown. However, you have someone like Alexis Bledel who is half Argentinian and half Mexican and she speaks fluent Spanish and they never, ever, call her Latina. Why? Because some people are simply in DENIAL. THEY NEED TO ACCEPT THAT NOT ALL LATINOS ARE POOR, BROWN, DRUG ADDICTS, WHATEVER THE HELL IT IS THAT THEY’RE ALWAYS POTRAYING LATINOS AS. One last example, I read an article about Dayanara Torres where it said that she didn’t get parts because she had a slightly thick accent and she didn’t look Latina. I mean, c’mon, if she’s telling you she is Latina and there’s others that you’ve done the same thing to, ISN’T IT MORE THAN CLEAR THAT, THAT IS PART OF WHAT A DAMN LATINO LOOKS LIKE? Saying a Latina with white skin, blonde or red hair, isn’t Latino enough, doesn’t make them any less Latino. Stereotypes WILL NEVER END AND IT”S SAD. 30 | Czarchiva February 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am Being Latin is not how you look is your culture traditions there are White latinos,Black Latinos,Asian Latinos i remember her saying in a talk show cant remember if it was Gay Leno or the other guy that she would spend time with her family and drink some hot chocolate with mexican sweet bread all you mexicans know thats pracitcally a tradition i do that in my grandpas Rancho in mexico 31 | Bella February 25th, 2008 at 1:02 am Yeah …well she is eating her words now…because she is on the “Latina” Mag…Front Cover 32 | michael I know where she’s coming on this so it’s hard to criticize her on it. She may feel like she’s being pigeonholed and people are overwhelming her. I think it sounds a lot worse than she means it. It’s just that not everyone has had closeness to all of their family and such. Not everyone understands that. 33 | alejandra i know this dumb chic! nobody pays attention to her ass so she has to point out that supposely she has a big ass and compares her self to jlo, gimme a break she looks like a washed out dumb ass mexican chic and sorry alba but us REAL hispanics dont even think of you as one of us! she talks about ” everyone wants to be like us latinas they want put pouty lips” okay right there she just contradicted her self and people want bigger lips because of beautiful angie not because of this ugly bitch! she dont even got an ass i’m sorry! 34 | AFROLATINA Well Cameron Diaz is not the only one who does no get recognized 4 being latina Joanna Garcia (cheyanne FROM REBA) & ALEXIS BLEDEL MIGEL FERER DR. GARRET ON CROSSING JORDAN RAQUEL WELCH SABRINA BRYAN CHARLIE & MARTIN SHEEN CLAUDETTE ORTIZ FROM CITY HIGH ALANI “LALA VAZQUEZ MTV VJ TATYANA ALI FROM FRESH PRINCE ALFONSO RIBEIRO CARLTON FROM FRESH PRINCE JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER FROM SAPRANOS AND MIGUEL NUÑEZ FROM JUWANNA MANN ALL BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY LOOK MANNY SAY THAT THEY HAVE TRIED 2 GET ROLES AS LATINO BUT GET TURN DOWN CAUSE THEY ARE EITHER 2 LIGHT OR 2 DARK 4 WHAT HOLLYWOOD CONSIDERS LATIN. BUT YET PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT CAMEN ELETRA IS… AY! 35 | DRzzz she never said anything about “don’t call me a latina” its all a lie ppl damn!!!!! they made this shit up!!! get the Latina Magazine with her on the cover.. by now its old soo just google this – The Jessica Alba Controversy 36 | olga Somethings that you guys are forgetting is that “Latino” is not a race. It’s a stupid term that means “from latin america” but is not a race. She’s half AZTEC so I’m more worried that she doesn’t seem proud of being AZTEC. 37 | Tatie You know what, im Mexican, and I leave in Mexico, and im really disappointed by Jessica Alba, the problems we have are caused by people like her who instead of embracing who she is, deny it. 38 | Fer Why are people making such a big deal out of this. She made it big in America good for her! Maybe that was the type of mentality that helped her succeed, feeling as being part of the country without having any barriers, instead of feeling like I’m a poor Mexican the whites wont accept me and I have to push my Latin heritage, how lame. Those who use race to define themselves, have in a sense low mentalities and are not above recognizing their own individuality to be someone beyond their self-imposed barriers 39 | mr little @Fer – With all due respect quit being a retard.There are many blond haired blue eyed mexicans who have done well in Mexico. I bet you would sell your countries heritage if the price is right. She did impose a barrier on her by dissing where she comes from. 40 | mr little @Fer – With all due respect quit being a retard.There are many blond haired blue eyed mexicans who have done well in Mexico and they proudly claim they are Mexican. I bet you would sell your countries heritage if the price is right. She did impose a barrier on her by dissing where she comes from. If I were of her family I would have told her that money and glamor doesn’t mean bending down to the American dollar. 41 | 123@Jackie WHO THE FUCK IS SHE KIDDING? Wooow what a fake ass bitch with low self esteem being ashamed of what he is. pathetic 42 | LARA October 31st, 2008 at 11:34 am It’s so sad how people here have no idea what Latin or Latino(a) means,I’m not just talking about American,I’m talking about people that call themselves Latino(a).What they need to know is that Latino are all people that speak a Latin language,that are Spanish,Italian,Portuguese, 43 | Robert November 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm Latino/Hispanic isn’t of any physical identity at all, is a culture/language. Jessica Alba is mixed-race. And yes she is an American-Actress, She was born in the United States of America. God i hate these stupid terms “hispanic” “latina/latino”! This was made up in the united states and everyone wants to follow along… 44 | P3epe December 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am As a Mexican, I hate the words Latino and Latina, they sound like Spanglish, like something an uneducated person says. Call me Mexican, Latin American or Hispanic but don’t ever call me Latino. 45 | lola December 12th, 2008 at 11:11 am Whatever i agree with alba .i wouldnt want to be associated with being mexican in any .fisrt of all their nasty they have stupid a.k.a s they all think they can rap which they cant .also they draw in thier eyebrows…. shit is disgusting.so uhhhm border hoppers should not be complaining about her nd what she said …they dont even have the right of freedom of speech cuz their not even citzens ….:) 46 | Multiracial facial I agree with Jessica… Only because she wasn’t raised to be a Latina. If she were in a room full of Latina’s she’d probably feel less Latin then they are because she doesn’t speak Spanish nor does her father or grandfather. What about her mom? Should we dismiss the fact she is NOT Latina? Her mother is Anglo Saxon(Dutch, French) so how could Jessica claim Latina as her main ethnicity anyway? She shouldn’t be labeled Latina just to categorize her. Would that make her hotter or something ? Oh she’s a Latina actress how spicy! Please. If Jessica was dark complected there w ould be no Latina argument because Latina’s would call her “Black” the first thing they would say is she doesn’t look Latin, she doesn’t speak Spanish so she should identify as Black. Contrarily because she “looks” Latina, should she accept being called Latina when that is half her ancestry? She isn’t cultured enough to make her choose a side and it isn’t fair. I am multi- racial African, Spanish, French,Irish, Seminole Indian, Apache Indian, British and Jewish. Why should I have to pick a race to be part of? I am mixed with all of these. Because of my Spanish decent should I identify as Latin? No. I speak more Spanish than Jessica does however. Should I identify as Black because of my different skin tone. I’m not dark, not light and not brown. Would Mexicans be so quick to claim her as their own if she had an African mother and her skin came out dark yet her fathers roots are Mexican? 47 | Bea I find Jessica’s situation interesting. I am second generation Mexican-American and I the similar feeling toward my Mexican culture. I have no problem identifying with my hispanic culture, but it is so difficult to do so when I grew up speaking mostly English (I do know Spanish but it is easily forgetable as most people I speak with are English speakers.), I could care less about the Mexican traditions and most of the food. I feel like I am americanized and when I am around “Hispanic or Mexican” people, I don’t have much in common with them. Don’t even ask me about spanish music, film, or TV. My friends are from different backgrounds, my boyfriend is African-American. Since we are in America, we need to appreciate that there are many cultures. Culture is something fed to us as children, we cannot be expected to identify with something that is not known to us. We can educate ourselves as we get older, but nothing compares to getting culture from a young age so it is ingrained in our brains. Again, I love being Mexican-American, but I do not think race, ethnicity, culture is something that can be easily classified because our family came from some where or we have “distinguishable features”. So many times, someone asked me “Where are you from?” or said “You speak such good English.” like I must be from another country for looking the way I do. I find that offensive. So I imagine that other people who are mixed like Jessica Alba are even more conflicted on their racial or ethnic identities. But, Jessica should learn more about her Mexican heritage, even if she doesn’t do all the stereotypical things that we are supposed to do, maybe her little baby will grow up knowing more about themself and not hate on being part Mexican. Anyway, she is famous and should be thankful that people even give a shit about her at all. BTW, the terms hispanic or latino/a to me is a little too generic, but there has to be terms to encompass such a racially diverse group from so many countries. I would rather be called hispanic than some other words that exists for us. |
 |
Also Check These Out!
Latest from PCS COMICS
Latest from PCS IS DEAD
|
|
|
