Comments on: Jessica Alba: Don’t Call Me Latina!

By: Bea

Bea — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:15:26 +0000

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.

By: Multiracial facial

Multiracial facial — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:47:23 +0000

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.
It’’s weird. All the cultures I am mixed with reaveal in my features somehow. My hair is Blondish- brown with golden red highlights in the sun. I have high cheekbones thanks 2 Native and African contribution. I have thick hair but it isn’t kinky but wavy. My eyes turn gray or green or light brown depending on what I’m wearing. I am very attractive and proud 2 be me. I know Jessica is confused & she’s not passing for White her mother IS white why can’t Jessica be just as much White as Latins want her 2 be Mexican? What a contradiction.

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?

By: lola

lola — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:11:50 +0000

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 ….:)

By: P3epe

P3epe — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:40:04 +0000

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.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:18:16 +0000

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…

By: LARA

LARA — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:34:08 +0000

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,
French and Romanian.the term Latin American was created by French Napoleon III. The term were a product of France’s ambitious,imperialistic desire to establish its power in the American Hemisphere,while taking advantage of the revolutionary cries for independence then echoing throughout the Spanish and Portuguese colonies of Central and South America.He chose Latin America under the pretext that Spain and Portugal ,also,came from the Roman World and,therefore ,were included in the Latin concept,which had given origin to France’s culture as well. First do not mix White,Black with Latin or Hispanic,because White and Black are Race but Latin and Hispanic are not.Do not say she is Latina not White!!! doesn’t make any sense.First you guys have to learn that we just have 4 Race,Caucasian(White),Mongolian(Asian),Ethiopian(Black)and Native America,others are invention. A Latino person can be any one of those.I would say that people that call themselves Latino here they look more Native American then any other Race.
I’m Italian and we see ourselves Latin,but when I see how the word Latin is wrongly used here make me very sad.To me Latin here is just for the Spanish speak population,they have Latino magazine,Latino cable but all in Spanish,I even don’t think the Brazilian Portuguese speak population are include in this Latin thing here.

By: 123@Jackie

123@Jackie — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:36:40 +0000

WHO THE FUCK IS SHE KIDDING? Wooow what a fake ass bitch with low self esteem being ashamed of what he is. pathetic

By: mr little

mr little — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:14:20 +0000

@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.

By: mr little

mr little — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:11:04 +0000

@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.

By: Fer

Fer — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:53:04 +0000

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

By: Tatie

Tatie — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:22:05 +0000

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.
By the way, the term latin american is used for the people who speak any language that comes from Latin, this include Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, etc. and who lives in the American continent.
Also, the term American, is used for the entire continent, America doesnt end in the USA-Mexican border, learn some geography.

By: olga

olga — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:40:27 +0000

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.

By: DRzzz

DRzzz — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:52:07 +0000

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

By: AFROLATINA

AFROLATINA — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:20:53 +0000

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!

By: alejandra

alejandra — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:31:10 +0000

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!

By: michael

michael — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:05:14 +0000

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.

By: Bella

Bella — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:02:08 +0000

Yeah …well she is eating her words now…because she is on the “Latina” Mag…Front Cover

By: Czarchiva

Czarchiva — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:15:01 +0000

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

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:53:45 +0000

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.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:40:28 +0000

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.