Racism in Mexico

[mck]

I have an aunt that is from Mexico city and is mostly Indian, and she was always telling me about the amount of discrimination there is in Mexico if you are indian. I have to say my novia is pretty racist toward Mexicans who are more indian then Spanish. Most of my Mexican buddies are indian and from Mituaquan, which is mostly indians. When I told her on the phone, she said "Mituaguan es fea, they are the monkey people" I said "What do you mean by monkey people?. She said they have "the face of a monkey". I was like "umm ok". Then she said "I am a white Mexican, and most of the people in Guadalajara are white Mexicans". Then she said "I think Gringos are more attractive then Mexican men because alot of them have blue eyes" Then she said "I have been dreaming of having a gringo boyfriend with  blue eyes since I was a little girl , and having a baby with blue eyes."  There is some kind of attitude with her that the more european you are the better and the more indian you are, the uglier you are. She said that the areas of Chapis, Mituaquan, and a few other provinces are what she calls "the ugly people". She told me "They are in the United States what Gringos call trailer trash because they are mostly indian" She also said "Comparing Chapis, and Mituaquan to Guadalajara is like comparing New York City to Nebraska" She also said " I do not like Nicaraguans, Panamanians, Hondurans, and Guatamalans." I think the posts on here in the past about discrimination is Mexico are pretty accurate.

[A1A]

... in response to Racism in Mexico, posted by mck on Apr 27, 2002

On my recent trip to Mexico City, I stayed in the Satelite area, about 15 miles north of center city.  It has a beautiful, new, big mall with many designer stores.  I did not see any other gringos in the area for 5 days. While walking the mall with MC one evening, it wasn't difficult to feel many of the women checking us out.  So I joked with MC, " I guess there are not many gringos in this part of town".  She stopped, and said, Why do you call yourself a gringo?  To us, gringos are college age kids with baggy jeans, t shirt,and ball cap.  I had on khaki pants, black shirt and shoes, she said I looked european, or english.
For you Colombian guys, do the women there use the term "gringo" when talking to you?
A1A

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Gringos, posted by A1A on Apr 28, 2002

BTW, in Brazil the term is also used.

Though not in polite society, from what I am told.

I guess we can start referring to it as "the G word" as opposed to the prejudice "N word" that is used in the states...

[TexasRob]

... in response to Gringos, posted by A1A on Apr 28, 2002

I asked a couple girls that question in Cali.  They both said any man from North America was a gringo.  White, black, or whatever.  They use the term openly meaning nothing by it.  It is just a term to refer to a man in this category.

I have also spent a lot of time in Mexico City and especially in Satelite.  My friends used the term gringo to refer to me jokingly.  In most of Mexico the word gringo has nothing to do with age.  It is for a white male from the states.  In Mexico they won't use the word gringo often to your face.  I assume it was not originally intended in a positive manner.  I will refer to myself as gringo in Mexico and it often creates a smile.

[pack]

... in response to Re: Gringos, posted by TexasRob on Apr 28, 2002

thats exactly what i have been told TR. in colombia it is commonly used term and nothing harmful is meant by it...it just means to then the ones from north america.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Gringos, posted by A1A on Apr 28, 2002

My wife tells me that in Peru it's a term used to describe any white person from another country. But they don't call you that to your face,lol.

[pack]

... in response to Re: Gringos, posted by Red Clay on Apr 28, 2002

hmmm that may be so in Peru but in cali anyone from north america black ,white ,or any other shade is called gringo.

[A1A]

... in response to Racism in Mexico, posted by mck on Apr 27, 2002

On my recent trip to Mexico City, I stayed in the Satelite area, about 15 miles north of center city.  It has a beautiful, new, big mall with many designer stores.  I did not see any other gringos in the area for 5 days. While walking the mall with MC one evening, it wasn't difficult to feel many of the women checking us out.  So I joked with MC, " I guess there are not many gringos in this part of town".  She stopped, and said, Why do you call yourself a gringo?  To us, gringos are college age kids with baggy jeans, t shirt,and ball cap.  I had on khaki pants, black shirt and shoes, she said I looked european, or english.
For you Colombian guys, do the women there use the term "gringo" when talking to you?
A1A