Insecurity Complex: Who Wants to Be Latino?

I've mentioned before that Hispanics are now the number-one ethnic minority in America. On a related note, I'm sure you've heard that salsa is more popular than ketchup (it's true, more or less).

But this numerical advantage in population hasn't amounted to much for Latinos, except perhaps to convince many U.S. citizens that hordes of immigrants are flooding the country, stealing their jobs, and ogling their wives. In the great ethnic-minority sweepstakes, we certainly can't compete with African Americans. And I'm not just talking about the fact that blacks are flying high because we have our first African American president. I mean that Latinos were lagging behind, socioculturally, even before Barack Obama became the most popular man on Earth.

Because of the complex history involved, more obvious racial differences, or just plain coolness, black people will always have the advantage of being in the forefront of the American consciousness. This will remain true even if the percentage of blacks in America continues to decline under the onslaught of a high Catholic birthrate (most Hispanics are still Catholic).

We simply do not have the cache that African Americans have. Witness the fact that plenty of white people consider themselves culturally black. Many more actively want to be black, which can make for a disturbing and/or hilarious spectacle. In contrast, very few white individuals seek to tap their inner vato.

Witness also that a white-black interracial hook-up results in the oft-repeated catchphrase "Once you go black, you never go back." What is the equivalent for a white-Latino relationship? "Once you go brown, you never... I don't know... frown?" You see the discrepancy.

Now, there are advantages to being off-stage. For example, if someone tosses a slur in our direction, we are positive that he really means to be insulting and isn't making some idiotic attempt to be down with us. African Americans put up with that all the time.

In any case, it's all just whining, I suppose. It won't even matter in a few generations, because in the future, everybody will be at least part Hispanic. After all, the numbers are on our side.

Comments

[carol9a]

I feel the "numbers are on our side" is a specious argument. There are many Latin American countries where the power is concentrated in a few. I feel Hispanics are recreating that here. We could have numbers, sure, but does the Hispanic community garner much respect, admiration or praise in general? Not really. As long as Latin culture is still synonymous with lower class culture, being Latino will not be cool. Let's face it, there are precious few Latinos who pursue upper status, high salaried professions, and if you are one of the few Latinos that do, it's easy to feel alienated from greater American society and Latin culture simultaneously. I'm a Hispanic student in med school with a father who was a hard sciences professor. I feel like people regard me like some sort of oddity. And the sad truth is that I am.

[4xdisciple]

Nice article, i agree with you that it won't matter in a few generations, because in the future, everybody will be at least part Hispanic. After all, the numbers are on our side. Eventually all industries will be forced to pay closer attention to our needs just because of our sheer numbers. The proactive will triumph and the lagards will fall behind... found some more interesting pieces here...
http://www.hispanicadvertising.blogspot.com/