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Gustavo Arellano

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¡ASK A MEXICAN!: "Illegals" and The "N-Word"

Posted: 11/02/11 08:19 AM ET

Dear Mexican: These days, using the word "nigger" is considered so offensive that, in its place, we now use the term "n-word." Of course, never mind that African-Americans use it amongst themselves as a term of endearment, pero esa es una historia para un otro dia. Sin embargo, it raises a pregunta for me: Por que no one uses "b-word" for "beaner," "w-word" for "wetback," and "s-word" for "spick"?

While I don't advocate the use of ANY ethnic slur, I find it curious/interesting, that similar "abbreviations," (like n-word) don't exist for those used to refer to Mexicans, and I'd like to know your take on this (of course I'll admit that those "abbreviations" may exist, and I haven't heard about them yet).

PC, But not a Pendejo

Dear Gabacho: The three anti-Mexi slurs you used are so 1950s--the only people who use those words nowadays are old gabachos and Alabamans. No need to ameliorate those, anymore so than mick, dago, chink, Mohammedan, or square head. Besides, you forgot the most important abbreviated euphemism right now: the I-word, for "illegal" when referring to undocumented people. A campaign run by the always-chingón Applied Research Center (publishers of the even-more-chingón magazine, Colorlines) is seeking that everyone stop using the term "illegal" outright, or at the least resort to using the awkward I-word stand-in. The only people who use that term, unfortunately, are Aztlanistas of all ethnicities, while the n-word term has become part of mainstream culture (it's first appearance in the mainstream media, by the way, dates back to a 1987 St. Petersburg Time article, while the term seems to date back to PC pendejos in charge of HR relations for the government during the early 1980s).

What's the difference, then, between the public's reticent acceptance of using the n-word for nigger while completely ignoring the I-word campaign? Easy: one term has centuries of nasty history behind it involving slavery, race, lynching and all other sorts of nastiness, while illegal as a stand-in for "Mexican" only dates back to the 1950s--the earliest reference I could find to illegals being used as a noun to refer to undocumented Mexicans is a 1951 Los Angeles Times story quoting a government official about the Mexican waves then invading California. Before that, America actually cheered on "illegals" invading a sovereign land: the Jews who tried to illegally enter the British Mandate for Palestine before the establishment of Israel were called "illegals" by the press, and there was even a 1948 documentary called The Illegals based on the subject. Of course, that's ancient history for Americans, who never liked to be reminded of their double standards, especially when it involves Mexicans. Besides, America always needs ethnic slurs to toss around and make itself feel better--and while the era of nigger is largely over, the days of illegal are just beginning. Go us!


GOOD MEXICAN OF THE WEEK! The "Drop the I-Word" campaign, of course. The Mexican doesn't have a problem with using illegal--reappropriation, cabrones!--but I do support the ARC's campaign, because they're righteous broders who do good work. Visit droptheiword.com for more information.

Ask the Mexican at themexican@askamexican.net, be his fan on Facebook, follow him on Twitter or ask him a video question at youtube.com/askamexicano!


 
 
 
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12:14 AM on 11/03/2011
This is the problem my friends. I'm Hispanic, and most of my friends, relatives and people that I work with are Hispanics. Most of them have horror stories about their criminal activities back in Mexico and in South America. A lot of them leave looking to hide, to start a new life, to forget about what they have done. The US doesn't have the smallest idea how big of a problem they have on their hands. They talk about their stories as if it was normal conversation (talking among each other) They look shy and barely able to talk in public and those are the worse. I'm so afraid of them that I would never do absolutely anything to ever get them mad. Some of them have gotten mad at someone, pretended to not be bothered, walk away, and weeks later they get rid of them. One of them told me how he got rid of someone, people were asking him if he had seen the person. He pretended to be concerned and gave the person the phone number he had. Not a worry in the world because he said that if anyone ever suspected him or he felt that someone had a clue, he would get rid of them and dissapear. OMG!!!
09:41 PM on 11/02/2011
When undocumented Hispanic workers are cutting peoples lawns, washing cars, picking fruit, watching children some people call them "amigos" and are happy to get cheap services...but when they get asked what they think about the "illegal immigration" problem they say that lock down the border and keep all them dang Mexicans out of the good ole USA
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spytheweb
Black Democrat
06:33 PM on 11/05/2011
I cut my own grass, wash my car, we did have a Philippine house girl watch our kids at Clark AB and i don't care who picks fruit as long as they are legal.

I too, lock down the border, better yet i like the idea of national biometric fingerprint/iris ID cards for US citizens and reviewing the 14th amendment, i don't understand how that got so out of hand.
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ruleoflaw66
And I'd opt out of 'fans' too if I could.
09:31 PM on 11/02/2011
Mojado?

I thought that was one of those rum drinks.
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hjo4
Don't make your problems mine
09:06 PM on 11/02/2011
The term illegal alien was created to stigmatize those who chose to enter America illegally.It is meant to be demeaning.Illegal aliens is appropriate because they illegally entered America and are alien to Immigration officials.The term is appropriate to those who do not respect America enough to enter thru the front door like Immigrants do. Why are they supposed to be afforded respect when they disrespect us a nation. Also as an African American I am totally offended how some attempt to compare illegal aliens to African Americans CITIZENS,there is no comparison and it is offensive to compare my ancestor to those who chose to violate American laws ,and not hold their own government accountable as American Negroes did. It's strange that those who have no skin in the game always try to hitch their wagon to Black folks star.
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Aarontastic
"Mr. Cain instead decided to try to provide her wi
12:02 AM on 11/03/2011
It's good that you admit that the term "illegal alien" was created to stigmatize those (Mexicans) who enter America illegally, but I disagree with you about it being appropriate. Why bother stigmatizing these people? They come to this country illegally because they haven't got the time or money (or, in many cases, the knowledge) to enter any other way. America is a place where they know they can get a job that pays enough to support themselves and their families. They aren't trying to disrespect us.
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hjo4
Don't make your problems mine
08:46 AM on 11/03/2011
They come to this country illegally because they haven't got the time or money (or, in many cases, the knowledge) to enter any other way

That is not an excuse, we have millions of American citizens in prison for breaking our laws because they were poor.,Being poor is no reason to violate our laws.


America is a place where they know they can get a job that pays enough to support themselves and their families

Meanwhile they are causing hardships for America citizens and their families. Why can't they beging to hold their own goverments accountable for their plight,instead of making their problems ours.The US is not a charity and no group has gotten away with breaking the laws. What is fair for one is fair for us all.

They aren't trying to disrespect us.

Yes they are, there is one way and one way only to immigarte into the United States, that's legally and lawfully. When a person enters America illegally , they only thing they are entitled to is deportation.

Those people whose countries have them poor must hold them accountable,
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SuperMex
12:24 PM on 11/04/2011
I do not hang with undocumented folks so I can't in all honesty tell you that they compare themselves with blacks. That sounds like Limbaugh bait!

Why would anyone want to hitch their wagon to Black folks star. Judging from what I heard and qucikly disengage from not many folks do.

Your argument is okay now if we could only read chapter two.
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spytheweb
Black Democrat
06:52 PM on 11/05/2011
It's because they will use any argument to get their way. Black people are US citizens, black people were forced here. Illegals came on their own and are free to leave at anytime.

Mexicans treat black Mexicans in Mexico like hell and come here and compare themselves to black Americans. I'am black and if it were up to me i would deport every illegal alien picked up. Once picked up that's it until they are turned loose on the other side of the border or their home country.
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tnkeating
Dyslexic agnostic insomniac
08:29 PM on 11/02/2011
What do Mexicans who were born here call themselves? Americans or Mexicans? or Mexican Americans? When I was younger there was no Hispanic race at all, but it seems its all about getting a piece of the pie. My wife is Hispanic and has lived in several other non Hispanic countries throughout the world and no where, were they ever asked what race they were, not in applications or any forms filed. Seems like this is the only county that cares, but then every one wants their pie. I don't confuse illegal aliens with Americans or legal Hispanic immigrants, my company uses E-Verify for all employees and disrespect of anyone, man or women is not tolerated. Illegals are just that, illegal. I don't disrespect them either, they are human beings, but they don't belong here and broke the law to get here. The real problem as I see it is we have an administration that only respects the laws they choose and that is against article 3 of the Constitution, but they know that because they are Constitutional scholars.
09:52 PM on 11/02/2011
"...but they don't belong here and broke the law to get here..."

The law? What law? Prohibition was the law. Segregation was the law. Slavery was the law.

Anyone who try to uphold those laws in these days would be in deep trouble.

Some people try to use the LAW like a shield at their own convenience.
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ruleoflaw66
And I'd opt out of 'fans' too if I could.
07:47 PM on 11/02/2011
I get it. Political satire dressed up as inadequate humor, right? It was the term "reappropriation" that gave it away.

Because we all know that if that were to happen we'd all have to give it back to the Native Americans who were here before any of us, including illegals.
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Arturo Ramrez
04:03 PM on 11/03/2011
Reappropiation of the term "illegal".
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InedaName
Clowns to the Left of me. Jokers to the Right.
07:35 PM on 11/02/2011
If you were to go to Sunnyside, Queens, you'd find Irish people who are living there illegally. In Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, there are Russians and other Eastern Europeans who are living there illegally. I was once good friends with a tall, blonde, blue-eyed gorgeous German girl who lived here illegally but she had 'gentleman friends' who took care of her so she never needed to try and get a job.

Not all 'illegals' are brown.
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Aarontastic
"Mr. Cain instead decided to try to provide her wi
12:03 AM on 11/03/2011
To the GOP they are.
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InedaName
Clowns to the Left of me. Jokers to the Right.
01:14 AM on 11/03/2011
My point exactly. And I forgot about the Canadians. Who knows how many illegal Canadians there are living among us? Unless they slip and say, "Sorry about that!" or seem a little too interested in hockey, they can easily blend right in.
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05:59 PM on 11/02/2011
Illegal is not a racial slur. It is a descriptive term of an individuals legal residency or visa status, or lack thereof.
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spytheweb
Black Democrat
07:12 PM on 11/05/2011
They don't want to be identified. That's why they use words like undocumented and immigrant to confuse people but the only ones they are confusing are themselves. When people use illegal alien other people know exactly what you're talking about. The word immigrant implies there's something legal about them which is not the case.

Why do you think illegals and their supporters are against E Verify? Be EV cuts through the crap and puts them out of work and back on the street, they should be put in jail for identity theft.
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livingbettertherapy
Counselor, Therapist, Strategic Intervention
05:48 PM on 11/02/2011
Remember that there are many American citizens in California violating federal law by growing a certain crop. Is it prudent or economically feasible to enforce every law? Farmers in the state of Georgia have posted a loss of $400 million so far this year due to increased deportation of many farm laborers. Besides every person we deport is one less that will buy American houses, cars and other products. If we are going to enforce every law, even the police will have to write themselves tickets.
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tnkeating
Dyslexic agnostic insomniac
07:10 PM on 11/02/2011
Put the bong down man........
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inthedesert
Those who never question will fall for anything.
07:57 PM on 11/02/2011
Well, next time you are stopped by a cop, simply refuse to show your DL, your registration and your proof of insurance and tell the nice officer that you think some laws should just not be enforced because they are not "economically feasible". Let us know how that works out for you handsome.
LMAO.
05:32 PM on 11/02/2011
Down with Political Correctness :)
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Achilles1963
Anti war Anti Spying Anti Assassination Veteran
04:47 PM on 11/02/2011
When my aunt told me she supported illegal immigration (we are Americans of Mexican descent), I responded by saying "for Asians and Arabs too?". She immediately reversed her opinion. LOL. The only people who want "illegal immigration" are people seeking to regain their lost ethnicity. Ethnicity is very popular in all the "right circles" these days. If illegal immigration is all right for one group it needs to be alright for ALL groups.
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ADVOCATE4ZPG
09:09 PM on 11/02/2011
....very sentient....!
03:35 PM on 11/02/2011
I haven't heard many Hispanics use the term "illegal" "the I-word." Instead, the term I hear most frequently from them is "mojado."
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ruleoflaw66
And I'd opt out of 'fans' too if I could.
07:50 PM on 11/02/2011
Especially ANY immigrant who arrived here legally. They hate the ones who take short cuts.
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darquelourd
You Get What You Play For
03:27 PM on 11/02/2011
What you call "corn" we call "mota".
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Achilles1963
Anti war Anti Spying Anti Assassination Veteran
04:48 PM on 11/02/2011
LOl. Mota is Marijuana. At least if you are a Mexican American.
05:00 PM on 11/02/2011
Mistaking corn for mota could lead to some intersting situations, what with the wrong seeds popping and all. :-)
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Achilles1963
Anti war Anti Spying Anti Assassination Veteran
05:37 PM on 11/02/2011
Yes, obviously darquelourd never grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood.
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BlairCase
03:04 PM on 11/02/2011
I hear Hispanic Americans use the term "illegals" in referring to undocumented immigrants more often than I hear Anglos use the term. (I live in a large border city that is predominantly Hispanic American.) They don't use the word as a "stand-in" for "Mexican." They apply it to anyone, regardless of nationality, who enters the United States illegally.
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