Comments: The Trayvon Martin tragedy

"White Hispanic?" Are we going to start parsing this ethnic group into ever smaller strata based on the bete noir/white devil of the day?

If so, I suggest the following SIX (yes, SIX) basic varieties of Hispanic, based on two variables readily accessible to journalists and race hustlers alike: color (white, brown, or black) and surname (Latino or Gringo). So George Zimmerman becomes a white, Gringo-named Hispanic, even though he looks more brown in his mug shot. Similarly, Jennifer Lopez is a brown, Latino-named Hispanic. Of course former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori messes up this whole system, but that's just another Asian kid busting the curve for the rest of the class; we can use some sort of affirmative action hocus pocus to sweep him under the carpet.

Further subdivisions and distinctions are regularly made within the various Hispanic communities, e.g. ask the average Mexican-American what he thinks of Puerto Ricans, and vice-versa.

Posted by Mike Anderson at March 29, 2012 5:26 PM

Six (SIX!!) years ago i was posting on The Hispanic Mirage.

All you have to keep is mind is that the construct is only useful if it can fit the narrative, Mike.

Posted by Fausta at March 30, 2012 8:36 AM

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