There is so much historical revisionism and just plain B.S. here that a lesson is in order.
The word “Hispanic” has only recently been co-opted as the Politically Correct code word for “non-white Spanish speakers” just like the word “immigrant” has been co-opted to mean “illegal alien” and the word “gay” has been co-opted to mean….well, never mind. You get the picture.
“Hispania” was the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula just like “Britannia” was the Roman name for the British Isles.
The 1973 Webster’s Dictionary defines Hispanic as: Adj [Latin “hispanicus” from “Hispania” Iberian peninsula, Spain]: of or relating to the people, speech or culture of Spain, Spain and Portugal or Latin America.”
If anyone has a claim to the name “Hispanic” it is a Spaniard from the Iberian Peninsula and, in Latin America, that is exactly what the term “Hispano” means, something with a direct relationship to Spain. A European Spanish bank doing business in Mexico or elsewhere in the world would call itself “Hispano”. For example: Santander Central Hispano.
In Mexico, individuals who still bears a huge chip on their shoulder that their Indian ancestors were conquered by Spain would go ballistic if you called them “Hispanos” just as Irish Republicans would go ballistic if you called them “British”.
“Hispania”, like “Britannia” has a proud history. Hispania was part of Roman civilization 200 years before the British Isles were ever civilized. Hispania produced the two “Good Emperors” Trajan and Hadrian. Yet, Politically Correct speech has stripped the ancient title of Hispania from Spain.
There is no “Hispanic” race any more than there is a “Britannic” race.
My own family has it’s roots in Galicia and Asturias the ancient Celtic areas of northern Spain by way of Cuba for a few generations. My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, myself and my children were all born blond and blue-eyed as were most of their their ancestors since before they ever came in contact with the Romans 2100 years ago. However, so-called “Anglos” now label me “Hispanic” because I was born in Cuba and declare that I am no longer white.
What’s up with that?
If you note, in ”I Love Lucy”, Ricky Ricardo never referred to himself as “Hispanic”. He referred to himself as “Cuban”.
Much confusion would be avoided is so-called “Anglos” adopted the Cuban habit of just plain calling things as they are. For example, Cubans would ethnically and racially classify the following individuals as follows:
Celia Cruz: Cubana Negra (Cuban Black)
Daisy Fuentes: Cubana Blanca (Cuban White)
Jennifer Lopez: Puertoriqueña Mulata (Puerto Rican Mulata)
Edgar Martinez: Puertoriqueña Blanco (Puerto Rican White)
Cruz Bustamante: Mexicano Mestizo (Mexican Mestizo)
Peruvian ex-President Alberto Fujimori: Peruano Japones (Peruvian Japanese)
Gold aureus of Roman Emperor Hadrian honoring his home province of Hispania