Forgot to say: brown, in Spanish, translated as moreno or marena, literally dark skinned, is actually a compliment. If you call a Mexican woman a “morenita,” you are admiring her. This is what the Anglo reporters didn’t get when they reported in outrage on the elder Bushes referring to their Jeb grandchildren as “morenitos.” It was an affectionate, admiring reference, not a racist slur.
“...If you call a Mexican woman a “morenita,” you are admiring her...”
It was different in El Salvador when I was there. If you remarked to a girl that she was “tan chelita” (very light skinned) she would say thanks. A woman once told me that her sister was more “morena” but otherwise very attractive. When a Salvadoran gives an insult for stupidity it is often “Que Indio !!” (How Indian).
Sadly some Latina’s avoid swimming pools because they don’t want to get any tanner.