I visited Tijuana on business some few years ago, and I quickly came to understand from various chit-chat that Mexicans do not see themselves as "Hispanic". Somehow, the common people identify with the indigenous Indians, whatever their exact heritage might be. In fact, there is a Mexican elite, if I understand correctly, with Spanish roots, and the commoners see themeselves in opposition to them. I'm kind of vague on the whole thing, but there's a lot going on there.
“I visited Tijuana on business some few years ago, and I quickly came to understand from various chit-chat that Mexicans do not see themselves as “Hispanic”. Somehow, the common people identify with the indigenous Indians, whatever their exact heritage might be. In fact, there is a Mexican elite, if I understand correctly, with Spanish roots, and the commoners see themeselves in opposition to them. I’m kind of vague on the whole thing, but there’s a lot going on there.”
In his books about Mexico and Texas, James Michener spoke of this distinction, from the earliest Spanish colonial times in Mexico.
The highest caste were those born in Spain.
Next were pureblooded Spaniards, born in Mexico.
Next were those of mixed Spanish and Indian blood.
Lowest caste were native Indians.
You are refering to the present day remnant of that hierarchy.
Throughout Latin America are others with fairly pure European origins; Italians, Portugese (Brazil), Germans, English, etc.
Here and there will be found “Jorge Schmidts” and “Hans Ramirez.” Lotsa Italians in Argentina.
In Mexico the pure Indians remain at the bottom, for the most part.
Well, they should turn their attention to Mexico City and try to take the government away from the white elite that has misruled them since 1820.
From what I can gather by talking to one of the Spanish “elite” of Mexico’s ruling class, those of pure Spanish blood(no Indian blood) see themselves as far and above the ordinary Mexicans and even get pissed if you call them Mexican. This was from a woman I dated briefly a few years ago.
There is a lot of racism south of the border. Americans have done a tremendous job of melding into a people. Most other countries have not. That is why it always puzzles me that we allow race pimps to agitate and make a living here on the backs of minorities by convincing them how bad off they are here. They should go live elsewhere and see what the rest of the world is like in that regard.