Most of the PR I have met proudly fly their Puerto Rican flags and claim to be "Spanish" at the same time (when discussing the issue with other American people at work people often correct me saying they call themselves that because Spanish is their language and its a cultural thing not racial). I have met one older PR guy who told me he was mixed black,white and indian (even pointed out that he had curly hair because he was mixed with Black). I found that quite strange considering the fact that most of the Hispanics I have met have tried to introduce themselves as "Spanish" or "Latin" that he would say that to me (a black woman). I assumed that he being pretty Caucasian looking, deemed his Black ancestry as less of a threat than someone who was clearly non-white.
But like Richard, working around Hispanics I have noticed this strange love affair with Italy. I have overheard many conversations between Hispanics (Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, etc), and they all love so say they look Italian. I've always found that strange considering that Latin American was colonized by the Spanish so if anything Latinos should look more Spanish than Italian. But I suppose Italy is known for its dark haired people , olive -skin people more so than Spain.
A Mexican guy at work once asked me why White Americans were "so blond". He seemed to believed White Americans were blonder and whiter than the English! Even though he didn't say say it, I think he realized that he could not pass for White American because of his jet black indigenous hair, so he figured he could pass for Italian who are still considered White. Hence this 'Italian' thing'.
Why do Puerto Rican women like Betty Boop so much?
Well, I'm not Puerto Rican but since I look like one I will venture a guess on the Betty Boop phenomenon. I'm thinking it is because Betty Boop has dark, curly hair and a "thick", curvaceous body. So, maybe she just happens to be a pop icon they identify more with than, say, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fairly uncurvy, totally unsexy Barbie. Just a thought.
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 {Posts: 1057 } Location: New Jersey
Posted: Tue 25 Nov 2008 17:48 Post subject:
Sir Alcal is correct in that Italians settled in many places in Latin America, as did Germans, and of course Spaniards and Portuguese.
As for Puerto Ricans with Italian ancestry, I have read that there were Italian immigrants to Puerto Rico in the 1800s, along with Corsican (considered separately), French, German, Portugese, Irish, and Levantine immigrants. Since immigrants to Puerto Rico, like elsewhere, tend to assimilate, it stands to reason that some Puerto Ricans would be partly descended from Italians. I have no clue to the percentage. I personally know one Puerto Rican individual who claims to have Spanish, Italian, Corsican (considered separately), and Irish ancestry, but refuses to acknowledge African and Amerindian ancestry. Her maiden name is Novello, which she says is of Italian origin.
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