Relax Gringo

[BlueCollar]

I'm here legally...

T-Shirt I bought here in Fort Worth that has potential...

[knowbody0]

1. excellent! I'd buy one

[virgogal]

2. Wouldn't "gringo" be considered an ethnic slur? Why would

anyone wear anything like that?

[BlueCollar]

3. I'm a gringo...btw

it's an in-your-face thing...

[virgogal]

4. I'm a gringo also,but don't want anyone calling me that,anymore

than a black or Asian or Hispanic would want the old,familiar ethnic slurs tossed at them.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. You're a gringa

and "gringo" doesn't have the history of being used as part of a system of suppressing white people. IOW, it's just a lame slur whereas several of those other old, familiar slurs had power.

[virgogal]

8. Thanks for the gender correction-----and I still don't like it. I also

don't like being called a "thick mick" and that has nothing to do with racial suppression.

A slur is a slur is a slur.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Actually, being called a "thick mick" has everything to do with suppression.

The Irish immigrants weren't considered "white" until they were so numerous and powerful that the slurs no longer reminded them of the repression. I was never allowed to use an Irish slur around my father because he was raised by the generation that still dealt with the prejudice against the Irish on a daily basis. The Irish Americans just don't need to worry about that anymore -- the words have no power.

[virgogal]

13. Of course they were considered white,just dumb,Catholic whites that

did nothing but breed.

[Luminous Animal]

15. Nope. The racist in this country were hellbent in proving that the Irish were Iberina Negroes

http://www.google.com/images?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=irish+negro&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=slXSS6C9D4yCsgOkp_nuCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CBsQsAQwAw

[virgogal]

17. They were the nutcases.---to most we were just dirty,uncouth whites.

[Gormy Cuss]

22. No, they were white but not considered white. Neither were Italians.

Those nationalities weren't good enough to be white (in part because of their "breeding" Catholic ways.)
Here's a good book on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/Irish-Became-White-Noel-Ignatiev/dp/0415918251

[Dramarama]

25. Especially in New Orleans

Harsh discrimination for Italians

[Luminous Animal]

12. Gringa and gringo are not slurs in and of themselves.

They need a modifier. Gringa and gringo are used to distinguish a North American from a South or Central American. In our hubris we like to think that only we are the AMERICANS.

Gringo : Mexican = not slurs
Filthy Gringo : Filthy Mexican = slurs

[virgogal]

16. What about "anglo". I've heard that used by Hispanics,yet I don't

consider that a slur------gringa I do.

That said,I guess it's all a matter of perception.

[Luminous Animal]

20. So, you don't mind being referred to as "English"

but you have a problem with a word that describes your foreignness?

[virgogal]

21. Anglo is a term I've heard local Hispanics use,and it covers any non-Hispanic.

Don't ask me where they came up with the appellation,but it includes all of us,Irish,English,Swedes,Germans, etc. You get the point.

I assume it is because we speak English,and no,it doesn't bother me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. The origin is actually funny

GREEN GO... see many of the troops going down to Mexico in 1848 wore green uniforms, since they ran out of blue. So it means, GREEN, as in green clad uniform, GO. leave my country.

Now there are a few other slurs from Mexico that are far worst than this... one

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Agreed. It's offensive.

[Luminous Animal]

9. I don't know where you live but gringo is used to distiguish...

North Americans from Central and South Americans. It makes no sense for Mexicans to call U.S. citizens, "Americans", because Mexicans are "Americans", too. This does not mean that "gringo" can't be used in a disparaging manner. But, so can "Mexican".

[JonLP24]

26. I don't think it is an ethnic slur

I believe it is meant to identify foreigners.

It can be used as one so context matters when it's being used but it's used all over Central & South America with no negative connotation.

[Old Troop]

7. Why is gringo OK and other ethnic slurs not?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlueCollar]

19. thankyou...

[Luminous Animal]

14. Because it is not an ethnic slur.

It is a term to distinguish one American from another American. This does not mean that it can't be used as an insult, but in order for it to be one, it needs a negative modifier.

[Dramarama]

24. Well, redskin is okay

[classysassy]

27. I agree

I hate it when I hear white here in Arizona use the word wetback.

[frylock]

23. i too am offended by your use of the word gringo..

i'd rsther be referred to as guero, thank you.