I've never been to Cuba. I've been to Spain twice. In Madrid, 2004, we stayed at The Sheraton & The Plaza Hotel. I later returned to Ribeira, Spain for two festivals. Fiesta de Ribeira & Fiesta de Vino. The Kingdom of Spain honors a Spanish passport, and by all definitions am Spanish. Apparently on the box, I am not Spanish, I am Hispanic.
Cuban history and the regime today makes me hesitate even identifying as Cuban. I like to say, heil to Spain. The Spanish Kingdom. I am Spanish. In fact, I was raised to not go to Cuba or support the Cuban regime. My family was once Cuban, I have never been. I root to the same Spanish that embarked on naval, or pirate, ships to the New World.
My mother rode horseback through our family's rural stomping grounds. My grandfather was raised wealthy. His Cuba was synonymous of that which Hemingway and others enjoyed. It wasn't until Fidel Castro that he would lose his wealth. He would be tortured. He would fight for his right to come to America. His wealth seized, redistributed among the poor.
I do not like the word Hispanic. There are a few reasons why. I grew up in the very wealthy New York City suburb of Warren, New Jersey. I have been called "spic" since middle school. The other kids learned this word, likely from their parents. This is a subconscious reason as to why I cringe at the word "Hispanic" today. I wonder if not for "spic", I'd care.
I was one of a handful of Spanish children in the very wealthy district. I would be asked, "is your father a landscaper" or be called "Mexican". They never heard of 20+ nations. Little did they know my father was in international finance. He would tell me growing up, that a) "we were white" and b) "there used to never be a term Hispanic, it was Spanish or Latino".
If not for the subconscious pain of hearing "spic" when I read Hispanic, I probably wouldn't think anything of it. In reality, the term "Spanish" clearly wasn't enough for the US Census. If Latino worked, it became insufficient. I really believe there is a subconscious ploy in how the US Census deployed the word. "His-Panic" or "His-Pan&Pick". Defame Spanish.
There is an entire Spanish speaking continent that rallies behind Cuba. Cuba fell as a country following US intervention, or lack thereof. There, the Spanish are simply the people. The majority. I may say the people who claim a hispanic is not white is simply unintelligible. It may be rooted in the Spanish-American War. Look at white Argentinians or Spaniards.
Striking to me in my personal identity is the American concept. Born here, raised here, and I speak English. I think in English. I respect my parents lineage, of which includes being sponsored to come to America by relatives in America. I am American. A Spanish American. By definition, a Hispanic American. The latter term is difficult for the reasons above.
I introduced legislation to amend the census. In every job application, there is "are you Hispanic or Latino"? The Spanish check no. With a Spanish passport it is officially NO. I flip flop. Some questionnaires are so distinct, if you select "Yes" you omit the option of "white". Choosing between the two for college, I chose "white". What of "brown"? The brown spics!
Selecting "Hispanic" on certain applications indicate you be entitled to greater welfare benefits or that you don't speak english. I find this offensive and as reason to reject the term. Yes, I have a natural tendency to think in two languages. No, I do not think my racial demographic calls for a greater need for social welfare. Will I earn less, too? Do I need more?
I select white. I am raised an English speaking male, literally a pale white winter face, with a Spanish last name. I did not just immigrate here, my family has been in America nearly 100 years. Some hardcore fuckers will tell me I'm not. I can understand the distinction, and will ask the Italian, or the French, how the Spanish European is different? "The war".
The idea is to assimilate. The Hispanic Exit. Regardless of jargon, Hispanic peoples flee Latin American and South American countries in droves to come to America. Often for a better life. A more advanced country. A safer, stronger country. A healthier country. Governed by better laws. I recall teenagers, legally, drinking in the streets of Spain. Vino.
Hispanic as a term does encompass all South & Latin Americans [quien ven aqui]. The Spanish of Spain reject this term. They will actually prefer to distinguish themselves from their once colonized states. It is critical to remember the blessing it is to be Spanish, Hispanic in America. We did survive war, exile, & migrate. In volume, the US Census prioritizes us.
The history of English-Spanish conquest in the new world exists today. History was made upon defeat of the Spanish in The Great War. The two countries would charter America as a trading colony on behalf of the great European kingdoms. The Spanish won the South and the English the North, making up the Americas today. This war still exists. In jargon.
