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Post by Ajeno on Jun 23, 2007 7:09:52 GMT -5
www.mediatakeout.com/7187/jessica_alba_dont_call_me_a_latina.htmlJune 17, 2007. MediaTakeOut.com has learned that Hispanics are up in arms about some comments made by Jessica Alba in a rent issue of Para Todos magazine. It turns out that in the article, Jessica denied her Hispanic heritage. Below are some quotes from the recent interview. Guess sellouts come in all races, and sizes. Alba is my last name and I'm proud of that. But that's it. My grandparents were born in California, the same as my parents, and though I may be proud of my last name, I'm American. Throughout my whole life, I've never felt connected to one particular race or heritage, nor did I feel accepted by any. If you break it down, I'm less Latina than Cameron Diaz, whose father is Cuban. But people don't call her Latina because she's blonde. Here are some of Jessica's other quotes concerning her ethnicity: "I've got cousins galore. Mexicans just spread all their seeds. And the women just pop them out." "My grandfather was the only Mexican at his college, the only Hispanic person at work and the only one at the all-white country club. He tried to forget his Mexican roots, because he never wanted his kids to be made to feel different in America. He and my grandmother didn't speak Spanish to their children. Now, as a third-generation American, I feel as if I have finally cut loose." "My whole life, when I was growing up, not one race has ever accepted me, ... So I never felt connected or attached to any race specifically. I had a very American upbringing, I feel American, and I don't speak Spanish. So, to say that I'm a Latin actress, OK, but it's not fitting; it would be insincere." "My grandfather was the only one in our family to go to college. He made a choice not to speak Spanish in the house. He didn't want his kids to be different." "[Before] I always felt like such an outcast and now I feel like people are more diverse ethnically. I was always self conscience of my puffy lips and darker skin when I was a kid, because I felt like I didn't fit in. And now its mainstream, and color isn't as big of a deal and if anything its better." ________________ Thats some horrible stuff to say about mexicans. I understand the labels people put on ethnic people especially in Hollywood but does being American mean you have to forget your roots? Pfft ,Seems to me that she was brought up to be ashamed of her Background.Shes like a first generation mestiza or something but I guess she thinks white, then again I never really considered her latina anyways.
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Post by juancarlos on Jun 23, 2007 9:43:15 GMT -5
How can she expect to be respected by others, if she can't even respect her own self and her own heritage? And heck, she DOES look Latina!!!
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Post by shugi on Jun 23, 2007 10:18:06 GMT -5
I'd still bone her.
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Post by Trix on Jun 23, 2007 10:45:58 GMT -5
gosh, im quite dissapointed by her statements. Even if her family didnt fit in because of their latina roots doesnt mean she has to reject her origins...that sounds so american, like if her only aim was to fit in no matter her convictions (if she had any) I find her to be one of the most attractive and come'on she looks so latina, she just can't beat that !
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Post by catgirl on Jun 23, 2007 11:19:45 GMT -5
Obviously she had issues about her etnicity growing up, or I would assume it...And her dad probably had issues, if its true what shes saying about him. When he choses not to teach them spanish he is limiting their education, and its sad people think that way. I wish I could speak vietnamese, and I think my dad regrets not teaching us now. But in a way I can kind of relate to Jessica Alba not feeling Latina, cause shes mixed. If I was labeled asian or european all the time I would be a bit ennoyed. Other than that, Jessica Alba talks a bit funny about her mexican heritage: Popping out kids?? And it seems like she is talking negatively about mexicans and positively about americans....I think she sounds very confused. Poor girl. How can she expect to be respected by others, if she can't even respect her own self and her own heritage? And heck, she DOES look Latina!!! Most brunettes look Latino in the US. I look Latina but I'm not and don't plan to become one but if I were an actress offered Latina parts, I'd sure take them. ;D Well looks don't determine identity and culture. It comes from your blood, heart, and upbringing. Her blood was diluted. Mexican culture never reached her heart. Yet I truly suspect she was brought up with a little mole and tortillas...even I was and I'm not Mexican. ;D ;D Latinos and latinas are used about southern americans, BUT also about French, Italian and Spanish....And these last ones are also called europeans/white.
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Post by 0 on Jun 23, 2007 20:25:35 GMT -5
I'd still bone her. That's very profound
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Post by Aznlatina on Jun 23, 2007 20:34:05 GMT -5
I know where she's coming from as well. I find that in some ways, she's still trying to "fit in". Being American is what defined who she was growing up so she's sticking to it - she feels lost when she tries to identify herself as latina as her latin roots weren't dominant in her upbringing (discounting her physical features, of course). But I also agree her choice of words are quite negative towards latinos.
Sometimes, I feel the same. I'm closer to my asian roots than I am to my Colombian roots. I actually don't identify with the latin culture, other than with the language and with my mother. But I know that at the end of the day, I will be part Chinese and part Latino (even though the culture is dominant in my life), but I will always identify myself as Canadian (which actually is not impactful because ppl still want to know what my ethnic make-up is).
I'm sure a lot of us are the same, too.
How many of us (with asian backgrounds) actually speak the language fluently? I bet it will be a minority.
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Post by 2bob on Jun 23, 2007 22:35:50 GMT -5
I understand her... kinda. She says she doesn't feel connected to the latino community because none of her mexican family speak spanish, and her grandparents didn't really pass on the whole mexican culture to her dads family or her. So she identifies as being American. She's not putting Mexicans in a bad light, she probably feels like she can say stuff like "Mexican women pop out babies, I have heaps of cousins yadayadayada", because she's part Mexican, and she feels like she's not offending anyone by saying it. So really if she didn't have a hispanic last name, people wouldn't label her as a Latina actress.
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Post by catgirl on Jun 24, 2007 11:14:08 GMT -5
I know where she's coming from as well. I find that in some ways, she's still trying to "fit in". Being American is what defined who she was growing up so she's sticking to it - she feels lost when she tries to identify herself as latina as her latin roots weren't dominant in her upbringing (discounting her physical features, of course). But I also agree her choice of words are quite negative towards latinos. Sometimes, I feel the same. I'm closer to my asian roots than I am to my Colombian roots. I actually don't identify with the latin culture, other than with the language and with my mother. But I know that at the end of the day, I will be part Chinese and part Latino (even though the culture is dominant in my life), but I will always identify myself as Canadian (which actually is not impactful because ppl still want to know what my ethnic make-up is). I'm sure a lot of us are the same, too. How many of us (with asian backgrounds) actually speak the language fluently? I bet it will be a minority. That sounds reasonable. Im 1/4 Norwegian and the rest vietnamese and english, and I feel much more familiar with the Norwegian culture and language than with the other two. But thats because Ive lived in Norway all my life, and have nearly only known Norwegian people. As mush as I wish I knew the other two cultures better, its not always easy to have the same influence from all 3.
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Post by catgirl on Jun 24, 2007 11:17:01 GMT -5
Cameron Diaz quote Q: Did every Cuban that you met stop you and try to talk to you in Spanish? CD: Mm-hmm. You know they do, absolutely. Q: And how do you handle that? CD: I go, "God, you know, it all sounds so familiar. I know what you're saying, I really do. I just cannot respond to you back in Spanish. I can barely speak English properly." I didn't grow up in a Cuban or Latin community. I grew up in Southern California on the beach, basically. And I'm third generation. I'm of Cuban descent, but I'm American Spanish speaking people often speak to me in Spanish. I take it as a compliment that they assume that I can speak spanish ;D
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Post by Ajeno on Jun 24, 2007 14:55:33 GMT -5
Since i dont really know what its like totally to be mixed and have indentity issues and stuff ill say that many of you have genuine issues and i respect that.With that said and me being honest,I still think shes full of s*** and is ashamed of her mexican background even if shes only half.I feel she was raised to be ashamed of it and I dont buy into this "Im American" or whatever and thats how i identify myself.There are plenty of mixed people who embrace all of their ethnicities and want to learn about them but she sounds like she has no desire.And i dont think her being part mexican gives her the right to make disparaging remarks like that either.She'll embrace her latin side when its convenient for her likes shes done in past interviews.
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Post by 0 on Jun 24, 2007 15:11:17 GMT -5
Ok, and granted she does seem slightly condescending to the Mexican aspect, but if it was French Canadian and she said she feels no connection to it and can't relate to being called a French actress would you have a problem with it? I don't want to sound like a dick but it does seem like Hispanics like many black Americans take particular offense when people of mixed ancestry say how they know its in there but feel no connection to it. If they are Greek, Portuguese or Italian etc and say the same thing, even with identical swarthy "ethnic" looks, no one seems to care. Mexican is a nationality and therefore a culture, so if one is not raised in the culture how can one feel connected to it? Is one "morally " obligated to say they are just to not offend? I am part american indian and feel absolutely no connection to it. I have no disdain for it but I simply grew up not exposed to it and it didn't shape my values, beliefs or ideals. I don't place it on a pedestal moreso than any other indigenous culture but using the "alba approach" people could say I'm ashamed of my heritage or denying who I am.
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Post by catgirl on Jun 24, 2007 17:08:02 GMT -5
Since i dont really know what its like totally to be mixed and have indentity issues and stuff ill say that many of you have genuine issues and i respect that.With that said and me being honest,I still think shes full of sh*t and is ashamed of her mexican background even if shes only half.I feel she was raised to be ashamed of it and I dont buy into this "Im American" or whatever and thats how i identify myself.There are plenty of mixed people who embrace all of their ethnicities and want to learn about them but she sounds like she has no desire.And i dont think her being part mexican gives her the right to make disparaging remarks like that either.She'll embrace her latin side when its convenient for her likes shes done in past interviews. Shes just another pretty shallow person....
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Post by chinesejewfool on Jun 24, 2007 18:13:23 GMT -5
Her BF looks half Mexican
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Post by 0 on Jun 24, 2007 21:00:04 GMT -5
Some Americans simply don't have ethnic connections to their ancestry. It is a matter of fact that they have such and such heritage but they have no connection to it. Maybe she just doesn't care one way or the other. I know many who don't and to them our seeming "obsession" with mixed and racial issues makes no sense.
She grew up in an environment with a stable family and was happy. She grew up in California mostly so she never drew the stares other mixed people do. Maybe she doesn't feel it's important.
One of the things I've always heard is that mixed people should have the right to identify as mixed. Well conversely, if she doesn't feel mixed its her prerogative to say so. We shouldn't feel its so important that she fit into our preconcieved notions of how she should feel in touch with her heritage any more than others should decide how we should identify or embrace our ancestry.
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