Why are Americans so different when it comes to race then the rest of the world?

Question

Ok, some interesting things I've noticed:

In Latin America, there is no such thing as a Hispanic or Latino race. Everyone in Latin America is either white, black, or Mixed. There is no classification as a Hispanic/Latino.

Secondly, an American would think of an Italian-American as white but deny the same claim to an Argentinan or Chilean of Italian decent. Also, Spaniards who are as white as any European are considered non-white in the US.

Third, I find it strange that many Americans claim that such and such are not white yet so many Americans also claim to have Native American or African slave ancestry.

One day Italians are not white the next they are?! White Hispanics like Alexis Bledel and Julie Gonzalo are not counted as Hispanic? But Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba, who don't even speak Spanish are considered more Hispanic?

The USA is very strange when it comes to race and what's considered white in America. It seems that everyone wants to believe that only pale Northern European suburban type folk are white.

Answer 1

They're just strange birds down there ( I'm in Canada and we can't figure it out, either)

Answer 2

I believe you're mistaken about Americans being more hung up on race than other countries. The Latin American people I have talked with have told me that race is a huge issue in parts of Mexico and other South American countries, especially with how much Indian blood makes you "pure" Indian, or otherwise.

If you know any people who hail from an African country, speak with them about racism and ask them about how some of the native tribes are treated by other tribes, notably the prejudice against pygmy tribes.

If you know an Australian or New Zealander, you might discuss with them the struggle Aborigines have had  -- in the Bad Old Days white people used to shoot them for sport until the courts declared them legally to be human beings. True and shameful story.

Americans are by no means the most "different" when it comes to dealing with race, every culture and country has its own set of racial problems. It's just that we Americans are more vocal, and open, about it.

Answer 3

I don't understand this race thing at all. There is just one human "race" on this planet at the moment. There were more, like the neanderthal people, but as far as we know, they died out.

That makes it all the more ridiculous to look down at people because of their skin colour or to connect the skin colour to a "race".

I live in Britain, but I have the impression too, that in the USA, white people seem to be more racist than in other countries. Not all of them of course. I guess it's worse in the South and maybe it could have something to do with the slavery and the civil war, where the southern states were claiming to defend their "rights to keep slaves". So the low respect for black people might derive from that fake feeling of southern pride, which is very sad.

You're exactly right, some Italians look darker than some Mexikans, and still, people make a difference. Weird.