Thread: is gringo a racist term?

from the Webster's Dictionary

gringo

n : a Latin American (disparaging) term for foreigners (especially Americans and Englishmen)

from yourdictionary.com

Word History: In Latin America the word gringo is an offensive term for a foreigner, particularly an American or English person.

So when these illegals call me an illegal I am the foreigner in my own country...that is another debate all together.

Why am I bringing this up? Well as I was walking through the grocery store I noticed this brand of chips called "Green Mountain Gringo Tortilla chips." I was like now if there were other chips with racist slurs in there name for other races these people would be in an uproar. But it is OK to call food brands racist names geared toward whites? The most ridiculous thing is this company is out of Vermont

So I started looking up brands with gringo in them and was pretty surprised how many things are named with "gringo" in them. Does this bother anyone else or am I overreacting?

http://www.greenmountaingringo.com

Isn't it funny how any color of race except for the white race that is can use racial slurs and mostly get away with it. If a white person or company put out some tortillio chips called wetback tortillo chips, you would have the whole hispanic or any other color of race on your back yelling and kicking screaming racist bigots. It seems to be perfectly ok for them to use their own racial slurs towards the white or gringo's. Part of me is brown, part of me is white, the white part of me is getting dam tired of the double standard going around in our country against the white people. I am dam tired of being made to feel apologetic for my white half, in fact, I am saying here and now I am as proud of being white as I am of being brown and I will apologize to no one for it! In fact I think the makers of these gringo chips need to have a law suit brought against them for their racial slurs! Maybe a what do you call that when a whole bunch of people sue, oh yea, a class action law suit, anyone up to that?

That is exactly my point. I do not call anyone racist names based on ethnicity and I expect the same in return.

If you want to go down this road:

There is a newspaper called Gringo Gazetteout of Baja California, a skateboard company called Gringo Skateboards, the chip company above. It goes on and on. I just cannot believe that people are naming their companies and brands after a racial slur in my eyes and getting away with it

nitty, and pandabear...

Did you see this thread? Oh...yes, I know you did nitty.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ation+foes

I did not get a chance to read up on it. Thanks CP

You're welcome, pandabear.

Well......I know Gringo is ment to be an insult or degrading comment. So I do sort of don't like the idea of gringo chips etc. But we're also called "crackers" and can't get too upset by that since it is an item.

These guys are taking everything to such bizzare extreems about everything that I don't know when and who should take the high road on this. Since "Gringo" is defined as a nasty comment and is......that company should be told and an issue made of it. But it's getting to the point a person can't say anything anymore that someone isn't offended by something. What's funny to me is Gringo is associated to English and Americans. We know it's ment for white Americans but we have a host of Americans of all colors. Should they be offended since they aren't included in the "gringo" defination? And therefore not considered American? I have to look at things sort of crazy at times.....


There's a part of me that likes to go by the old belief that a word has the power you give it. I figure if they think it offends me it only encourages the use of it, and I don't want to give them that satisfaction. But at the same time I'm getting tired of us being tarred and feathered when someone says something and didn't mean to offend anyone. Or when someone uses a nasty term for whites and doesn't get a bit of that mud slung in their face for a change! Works both ways and we've been paying too long, overlooking too much. There just needs to be some common sense balance in it. I remember when they were "offended" by the Frito Bandito. I certainly don't beleive it was ment to be anything nasty. It rhymed with Frito and made a cute commercial. Didn't conjure images of bad mexicans or anything.....it was a cartoon. But they were offended. So now we don't have the Frito Bandito anymore. And I liked him.

But yes.....there are words that are just racist comments and Gringo is one. The n word is. Uncle Tom is and I've heard that flying around some lately. MODE EDIT is and others. But when it's just a word is or they nit-pic you to death on every word it gets a bit old. It wipes out the use of any discriptions and all are not "bad" words.

So.....I'm mixed.

Crazybird,

I know what you mean.

INTENT matters alot!

There's a restaurant in town called Gringo's.

Perhaps "gringo" is one of those words that can be offensive if used in the wrong context... like "bastard", "bitch", or "damn".

But in my honest opinion, it has become acceptable (politically correct) in America for people of any race, color, or creed to speak negatively of white people from a racial standpoint.

Here's what I mean:
A Mexican calls another Mexican "brown" and it is a compliment.
A white person calls a Mexican "brown" and it is a racist remark.
A black person comments on the darkness of a darker black person's skin and it is comedic.
A white person comments on the darkness of a black person's skin and it is a racist remark.
Carlos Mencia, the hispanic comedian, says "beaner" and he is telling a friendly joke to "his people".
A white person says "beaner" and it is a racist remark.

The conclusion* that I have drawn from this and many other instances just like it is the following:

According to the latest political correctness, racism in America only exists with white people. Any equally racist remarks, comments, statements, actions, etc. coming from non-white people in America are not considered racist but reactionary to slavery, oppression, mistreatment, or simply white racists. If you are white and wish to be politically correct, you must first accept the fact that you are a racist; then fill your heart with white guilt; and finally suffer abuse, give up your belongings, and allow your family to suffer because they are racists also.

(*If my opinion bothers you, note that it is only MY opinion -not necessarily the opinion or stance of ALIPAC.)

Here's how I respond to being called those things:

Cracker - Yep.
Honkie - Yep.
Whitey - Yep.
Bastard - Literally.
Bitch - Yep.

I'm a brunette too, should I feel guilty for that as well? I think not.