When outsiders think of Mexican’s they think of dark skinned, black haired, brown eyed, short people. When they meet a Mexican that is the complete opposite of those features they are surprised and can’t believe it. The reason why some Mexicans appear to be “white” is because Mexico is full of different ethnic groups. Mexicans can go from looking like actor Eugenio Siller (figure 15?) or like comedian Eugenio Derbez on (figure 16?)
There are four major ethnic groups divided by Mestizos who are of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, Amerindian who are of Indigenous ancestry, white who are of European ancestry, and other. The ethnic groups percentage goes as the following,
mestizo 60%, Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%. ("Mexico Demographics Profile 2013")
Different Ethnic groups; different lifestyles
Although there are four major ethnic group divisions the Mexican society recognizes only two; the Mestizos and the Amerindian. Looks are not the only thing that divides these two ethnic groups, it is their lifestyle that defines them.
Amerindians use an indigenous language in daily speech; remains actively involved in village communal affairs; participates in religious ceremonies rooted in native American traditions; and attempts to achieve a harmony with, rather than control over, the social and natural worlds. (Merrill)
Mestizos don’t do any of the things that Amerindians do, they go and don’t go to church, speak Spanish only, and don’t really care much for nature.
Amerindians use an indigenous language in daily speech; remains actively involved in village communal affairs; participates in religious ceremonies rooted in native American traditions; and attempts to achieve a harmony with, rather than control over, the social and natural worlds. (Merrill)
Mestizos don’t do any of the things that Amerindians do, they go and don’t go to church, speak Spanish only, and don’t really care much for nature.
The differences between Amerindians and Mestizos are similar to the differences between the Native Americans and Americans.
Just like Native Americans the Amerindians complain that mestizos are aggressive, impatient, and disrespectful toward nature. (Merrill)
Mestizos in turn complain that Amerindians are too unmotivated and constrained by tradition to deal appropriately with the demands of modern society. (Merrill)
Just like Native Americans the Amerindians complain that mestizos are aggressive, impatient, and disrespectful toward nature. (Merrill)
Mestizos in turn complain that Amerindians are too unmotivated and constrained by tradition to deal appropriately with the demands of modern society. (Merrill)
Caucasian Americans tend to have most of the power in the United States and look down at the Native Americans, the same thing happens with the Mestizos and the Amerindians. The Mestizos also tend to discriminate the Amerindians and have negative stereotypes for them, because of those stereotypes some of the Amerindians aren't able to find jobs. As the video states, this discrimination has gotten so bad that Mexico had to establish the Museum of Tolerance in 2010, in it people are taught how to and why to respect diversity and the Indigenous people.