Etson, no. I think ‘Chinaman’ would not be akin to saying one is ‘Chinese’. That is simply the appropriate cultural and racial designation. But ‘Chinaman’? There is a demeaning and derogatory feel to it. As though the whole person is being defined by one’s race/country of origin. It is like ‘White Boy’ perhaps.
In Chicago, Latino is more often used than Hispanic but i believe most “organizations” would opt for the use of “hispanic.”
archie bunker had a great line about the chinamen, puerto ricans and the blacks…working the grey matter…
You just don’t hear it anymore because you live in a transplant neighborhood.
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at January 28, 2010 10:40 AM
Thank god for that.
“Chinaman” is derogatory. Its use began when we brought many over to construct the railroads.
m4l and chicken don’t seem to mind it here though.
Most people from Spain wouldn’t understand someone from Peurto Rico speaking Spanish and vice versa.
Etson, no. I think ‘Chinaman’ would not be akin to saying one is ‘Chinese’. That is simply the appropriate cultural and racial designation. But ‘Chinaman’? There is a demeaning and derogatory feel to it. As though the whole person is being defined by one’s race/country of origin. It is like ‘White Boy’ perhaps.
“VOTE FOR PEDRO!!!
Posted by: Kensingtonian at January 28, 2010 10:35 AM”
That would make Rob “Napoleon” – which I’m now thinking is not as weird as it initially sounds.
People in NY/NJ still say “Spanish” instead of “Hispanic”.
You just don’t hear it anymore because you live in a transplant neighborhood.
“honestly back in the day, even people who were hispanic, would just refer to everyone as pretty much spanish. which i guess sounds kinda weird now..”
Rob is correct. Fourty years ago the term “Hispanic” was virtually unknown in the NYC area. The word “Spanish” was extensively used.