The Mexican Perspective: Understanding Their Culture
Historical Vignettes
Patrick Osio, Jr
(From Patrick Osio, Jr.’s The Mexican Perspective)
(Note: The following is an over simplification of a very complex subject that even today continues to evolve.)
After the Spanish Conquest of the “New Spain” or “New World,” families from Spanish nobility given land exploitation grants by the King of Spain, settled in Mexico. With this group came professionals (engineers/architects/doctors), merchants, tradesmen, servants and other service providers, but without land grants. Social standing remained the same as it existed back in Spain. Nobility first, followed by professionals, then merchants and tradesmen, then the servants and others. These immigrants were known as “Peninsulars.”
Those of aristocratic blood would send their sons and daughters back to Spain in search of equal status wives or husbands, or they would marry amongst their own in New Spain. Of course, many Peninsulars had Indian concubines or mistresses. The other less affluent Spaniards not being able to afford to send their children back to Spain would either marry amongst their social group or some males would take an Indian wife or as a common-law wife.
The offspring (Creoles) of the European Peninsulars aristocrats maintaining pure European blood, continued to be at the top of the social scale. Next in line, were the Creole offspring of the other Spaniards. Those with mixed blood (European-Indian) took the next level, leaving the pure Indian at the bottom of the social scale.
Those of mixed European-Indian blood are called “Mestizos” meaning a mixing of two different cultures. As the generations went by, the Mestizos became the majority in Mexico. Some may have had only one generation of Indian blood while others several.
Still, the pure blooded Europeans were at the top, followed by the Creoles, then the Mestizos who were educated and financially affluent, but still at the bottom were the pure blooded Indians.
After almost 500 years, it can almost be safely said that any family tracing their family roots in Mexico over a hundred years, has some, however small an amount, Indian blood. This in turn is what has created a unique people - the Mexicans.
While the practice of discrimination is, unfortunately, alive and well in Mexico, it must be pointed out that segregation, as we know it in the U.S., is non-existent in Mexico. Segregation in Mexico exists only when not being able to afford something. It is economic segregation. But there is, however, much social discrimination – those of lower economic status and/or little education and social graces, have a very difficult time breaking into the upper crest or even moving upward in employment.
The Mexican Indian was not placed in Reservations, as were their U.S. counterparts, this is not to hold Mexicans as an example of better treatment towards Indians, as this is far from true. The native-Mexicans that attempt to hold on to their roots, dress in their typical clothing, and have difficulty speaking Spanish (as their second language) are discriminated in many places, and not allowed into many restaurants, as an example.
The dark skinned mestizo is not turned away from anywhere he can afford. Any Mexican can buy property and live next to any other Mexican. Anyone can ride any bus, taxi, or airplane as long as he/she is able to pay for the service. While this is true, it is also a sad statement that such persons are not totally accepted in all circles – though they are mostly, on a personal basis, treated with respect and courtesy.
With some exception, any Mexican can go to any private school as long as he/she can afford the tuition. (Exceptions are some schools wherein one must be able to show ancestry as part of the admission procedures. For example, the German preparatory school in Mexico City gives preference to those of German ancestry for admission consideration. The preparatory American (U.S.) schools likewise give preference to those with American ancestry.)
Public transportation throughout Mexico has service for the various income levels, however, this does not exclude anyone from taking the least or most expensive. The same holds true for other types of services. Needless to say, restaurants that have dress codes will turn away patrons not meeting those codes, regardless of the ability to pay.
Most discrimination in Mexican society is based on social, economic or educational factors either not present or absent from individuals. Most discrimination is in the form of social discrimination. But, again, discrimination towards the pure Indian is ever present in some form or another – covertly or openly. And further, not only are many of their civil rights denied them, but also much of their ancestral land ownership has not been respected.
It is, however, of importance to know that respect and courtesy must be practiced at all levels in personal communication.
As noted, the above is an oversimplification. For those wishing (and highly recommended) to have more detail reading of Mexican history is a must. There are numerous books on the subject dealing extensively on the subjects.
(Read the entire chapter in the: The Mexican Perspective available for electronic download purchase – read more about the book at: http://www.hispanicvista.com/sales/book_sale.htm)
- Table of Contents
- Excerpts from the manual
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- About the Author
- Patrick Osio, Jr.
Editor of HispanicVista.com
- Contact information:
- E-mail: Posiojr@HispanicVista.com,
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