I am who I am... period. Why would people focus more on the negative than on the positives. These stars can get both roles, it helps having both languages and cultures. In NYC everyone's mixed up all kinds of ways (Black with Irish, Israeli, German, Chinese, etc.). I was in the military, so I can tell you, there are many mixed families. Either you're cool or not. Putting people in boxes has always been a ploy to separate. You can find blacks with blue eyes and straight hair. If I like a rapper, Selena, Celine, Yo Yo Ma, Beyonce, etc., it's because I dig what they do. If you're a great actor, you're a great actor. It's not like i'm not going to buy Zumba fitness or watch this documentary because of what box they put themselves in; I'm just learning and that's what it's about. I cook Mexican, Italian, Yemeni, Chinese, Indian and Soul Food... if I like it, I roll with it. You find everyone going to Chinese restaurants... and yes, even to the straight up real regional ones. They have their feelings, they voiced them. With the way things are, deal with it and move on. I could whine about black kids in the neighborhood or third-generation non Spanish speaking kids not being able to get jobs, even to bag groceries or be a cashier here, because they're not bi-lingual or people that came/come here taking jobs from citizens. Hell, I would come here too to make my life better, but keep in mind others have issues and they're not the only ones. Move on and be positive, share your unique culture, dig someone for who they are, not what they look like, class structure or money. We're all special and there's no one like you... not even a twin. Do the best you can with what you have and pass it on.

Charlize Theron is African now? She's still white but was born and grew up in South Africa.

Stupid uneducated folks all over this page........people need to realize as has been said over and over. You can be Black and still be Latino or whatever label you like. But AA is a subset of Black. Most people equate Black and AA as the same but they are not always. Unless you are a Black person who grew up in African American culture. A Black person or mixed Black person from another country is not an AA. So when many say they are not Black it is because of the culture they are espousing not the fact that they may or may not have African blood. And who cares? I am a mixed race part AA. I have Native American blood also (I knew my Cherokee ancestors not just saying it like many who say "I got Indian in me" as some kind of badge of honor. I am a mixed race Black person who has been mistaken for Latino or Hispanic or whatever. In Asia where I lived and still travel I am not considered Black no matter how much I explain. But really do i care? It is not until I deal with Americans and American Negroes that I have any issues. Many of you are not as proud as you say you are. If you were you wouldn't preach to others about how black they should be. If you are 100% black own it and live it and don't worry about the half black Dominican lady across the street or what she calls herself. She isn't "just" black and she isn't AA but USA standards. Many of you folks need to get of of you r block and actually live elsewhere in the world before opening your big mouths.

tell them if they think its hard being Black And Latino, tell them to imagine how hard it is just to be Black!!!

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HISPANIC is a slave termanology meaning " HIS SPANIARD." It has the same impact as a white person saying the N word to a black person! Many people who identify themselves as SUCH have no idea what the word really means!!

Latino & Hispanic? It’s Time to Rethink these Terms! Michael Grande - 7/5/2005 The words Latino and Hispanic have been so carelessly thrown around, used to label individuals, taken advantage of by some of the popular media (ie: Latin Grammy’s, AOL Latino, and the Hispanic Heritage Awards), and even used by some unknowing people as a tool to define their heritage. Yet do we really know what these words mean? There are over 25 countries where Spanish is either the official, or a commonly spoken language (including areas of the world that people don’t often associate with Spanish, like Andorra or the Philippines), and Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. Additionally there are myriad regional dialects; some examples are the original Castilian Spanish of Spain (directly descended from the Latin language), Argentinean Spanish with its distinctive Italian flair, and Mexican Spanish with its characteristic blend of indigenous (Native American) words. There is no “typical” skin color for Spanish speakers - they range from the lightest whites to Mediterranean breeds, from those of Indian (Native Central/South American and Caribbean) heritage to black. All of the Spanish-speaking countries have their own unique peoples and their own distinctive cultures – they cannot be broadly and irresponsibly categorized into a “Latino” grouping. It is entirely imprecise to use such broad, vague, inaccurate terminology to categorize people based upon their language (whatever dialect it may be). Oddly enough, the term “Latino(a)” is never (or rarely) used in the USA to refer to Western Europeans such as Spaniards and Italians, when in fact the original Latin cultures lie within Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Andorra, and France. Furthermore, when students arrive at college or pick up a book on European history, they will find that the term Latin, when used to refer to a monolithic culture, will speak of the Ancient Roman society, which is contrary to the ambiguous terminology employed by American media. The term Latin America first came into use in the late 1860’s and was used to describe the French presence in Mexico. This term was later shortened to refer to people from “Latin American” countries; thus solidifying the American misperception of the term. I have many Spanish-speaking friends, all of whom hail from different countries. My ex-college Professor is from Argentina and has almost nothing culturally in common with my friend from Mexico. As a matter of fact they too hate the use of the term Latino; they demand to be referred to according to their country of heritage, and rightly so! Furthermore, the terms Latino and Hispanic have been irresponsibly used as a “minority labeling system.” I find this to be even more reckless because any and all racism boils down to that which it always has: color. Another of my friends hails from Chile and has red hair and blue eyes, but according to popular media, a job application, or a government form, she is Latina or Hispanic, two terms that she earnestly hates because they pay no credence to her unique culture. Somehow I don’t think she was the minority prototype that they were looking for, but possibly that’s because the terminology is so rampantly and incorrectly used. Racism is despicable in any form, but if these silly questions are still going to be asked on government forms and job applications then they should address that which is truly in question: race. Anyone who hails from Central/South America or the Caribbean who is dark-skinned is likely to be either in part or fully of Indian heritage. Instead of making tons of superfluous categories on forms, why not just leave two boxes: Native American (North/Central/South/Caribbean) and African American? The other day I heard someone say, “Did you know that Latinos constitute the second largest minority population in America?” I thought to myself, “This is ridiculous.” Nobody needs to be forced into an inappropriate minority mentality; how has American cultural ignorance become so pervasive? Who are the minorities? The indigenous (native) population or the mestizo (mixed) population? Who exactly does this refer to? It’s so confusing. I am 100% Italian American. I speak both Spanish and Italian fluently. Since Italy is the patriarch of the Latin Culture, am I a minority too? This has become a very perplexing issue indeed. In Western Europe the term Latin(o)(a) is commonly used to refer the cultures of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, and France. Additionally Europeans are shocked at how the term is used in America and who the term has been used to label. The term Latino(a) refers to the Latin culture, a culture that originally flourished in Italy during Roman times. It was during that time that the Romans spread the Latin language throughout Western Europe; the language then morphed into the modern Romance Languages such as Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. In essence, the Italians are the original Latinos, and the only people who should be termed “Latino(a)” are those whose ancestry stems from Western Europe or those who have strong cultural ties to Latin Culture. Why would someone so irresponsibly refer to an indigenous Mexican as “Latino” when he has his own ancient, Pre-Columbian Heritage, ie: Aztec, or Mayan? Why would someone use the term to refer to someone of indigenous Peruvian heritage when he has his own Incan heritage? Why would someone label an indigenous-blooded Puerto Rican as “Latino” when his bloodline lies with the Borinquen Indians? People need to wake up and get educated on this issue. How many North Americans would like to be referred to as “Norths” or “Anglos” based upon our geographical location or our mother tongue? I for one, would not! The spread of such inaccurate terminology only helps to perpetuate myths that prevail in our society. Cultural ignorance seems to be a popular phenomenon in the U.S.A. Americans do not have the right to irresponsibly use terminology that attempts to alter history. We have the resources to become culturally educated; let’s use them and begin to express our heritage by country, not vague, “media and commerce friendly” generalities. If indeed we chose to speak of “Latinos,” using such a generalist quip, a quick reference term for all those who trace their roots to Latin America., then we should include the maternal Latin countries in that group: Italy, Spain, Portugal, even France. There is a pervasive Latin cultural flow that began in those countries and spread to Latin America. Latinos wouldn’t be “Latinoamericano” without the Europeans. Since the word “Hispanic” originally came from Spain as an adjective for linguistic purposes and is derived from the Roman name for their prized province “Hispania,” I guess we should look at England’s Roman name – “Britannia.” It appears then, according to Hispanic rhetoric that all speakers of English, regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, or geography should be called “Britannic.” So from India to America – I guess I should now present the list of BRITANNICS…. I think you’ll begin to see for yourself just how silly the modern-day, American usage of the words Hispanic and Latino has become… The English-speaking Countries: • Antigua & Barbuda • Australia • Bahamas,The • Bangladesh • Barbados • Belize • Bermuda • Botswana • Brunei • Cameroon • Canada • Cayman Islands • Dominica • Fiji • Gambia,The • Ghana • Gibraltar • India • Ireland • Jamaica • Kenya • Lesotho • Liberia • Malawi • Malta • Mauritius • New Zealand • Nigeria • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Philippines • Seychelles • Sierra Leone • South Africa • Sri Lanka • Swaziland • Tanzania • Trinidad and Tobago • Uganda • United Kingdom • United States • Zambia • Zimbabwe * Chart from: http://www.aneki.com/english.html Michael Grande is currently a graduate student of Literature and Culture. In addition to English, he also speaks Italian, Spanish, French and basic Latin. In the past, he's been published in Manchester Times.

that was really cool...

Like I said before, Black-White-Hispanic-Asian-etc. are races Dominican, Cuban, Haitian, Jamaican are ethnicities/nationalities. If you are black and born in America you are BLACK American. You can be WHITE and be AFRICAN AMERICAN because both AFRICAN and AMERICAN are nationalities/ethnicities not RACES. So please people stop saying I'm Dominican and BLACK, no you are DOMINICAN and AMERICAN. Mixed ethnicities are different than mixed races. Halle Berry is mixed race, If you are black and from Jamaica but live in American you are mixed ethnicitity. So If you meet a white person from South Africa they can still be AFRICAN AMERICAN. Watch the documentary on PBS called BLACK in LATIN AMERICA, very informative.

Every black Latino does NOT have the same experience. It very much depends their country of origin (ex.Dominican Rep., Cuba, Venezuela), where they grew up in the U.S. and how the FAMILY chose to identify as they grew up. I know black Latinos much more comfortable with African-Americans or West Indians and others who rather stick to other Latinos. Some black Latinos do NOT like to be called. They prefer Latino. And some black Latinos insist to call themselves Afro-Latino. Guess what? There are white Latinos who do not like to be called white and prefer to be called Latino only. They feel being called white is being called Caucasian and strips them of their ethnicity. Other white Latinos do like to make it a point that they have white skin.... So folks...it's complicated. Lastly, I find that MANY African-Americans feel like that if a black Latino doesn't go around yelling at the top of their lungs that they're black then they're in denial of their race. Calm down. It just means that person might be more connected to their culture/heritage than a skin color. Crazy idea for AAs to understand due to their history in the U.S. where they were forced to detach from their heritage and only know race.

To all the people saying things like, I look Black, but I'm Dominican and stuff of that nature, please have a seat. Why are you called negra and negrita in Spanish? Like something a lot of people said earlier - there is a difference between race, ethnicity and culture. Having said that, the documentary raises a lot of issues, and frankly, with so many Blacks living in Latin countries, there is still a long way to go esp with them becoming movie stars. They are discriminated against in Spanish & Portuguese language films and in Hollywood too.

Very Interesting...