Something has been bugging me for a while now, but I don't say anything because I don't know if it's considered offensive. But I really want to know if this is a regional thing, so hopeful it doesn't come off obnoxious.

The word Chicano, I've grown up with it, I like the sound of it, I remember when Chicano Park was being built here and it was a major deal. Many years ago I noticed the word stopped being used, even to the point it seemed offensive. At the time I understood since there were different people coming from many spanish-speaking countries and they took offense. I dropped it from my vocabulary. A few months ago I saw a girl wearing a t-shirt, saying something on the lines of "I'm not hispanic, I'm chicano". I was like, whoa, okay. Then I'm hearing more on the radio the word is being used continuously. Suddenly, it seems I'm hearing it all the time now. Okay, George Lopez is coming to town, and at least here he's being referred to as Chicano, I've never noticed that before. So is this a local phenomena or is there a new surge going on or what?

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:44pm]

We are Aboriginal Americans.

To my understanding (and I consider myself Chicano), a Chicano is a person of Mexican descent born in the U.S. My parents were born in the U.S. so they are Chicanos, too. Now my grandparents were born in Mexico but are U.S. citizens. They are NOT Chicanos.

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:45pm]

mzkqueen03 said:

hmm,interesting. I grew up understanding it to means specifically Mexicans born in America, but then we're right next to the border so it was basically only Mexicans of hispanic descent that were generally around. But it's interesting to know that the word really isn't local. Am I tripping when I thought it became offensive?

Dauphin said:

What the heck does that mean? Native Austrailians born in America?

dannyd5050 said:

Cool, so it's not an obsolete term

morningsong said:

Hispanic is a general term that can include all sorts of Spanish speaking people. But you can offend a Mexican by calling them Chicano if they were not born here. Basically in my hispanic world you're either Chicano or you're Mexican, ie., either born here or not born here.

mzkqueen03 said:

I have never heard of the Cha-Cha Chicana...that's a new one for me.

I am a full blooded Mexican (both parents and all grandparents were born in Mexico) But I was born in Santa Barbara, California. I am Mexican/American, but I consider myself 100% American with a splash of Mexican. My heart and soul in American, my toasty color says Mexican.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

I like that!

PaisleyPark5083 said:

I consider myself 100% American too since I was born in Dallas, TX, but technically I'm Mexican/American (like you said) so that makes me Chicano. So would you deny that you are Chicana?

dannyd5050 said:

God no, I speak spanglish as much as everyone else.
I just am very proud to be an American My Mother and Father both went through hell to get our family here to live the American dream. I am also as chicana as they come, I speak fluent spanish, and enjoy a nice Taco de Carnitas from my local cart vendor.

dannyd5050 said:

That is how I use the term hispanic as well
and I consider myself Mexican/American
I have never used the term Chicano

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:45pm]

mzkqueen03 said:

yes honey, you invented cha-cha.

veronikka said:

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:46pm]

Christopher said:

My Mom use to take her shoe off her foot and throw it at us, and then say "bring me back my shoe"

morningsong said:

I think its regional. I live in California and I remember mexican americans fighting for acceptance of the word Chicano. I guess at one point it was considered offensive I'm not sure. But as far as I know it's specific to Mexicans. The mejicanos I know don't care for the term hispanic because basically if you speak spanish and have a spanish surname you could be called hispanic regardless of ethnicity or origin. It's very vague like the term Latin (which could also include Italians and French).

I also think Chicano is an old term too maybe starting with the Mexican civil rights movement.

morningsong said:

oh lord stop.

mzkqueen03 said:

I lean like a Cholo

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:47pm]

PaisleyPark5083 said:

and then asked, "why you cryin"

mzkqueen03 said:

the chola version was messed up though. kinda disrespectful toward the ladies.

I seriously thought this was going to be about the Cheech and Chong song.

mzkqueen03 said:

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[Edited 11/25/09 13:48pm]

Aboriginal
1: being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region