I see a divide between Southern New Mexico and Northern New Mexico. I'm from Las Cruces and identify as Chicano because my family came from Mexico My great-grandparents fled the revolution and my grandparents were born here in New Mexico. But my great-grandmother and my grandpa's side was from Spain.
I have friends from Espanola, Santa Fe and Taos that have been here many generations and identify as hispanic but they don't have a problem with me identifying a Chicano because they know my family tree is kind of different. At the end of the day, we're all and New Mexicans. Everyone thought my mom was Navajo but word descendants of Mexican Indians. I have nothing against people who identify as Hispanic our roots are just different but similar at the same time
It's such a shame that many of our fellow New Mexicans deny they're Mexican identity in favor of a false spanish one. They seem to have forgotten or never heard of the spanish caste system. Nearly all New Mexicans would not have been considered spanish under they're rule. Even today spaniards along with the rest of the world see us as Mexicans and rightfully so cause that's what we truly are. Unless of course those who can prove no Native Blood. But really who can honestly prove that
@@jimmym9581 then what would you call spanish settlers who married native North American Indians and not native Americans of Mexico or South of? Why is that so unbelievable.....
@@archuleta7524 The entire Southwest from 1821 to 1848 was Mexico. Unlike the U.S. at the time where you had to be white and male to be an "American" citizen, in Mexico EVERYONE who was born in Mexico (Southwest included as Mexico) at that time under Mexican law was a full citizen of Mexico. That makes everyone regardless of racial heritage, MEXICAN and that means a full blooded european or a full blooded Indigenous person from the Ute nation or from any other Indigenous nation of the Southwest/Mexico, had the legal ability to become President of Mexico. From Tongva, to Comanche, all were Mexican citizens if born in Mexico. All Southwest Natives today were Mexican natives before becoming U.S. Natives. Technically if a full blooded Indigenous person from the Southwest wanted to, they could honestly identify as a "Mexican American" Native. Geronimo technically was born a Mexican citizen and he also spoke spanish. Without question because of the horrible things that happened to his family at the hands of some "Mexicans"(wouldn't be surprised if some of those "Mexicans" had Apache heritage), he developed a life long hatred towards all "Mexicans" and understandably would never identify himself as "Mexican". On the other hand many Apaches at the time did claim their "Mexican" citizenship. There are still Mexican Apaches today in Mexico. There are numerous Indigenous American nations today like the Kumeyaay and Tohono O'odham whose people reside on both sides of the border because today's border has nothing to do with our ancestral homelands. Many Pueblo people fought for Mexico during the U.S. invasion/Mexican American War and they were not the only ones. Before 1821 the Southwest was part of colonial Mexico and not colonial U.S.. That makes Southwest history prior to 1821 also Mexico's history and having nothing to do with the U.S.. Mexican europeans come from many different nations, not just spain. Two examples are the founder of Tucson and the last viceroy of Mexico, both of Irish heritage. Many were also portuguese, french, italian and even german. Now if we're gonna talk about a person whose heritage is from outside Mexico's spectrum. Say from Canada, New York, Idaho, South Dakota, Florida etc, clearly they are not "Mexican". It really isn't that confusing. If your family's last country of origin/citizenship before becoming an American citizen, whether through conquest or immigration, is Mexico (Southwest included), then you're a Mexican American. That's how all ethnicities work here in the U.S.. One thing is for sure, none of us mixed with Indigenous American and european heritages are really "spanish" regardless of what part of the Americas your from. Though if an individual chooses to identify as spanish, so be it, that's their choice. Whether it makes sense or not. Heck call yourself a Martian American if it makes you feel better lol. Also what did you mean by "why is that so unbelievable"?
Beautiful knowledge to know... gracias
I see a divide between Southern New Mexico and Northern New Mexico. I'm from Las Cruces and identify as Chicano because my family came from Mexico My great-grandparents fled the revolution and my grandparents were born here in New Mexico. But my great-grandmother and my grandpa's side was from Spain.
I have friends from Espanola, Santa Fe and Taos that have been here many generations and identify as hispanic but they don't have a problem with me identifying a Chicano because they know my family tree is kind of different. At the end of the day, we're all and New Mexicans. Everyone thought my mom was Navajo but word descendants of Mexican Indians. I have nothing against people who identify as Hispanic our roots are just different but similar at the same time
Fascinating video but the sound quality made it difficult to hear
Thanks for the video. I am the son and grandson of New Mexicans, dating back to the 1600s. Gotta love our history.
This is beautiful documentation of Mexican-American identity that is almost lost in modern Northern New Mexico. My familia is from Las Vegas, NM.
It's such a shame that many of our fellow New Mexicans deny they're Mexican identity in favor of a false spanish one. They seem to have forgotten or never heard of the spanish caste system. Nearly all New Mexicans would not have been considered spanish under they're rule. Even today spaniards along with the rest of the world see us as Mexicans and rightfully so cause that's what we truly are. Unless of course those who can prove no Native Blood. But really who can honestly prove that
@@jimmym9581 then what would you call spanish settlers who married native North American Indians and not native Americans of Mexico or South of? Why is that so unbelievable.....
@@archuleta7524
The entire Southwest from 1821 to 1848 was Mexico. Unlike the U.S. at the time where you had to be white and male to be an "American" citizen, in Mexico EVERYONE who was born in Mexico (Southwest included as Mexico) at that time under Mexican law was a full citizen of Mexico. That makes everyone regardless of racial heritage, MEXICAN and that means a full blooded european or a full blooded Indigenous person from the Ute nation or from any other Indigenous nation of the Southwest/Mexico, had the legal ability to become President of Mexico. From Tongva, to Comanche, all were Mexican citizens if born in Mexico. All Southwest Natives today were Mexican natives before becoming U.S. Natives. Technically if a full blooded Indigenous person from the Southwest wanted to, they could honestly identify as a "Mexican American" Native. Geronimo technically was born a Mexican citizen and he also spoke spanish. Without question because of the horrible things that happened to his family at the hands of some "Mexicans"(wouldn't be surprised if some of those "Mexicans" had Apache heritage), he developed a life long hatred towards all "Mexicans" and understandably would never identify himself as "Mexican". On the other hand many Apaches at the time did claim their "Mexican" citizenship. There are still Mexican Apaches today in Mexico. There are numerous Indigenous American nations today like the Kumeyaay and Tohono O'odham whose people reside on both sides of the border because today's border has nothing to do with our ancestral homelands. Many Pueblo people fought for Mexico during the U.S. invasion/Mexican American War and they were not the only ones. Before 1821 the Southwest was part of colonial Mexico and not colonial U.S.. That makes Southwest history prior to 1821 also Mexico's history and having nothing to do with the U.S.. Mexican europeans come from many different nations, not just spain. Two examples are the founder of Tucson and the last viceroy of Mexico, both of Irish heritage. Many were also portuguese, french, italian and even german.
Now if we're gonna talk about a person whose heritage is from outside Mexico's spectrum. Say from Canada, New York, Idaho, South Dakota, Florida etc, clearly they are not "Mexican". It really isn't that confusing. If your family's last country of origin/citizenship before becoming an American citizen, whether through conquest or immigration, is Mexico (Southwest included), then you're a Mexican American. That's how all ethnicities work here in the U.S..
One thing is for sure, none of us mixed with Indigenous American and european heritages are really "spanish" regardless of what part of the Americas your from. Though if an individual chooses to identify as spanish, so be it, that's their choice. Whether it makes sense or not. Heck call yourself a Martian American if it makes you feel better lol.
Also what did you mean by "why is that so unbelievable"?
Not Mexican
If your family's heritage is from pre1848 Nuevo Mexico like mine is, you're Mexican American just like me! Whether you admit it or not, that's a fact!
Viva Mexico!! Cabrones
Because Mexico gave it up and left their our people behind