# The use of "Anglo" to mean "white American"... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 5, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492 "2003-11-05T04:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/21 "2003-11-06T18:05:42Z")
No, you’re correct, but what does that have to do with it? I’m not an Anglo. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/22 "2003-11-06T18:31:02Z")
Nor am I, **ruadh** , since I’m mostly familiar with the term when it is used in a derogatory fashion. It’s just that, living around Chicago, home of one of the biggest St Patrick’s Day parades and one of the primary sources of IRA funding, I’m way too used to Americans who (How can I put this without insulting you? I suppose I can’t so I have to throw myself on your mercy and understanding that I’m not talking about YOU but people around Chicago.) are more Irish than the Irish so I get a little nervous when Irish-Americans are touchy about the English. We Americans, after all, don’t really have a dog in that fight. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/23 "2003-11-06T18:39:42Z")
I’m not an Irish-American, and it has nothing to do with the IRA. See **Futile Gesture** ’s post, above. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/24 "2003-11-06T18:55:50Z")
I suppose since my answer to **Futile** ’s question would be “It would probably take a lot of times before it got really annoying, especially if the person calling me ‘English’ just meant it as a way of differentiatiion,” biting someone’s head off for it seemed to me a mite extreme. And if the person has a hint of playful superiority in his voice AND if I knew him well enough I’d see it as an opportunity to return in kind. I know ethnic slurs for all occasions, including mild ones one can use playfully. Basically, I guess I don’t take it as seriously as you and **Futile** , which isn’t surprising since I don’t take much very seriously. (shrugging my shoulders) As long as your problem with being called an Anglo is personal and not political that’s your affair. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/25 "2003-11-06T20:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > **I suppose since my answer to Futile’s question would be "It would probably take a lot of times before it got really annoying,** Well, that’s exactly it. It _does_ take a lot of times, but it _happens_ a lot of times, because a lot of people use “Anglo” as a synonym for “white and English speaking”. That’s why it’s annoying. Just as Canadians get annoyed because people use “American” as a synonym for “from North America”… or as southerners get annoyed because people use “yanks” as a synonym for “American”. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/26 "2003-11-06T20:30:58Z")
Our experience differs, as I haven’t been called an “Anglo” that often. Plus, operating as I do from the standpoint of a White American Middle-Class Male and, therefore, a Prince of the Universe, I can afford to be condescendingly tolerant of my lessers if they happen to get some detail or another wrong. I mean, what more can one expect? (Great BIG 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![TheFunkySpaceCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@TheFunkySpaceCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFunkySpaceCowboy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/27 "2003-11-06T20:32:05Z")
I’m a fair mix of Irish, Scot, and English with a wee bit of German thrown in for sure and quite likely a few other European nations in the mix too. Know what that makes me? WHITE. Just plain white. If that’s not good enough I’ll accept Occidental since as far as I know all white people are from the Occident (or are white people of slavic decent not counted in that definition?) I’m also OK with being called whitey, cracker or honky. Yank is fine only if you say it with a British or Aussie accent 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/28 "2003-11-06T21:13:39Z")
I’m mostly Irish and dislike being called an ‘anglo’ but the explanation that it has to do with language rather than nationality pacifies me. Mostly. So, what would they call African and Asian-Americans who only speak English? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/29 "2003-11-07T06:06:30Z")
Black or Asian … that explanation’s rubbish 😉 ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/30 "2003-11-07T19:10:26Z")
So apparently these labels are supposed to refer to language and general cultural traits, not the “genes”? Anyway I only bring this up because lately I have noticed my local newspaper in Texas has editorially replaced all references to “whites” with the term “Anglo” in wire articles… but that seems awkward when describing situations from other parts of the country - such as New ENgland, New York, the Upper Midwest or Louisiana where there are many “white” people that don’t identify with what they would see as a “WASP” identity. Anyway, I know these labels are very broad, but the problem is so much of our society seems pinned on the “fact” that these terms represent solid boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/31 "2003-11-07T19:54:46Z")
An Anglo is someone with family ties to England. Those whose roots are in Germany, Poland, Sweden etc., can’t really be called Anglos. I just use White to refer to those of European extraction. Also Caucasian doesn’t work as a substitute for White because Hispanics are Caucasian. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/32 "2003-11-07T20:45:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Hispanics are Caucasian I should think that the vast majority of Hispanics have far more Native American blood than European. ---
**Author:** ![xicanorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a88e57/32.png) [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/33 "2003-11-07T22:04:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*I’m mostly Irish and dislike being called an ‘anglo’ but the explanation that it has to do with language rather than nationality pacifies me. Mostly. > > So, what would they call African and Asian-Americans who only speak English? \*\* OK. As someone who is Chicano and has lived all his life in the Texas-Mexico border. In the Mexican-Texan culture, we refer to all White people with the broad label of “Anglo” or “White.” But “Anglo” is used more often and usually refers to someone we would think as White. As far as African-Americans, we usually say “Negro”, “Moreno”, or “Negrito.” In public media, usually “Negro” or “persona de color” (person of color) is used. As far as Asians, they all come under the term “chino” (chinese). Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese get all lumped together under that label. I have a friend who is filipina and she always gets called Chinese (china) all the time. Usually, the “chino” is not used if the person receiving the label is adamant about their ethnic label or is know by the community to be “coreano”, “vietnamita”, etc. As far as public media, “asiatico” (asian) or proper ethnic/nationality laber is used. xicanorex ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/34 "2003-11-07T22:05:52Z")
If Hispanics want to call all whites, not just those of English or Anglo-Saxon ancestry, Anglos, well, they can and they will and they do. And they are not wrong in any way at all. The word Anglo now has an additional (and commonly-used) meaning derived from the original. Just like 99% of the other words in the English language. And the original meaning is still perfectly usable in context just as this derived meaning is perfectly usable in context. Context is everything. ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/35 "2003-11-07T23:58:23Z")
A little light for the subject. Quote: “They then sent to Angeln; ordered them to send them more aid and to be told of the worthlessness of the Britons and of the excellence of the land. They sent them more aid. These men came from three nations of Germany: from the Old Saxons, from the Angles, from the Jutes.”" From the [Angelcynn](http://www.angelcynn.org.uk/) web site. Seems Anglo could mean Germanic doesn’t it? Also isn’t the English language supposed to be of Germanic origins? I live in Quebec and though not originally from Canada or England I still get called English which is an insult, I mean the English can’t even play a good game of cricket! ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/36 "2003-11-08T00:07:50Z")
So what does it mean to be called Brittish? ---
**Author:** ![Snake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Snake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/37 "2003-11-08T00:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wang-Ka \* > \*\* …but, then, again, we all know that one must possess pigmentation in order to experience TRUE oppression. And once oppressed, one is justified (if one wishes) in hanging onto it for centuries, regardless of whether it goes away or not… > > …and throwing it in the face of anyone who even resembles the folks who, at one long-ago point, oppressed your ancestors. \*\* Well said, Mr. Ka ---
**Author:** ![Snake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Snake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/38 "2003-11-08T01:14:05Z")
In all this stupid politically correct attempt to define how to label us all, I have a question. Being that Africa in the cradle of life from which humans originated, doesn’t that mean that we are ALL actually African \_\_\_\_\_ ? I live in the US, so I’d be African American even though I’m a white guy. Technically thats true isn’t it ?? Damn, I should have put that on my college applications and got the bonus points, I suppose. If we must label each other, why can’t we just go by the country you are a citizen of ? Then I, the black guy that lives next door, and the Mexican lady one block over could just be Americans and get on with our lives. Seems people always have to make things more complicated then they really need to be. Fuckers ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/39 "2003-11-08T02:54:49Z")
In multi-cultural Australia, Anglo(-Australian) is used to refer to any caucasian/white person - as opposed to, say, Italian-Australian, Greek-Australian, Asian-Australian. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492/40 "2003-11-08T03:52:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > \*\*I should think that the vast majority of Hispanics have far more Native American blood than European. \*\* That depends…every “Hispanic” group is different. As far as I know… Native European Spaniards, most Uruguayans, Argentines, and many Chileans and Cubans are of Caucasian ancestry, not just Iberian but also Italian, Slavic, German and everything else from Europe. Most Mexicans, Salvadoreans, Hondurans, and many people in pretty much all the other Hispanic American states (except for Cuba and Uruguay) are “Mestizos” - which can be anything from mostly white with some Indian blood to pure Indian, but culturally Hispanicized people who identify as Mestizos. Since most Hispanic Americans are from Mexico or Central America, its only natural that we associate “Hispanic” with “Mestizo”. Most Dominicans, many Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Panamanians, and others are of African or mixed African ancestry (with each country having different labels for mixtures). And there are scattered numbers of East Asians pretty much everywhere in Latin America, as well as distinct Lebanese, Jewish, and German communities, which may or may not be integrated into the “White Creole” sector. Its pretty damn near impossible to determine which group has the most Hispanics belong to (probably Mestizo) or where one group ends and another begins. I suppose that’s why the term “Hispanic” was made popular, other “racial” labels are hard to apply to all Latin Americans as a group. And another part of it is in the United States we tend to see non-Caucasian ancestry as overridding so people of mixed ancestry are not seen as “white people”, even if they are more than 3/4ths Caucasian. However in most other countries, people simply identify with what the predominant element of their ancestry is. I know a lot of people from Mexico who would describe themselves as “blancos” in Mexico but would not be called “white” on this side of the border. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-anglo-to-mean-white-american/211492.md?page=3)