[DJkillos]

There was a time when I used to think Latino was a race and not a cultural meaning. Before I realized this I often associated looking Amerindian and metiszo with being "Latino" because most of the Latinos I was around were from Mexico and Central America. And whenever I would watch a telenovela I would even say, "none of these people are real latinos." Mind you I was only a kid. I didn't know better. I have noticed people often associate Amerindian/metiszo features with being "Spanish" or "Latin" without even realizing those features are actually not "Spanish". Often times I hear many Native Americans say they get mistaken for "Latino".

[Arr34ston]

A mixed one.

[EntectCelpelm]

Being hispanic myself and not fitting the stereotypical look, I never associated being hispanic with a specific look, but I did used to think it was a race

The average non-hispanic layman in NYC's stereotypical image of a hispanic is a mixed-looking person, indigenous looking person or a woggy iberian

[VowJoyday]

Being hispanic myself and not fitting the stereotypical look.

The average non-hispanic layman in NYC's stereotypical image of a hispanic is a mixed-looking person, indigenous looking person or a woggy iberian

Really? How do you look like?

[ZX3URrBH]

Really? How do you look like?

Senegalese

---------- Post added 2011-03-07 at 21:04 ----------

by stereotypical latino look I mean mestizos by the way, however in the north east you're much more exposed to a more diverse range of "latino" phenotypes

[blackjackblax]

Really? How do you look like?

Like a Nordic god (Just kidding).

[Switiespils]

mixed, black, white, asian, middle eastern, etc and any mixtures of those is the look i associate with latinos now. it used to be just a mixed/mulatto or mestizo appearance.

[ananciguinter]

I identify Latino with Portoriccans and Cubans , and caribbeans in the US, and Hispanic with mexis , amerindians also in the us ...although I understand that they are often used exchangeably

[allachakb]

Mestizos and caribbeans

[Blolover11]

It depends on which part of the country.

In the Southwest, and most of the country

http://www.prisonplanet.com/images/j...7mexicans5.jpg

Northeast, either

http://gothamist.com/attachments/jen..._prparade3.jpg

or

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/20...n-parade_8.jpg

and in South Florida

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/503...1E70F2B3269972

The Latino apperance varies within regions.

[86GlSqSK]

The stereotypical Latino appearance for the average lay person (USA) is someone whos looks can range from some exotic woggy type to some ambiguously mixed looking individual. In other words, people who would most likely be 'classified' as castizo, mestizo, tri-racial or mulatto in this forum. Latinos with phenotypes at the extremes ends of the spectrum are usually the ones that clash the most with the average lay persons perceptions.
In other words, if the Latino looks like the stereotypical Scandinavian, Congolese or an extra from Apocalypto ( depending on which region of the US he lives in).

---------- Post added 2011-03-10 at 22:23 ----------

Really? How do you look like?

He has never physically described himself except to state the rather cryptic 'he doesn't look stereotypically' comment.

[Kolokireo]

Mestizos.

I still have a hard time telling some Caribbeans apart from blacks.

[scewDeasp]

Mestizos.

I still have a hard time telling some Caribbeans apart from blacks.

Since you're in NJ, I'd assume tri-racials (PR's) would be what most would come in contact with. Caribbeans include Cubans, PR's and DR's, the ones that generate the most confusion are those in the extreme end of the spectrum.
When Dania Ramirez played the Sopranos sons girlfriend, she fit the mold. Had they used someone like Zoe Zaldana is when audiences would be confused.

[diegogo]

Most PR's I know are light. Many can pass for white. Doesn't help that Nuyoricans can't speak Spanish.

I don't know many Cubanos, but most Dominicans around here look like Aframs.

[sarasmid]

I thought most Dominicans in Jersey were light skin Cibaenos.

[NowFloabDow]

The only light-skinned Dominicans around here are mixed with white or PR.

[Evsltkzl]

The only light-skinned Dominicans around here are mixed with white or PR.

The thing is that light skin Dominicans are mistaken for other nationalities, for example if you see me in the streets you would probably think that I'm Cuban or PR and I bet that's what you think when you see light skin Dominicans. I've been to parties in Jersey and most Dominicans were light skin.

[MontyP@thon]

Most PR's I know are light. Many can pass for white. Doesn't help that Nuyoricans can't speak Spanish.

I don't know many Cubanos, but most Dominicans around here look like Aframs.

NJ probably still has the second largest Cuban population in the US, they're just a bit more spread out from their traditional Hudson county enclaves. In my experience I'd say they'd come closest to fitting the 'pass for white' since many are of pure or pred. European ancestry.
Nuyoricans are stereotyped as supposedly looking darker than their Boricua island brethren, the great majority here look pred. European tri-racial (Daddy Yankee, Fat Joe, Miguel Cotto types).
I don't know what part of NJ you're at, but majority of Dominicans I've seen here look within the range of Aventura, Bohecoa, Dania Ramirez.

But definitely looking like the stereotypical Afram falls out of the stereotypical Latino look for the average lay person.

[cheapphenonline]

The thing is that light skin Dominicans are mistaken for other nationalities, for example if you see me in the streets you would probably think that I'm Cuban or PR and I bet that's what you think when you see light skin Dominicans. I've been to parties in Jersey and most Dominicans were light skin.

Not the ones I've met. Most Dominicans I've encountered look more like David Ortiz, Kat DeLuna or Pedro Martinez than Alex Rodriguez or Rosanna Tavarez

NJ probably still has the second largest Cuban population in the US, they're just a bit more spread out from their traditional Hudson county enclaves. In my experience I'd say they'd come closest to fitting the 'pass for white' since many are of pure or pred. European ancestry.
Nuyoricans are stereotyped as supposedly looking darker than their Boricua island brethren, the great majority here look pred. European tri-racial (Daddy Yankee, Fat Joe, Miguel Cotto types).
I don't know what part of NJ you're at, but majority of Dominicans I've seen here look within the range of Aventura, Bohecoa, Dania Ramirez.

But definitely looking like the stereotypical Afram falls out of the stereotypical Latino look for the average lay person.

Between Princeton and Rutgers. Not many Doms here.

[Maserati]

The thing is that light skin Dominicans are mistaken for other nationalities, for example if you see me in the streets you would probably think that I'm Cuban or PR and I bet that's what you think when you see light skin Dominicans. I've been to parties in Jersey and most Dominicans were light skin.

I'm from NJ, I can't really comment on the personal observations of someone else. But if I had to take a wild guess, I'd guess that many are confused for something else, like me for example. Evenhough I look stereotypically Dominican, I know that whenever I venture to places outside of North NJ, I have gotten Boricua.

BTW, I can see this current theme potentially going south due to certain outside parties trolling agenda.