Why doesn’t Mexico have a black history month like the USA does when there are 5 cities in Mexico containing African Ancestry, and the government including one of the presidents who was also black?
Mexicans don’t think of themselves in terms of race. Social class (which to an extent is tied to race, though race is just a taboo subject and as I said, not as persistent in the self-identification of most Mexicans) is more prominent. The reason for this is that in Mexico “race” is a spectrum, in the Northern and Western states most people are mestizos with predominant white ancestry, in the Southern states most are mestizos with predominant indigenous ancestry or with no white ancestry—but in general, you get a bit of everything everywhere. Mexicans that self-identify as Afro-Mexicans are barely 1% of the population and live in a small region of the southern Golf and Pacific states. Legally, they have been integrated to mainstream society since independence, unlike in America where Jim Crow laws separated blacks from non-blacks. Because of their small numbers and rural background, they have lacked representation historically; you find notable Afro-Mexicans during the colonial period and early after independence, but since then (as they were largely absorbed by the general population, except for that 1%) there have been fewer major Mexican black historical figures. Even today, most Mexicans will only be able to name two famous Mexican black people, both singers—Johnny Laboriel and Kalimba. The concept of ethnic months applies less well to Mexico because of numbers; Mexico is way less diverse than the United States. Only 1% of Mexicans self-identify as Afro-Mexicans, only 1% as having Middle Easterner origins and 1% as having Asian origins. In a country where “people of color” per se are not marginalized systemically, ethnic months make less sense. That’s not to say Mexican society is not racist and favors whiteness, but it can be argued a country where only 10% of the population is white will be less racist than one where they are the majority.
What are the cultural and demographical differences between the Central American countries?
Tough question. Belize is an outlier (historially British and culturally Caribbean); Panama is more South American. The other countries are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and you might include southern Mexico.Public safety is one difference: Nicaragua is relatively safe, Costa Rica a little less so, but there are horrifying levels of violence in the rest of Central America. Most of it is related to the drug trade, and has little impact on innocent foreigners. But I dislike Honduras, for the feeling of being in an armed camp.The people: Costa Rica, less friendly, less welcoming than the rest of CA. Elsewhere, the people are wonderful. Nicaragua and Guatemala, and southern Mexico, are more Indian. The differences between Atlantic and Pacific coasts are greater than the differences between countries.The cities: All the capital cities, except perhaps Managua (Nicaragua) are worthy tourist destinations, great places to wander.Food: rather bland and usually uninteresting, except in Mexico.Public education: Dismal throughout the region. Shame on these countries for the way they neglect their young people. Peace: There's hardly anyone in Costa Rica who's old enough to remember civil war; Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala had dreadful conflicts right up to late in the last century. The region has settled down and there's don't seem to be many who'd like to go back to the murder and mayhem.
If my dad is Spanish (from Spain) and my mom is Mexican and Hispanic (Puerto Rico) does that make me Hispanic, Spanish and Mexican? Or would I just be considered Hispanic and Mexican?
I’m going to guess here that you are an American? I think the question does not make much sense otherwise. Ok, assuming that:You’re certainly Hispanic, at least according to the US definition, on the 3 accounts (Spaniard, Mexican, and Puerto Rican ascent).You’re technically a Spaniard (as, citizen from Spain) if your father is an actual Spanish citizen, and not “Spanish” as in “American-Spanish”. Or at least you have the right to ask for Spanish citizenship, if you haven’t done so.Not sure about the Mexican citizenship part.Given that Puerto Ricans are American citizens anyway…Now… Are you Mexican/Spanish? From the point of view of an American, I guess you’re 1/2 Spanish, 1/4 Mexican, 1/4 Puerto Rican, so yeah, you’re Spanish. But then again, for a nation that is already a few centuries old, Americans sure have insecurities with their ancestry. Looks like being American is not good enough, you also are whatever your ancestors were. Which is cute, and something that Americans do, and it make sense for them, but…… From the point of view of the actual people living where your ancestors came from? I can’t tell for Mexicans/Puerto Ricans, but as a Spaniard, I can say that if you haven’t grown up with the culture and the language, nope, I wouldn’t consider you a Spaniard.
Why is Uruguay not a province of Argentina?
All the answers are good if incomplete. Uruguay started with Buenos Aires as others have noted, but having its own port it drew away along with a large and important part of nowadays Argentina including Santa Fe, Córdoba, Entre Rios, Misiones, etc. to form the Federal League. Who formed this principally José Gervais Artigas of the Banda Oriental as Uruguay was known at the time.He was thrown out and exiled to Paraguay in 1820 with Uruguay being fought over between Argentina and the Empire of Brazil. Since this wasn't good for business the English created Uruguay as a buffer state between Argentina and Uruguay in 1828.Uruguay and Argentina today have a Canada and US dynamic. One is calm, intelligent, and small. The other is large, brash and a little crazy. Montevideo actually was bigger port at one time, Uruguay is currently doing better than Argentina relative to size as it is considered much more stable and open. And one of the most ridiculous distinguishing factors is that although Argentina is much larger Uruguay actually produces more beef.You can notice differences on a personal level too. Most frankly with Buenos Aires as other provinces are quite different and a bit more tranquilo. If you see someobe walking and drinking mate Uruguayo. If you see someone arguing over something small like their life depends on it Porteño. If you see someone who is calm and humble, somewhat pensive Uruguayo. If you see someone that can't stop talking about themselves and how great they are Porteño.The differences are stark. Uruguay is an exceptional country that many others should aspire to. With the big exception of Buenos Aires, Argentina is actually a pretty great country, with nice people and a huge variety of natural landscapes. For instance Cordóba, Mendoza, Salta, or Patagonia are worth much more than BA in my opinion.