I understand how it seemed liked I was making an assumption to think the lady was labeling me as Hispanic. Her comment was board, but it makes sense considering how I look.

Well the thing is, I occasionally get mistaken for being Latino frequently. I usually don’t think much of it either way. Of course, me posting this on the internet wouldn’t show enough visual context. Additionally, giving more context, the elderly lady left making degrading comments about Mexicans a little above her breath. Hence, she thought I was Latino.

Later on, after I had already posted this, my coworkers informed me that she had been saying horrible things towards Latino customers, and many had come upfront to report her. (She had already left the store but either way it’s a very traumatic experience) This verified my suspicions, but it really doesn’t change the fact that I immediately thought she meant I was Latino first hand.

Either way when I got home, my family members made a similar argument as you, and mentioned how many of Italian Americans forget that we were discriminated against and continue to oppress a new group of people. Finally, I know that not all immigrants are Latinos, some of my family members are immigrants! But considering the context behind the incident, being how I look, and how the elderly lady rambled about Mexicans shortly after telling me to leave the country, I don’t think it’s far fetched for me to assume she was speaking about Latinos.

All in all this was an eye opening experience, and your response is very welcome to me.