Whether they realize it or not (because it’s been so embedded into our psyche), Americans thinking Spanish people are brown is also rooted in the old WASP pneumonic.

Spanish (and Hispanic) peoples are not White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant. They are mostly Catholic, non-Anglo. Many are with brown features, so they get defaulted into the “brown” category. It’s not right, because many are clearly white, yet this is how they were classified socially for most of US history, and that effect still lingers (among the ignorant and racist).

This is swiftly changing since white Catholics are now included as “white.” And so white Hispanics are identified as such (by themselves and by other races).

Since race & religion in general are made-up concepts, the dynamics are fluid. The lines will always change & shift based on whatever society feels at the time.

The WASP concept is extremely stupid and hurtful. But it’s important to understand it so people can move past it and be more accepting, no matter your skin color or religion.