‘Desengañate …NO ERES BLANCO’: Identity Attribution and (Non) verification—A Case Study of Cross-Cultural Discursive Struggle

This chapter delves into the complexities of racial and ethnic identity attributions and verifications. It emphasizes how our choices for personal identities are influenced and constrained by dominant societal discourses. The identities we assign to others also follow this pattern and rely on recognition by others to be effective. A specific case study is examined: the discourse surrounding Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and his 2020 Oscar nomination, in which he was labeled as “a person of color” by the U.S. mainstream press amid the #OscarsSoWhite issue. This case prompted discussions on both sides of the Atlantic, including an op-ed in Spain's El País, questioning whether Banderas could be considered a “White man.” The rarity of such discussions in Spain, despite its colonial history and increasing diversity, highlights how certain racial distinctions may be insignificant in one context but significant in another. To analyze this discourse, 2500 user-generated comments from the discussion triggered by the op-ed were compiled. A corpus-assisted discourse study approach was used, combining quantitative methods from corpus linguistics and qualitative methods, including thematic analysis. The study also drew from various theoretical perspectives, including identity models, raciolinguistics, and colorism in former European colonies. This research provides valuable insights into the attribution and verification of racial identity and the broader sociocultural influences on these processes.