"Black People", have a long and sad history of being called "Names" that categorize them, almost exclusively in the derogatory.
I may be possible, that you, as a "Black Dude" are somewhat more conditioned to think that any "Slang" term would be derogatory.
All of us, when we are in an unfamiliar place, especially where we don't understand the language,often think that others are speaking about us, or making fun of us, just because we can't understand what is being said.
When a word we do understand, like "Gringo" pops out, we think they mean us.
I had a Gringo, non Spanish speaking, friend of mine get all upset because the Dominican I was conversing with said "America Central' in conversation, and my friend KNEW we we talking about him!!!
PS, I am VERY smart man, and Very White, but yet, SOMEHOW, I enjoy the intimate company of many Dominican "PUTAS"!
How do you explain THAT???????????
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"Gringo" ismost often used to mean "Foreigner".
If they want o make a clearer description they might say, "Rubio" meaning a White Gringo, or a "Moreno" meaning Black/Brown Gringo.
Hey CC, speaking of being called names...I learned to take pride in being called a "masshole", a term associated with being a Massachusetts driver. Then I started driving in Santo Domingo...a masshole gringo...call me anything just not "...early in the morning..." as the song goes. Regardless, as much as I love to drive, driving in and around SD holds very little allure for me any more...between the driving skills of isla folks that make massholes look like PHDs on 4 wheels, and white gringo (me), buying "donating pesos" lunch for cops at roadblocks, publicos and the metro work just fine getting me where I need to go.
so for me, even as a very part time SD resident, I know the word gringo is not the issue...lack of tinted glass in the cars I drive...obscuring my gringo cara...that's more of an issue...as just one small example.