Since returning from Portugal, I have been watching and enjoying the History Channel series “The Bible” which appears to be setting records in viewership in the U.S. While in Portugal, I discovered both through the media and through several local friends that Jesus was Portuguese. Amazing!
Well, let me clarify just a bit. In the series by famed Hollywood producer Mark Burnett (Survivor, Shark Tank, The Voice, etc.) and his actress wife Roma Downey, they made the decision to cast as Jesus Christ the handsome Diogo Morgado, born in Lisbon, a 32 year old emerging star who has built his career starring in a number of popular television series in Portugal. Morgado then expanded into some roles in Brazil and Spain before landing the large and complex role of Jesus Christ in the series reaching tens of millions of viewers. As Jesus, he has been receiving generally very positive reviews, and as was clear to me during my time in Portugal, his countrymen and women seem quite pleased with his new global stardom, bringing a moment of brief respite from an otherwise gloomy economic future.
But is Morgado really Portuguese? Well, one would think so, since he was born in Portugal, was raised in Portugal, lives in Portugal, and speaks Portuguese. (I would suppose that he probably also enjoys the wonderful wine and food in his homeland as well!). However, if Morgado would choose to move to the US and take the steps to become a citizen, would he still be Portuguese? Well according to the US Census Bureau, maybe not. He would become a Hispanic.
According to the most recent US Census, about 1.4 million citizens claim Portuguese ancestry, not only from continental Portugal but many from the Azorean and Madeiran Islands as well. A few weeks ago, the Huffington Post and other media outlets reported that the US Census Bureau was moving towards classifying the Portuguese in the US as Hispanics in the 2020 census, something that many Portuguese (and likely Spaniards as well), would loudly voice their objections to. The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the US (PALCUS), quickly organized an online survey and determined that more than 80% of the Portuguese Americans surveyed objected to this classification. Following this information, the US Census Bureau recently responded to these reports and denied that this reclassification was to occur, according to Michael C. Cook, Director of Public Affairs for the Census Bureau. (see http://portuguese-american-journal.com/disclaimer-us-census-bureau-will-not-classify-portuguese-as-hispanic-update/ )
Whatever the exact intentions are of the Census Bureau, as a proud Portuguese American I would strongly object to and actually reject any such classification. Being born and raised in California with broad exposure to the Hispanic culture, language, food, traditions and people, at no time in my life have I ever felt Hispanic. And in my own form of quiet protest, for years now I have filled out survey forms by refusing the classifications as Caucasian or White, and instead I check the box for “Other” and write in “Lusitanian” if it gives me the option. While I hold deep affection and appreciation for the great tradition and culture of the Hispanics, but it is not Portuguese. And for anyone who has spent any time at all in Portugal or Spain, the differences at many levels is even more pronounced.
So for now, Sr. Morgado and his Portuguese identity appear safe from the forms and interference of yet another government agency, and I suppose I will as well. Hands off the Portuguese! Viva Portugal!
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