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My story is set in 1892, and one of the major characters is named Ignacio. The other characters just call him "Nacho" for short. I think this nickname is very silly and I have grown attached to it. How exactly do I write a story with a Mexican character named Nacho without it sounding racist?

Ben
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A.W. Douglas
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2 Answers2

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According to Wikipedia (s.v. Nacho), "Nacho is the common short form of the Spanish name Ignacio". There is some more information on the Wikipedia page on the historical origin of that short form (apparently from an Italian pronunciation of the name of the founder of the Jesuit order, Ignacio of Loyola) and that it has since become an appelation for Jesuits as well (nachos).

Your idea that the nickame could be considered racist probably probably comes from the eponymous snack, which was incidentally inventend by and named after a Mexican named Ignacio.

I don't see anything racist in a common Spanish nickname.

Ben
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You have Ignacio embrace the nickname, he likes it.

"My name is Ignacio, but call me Nacho", he said.

Then with a grin, "Everybody calls me Nacho. Maybe they would like to eat me!"

It's not an insult or racist if Ignacio owns it, and likes it.

Amadeus
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