Yankees, Gringos, and Yumas - Concurso Etimológico

A few years ago while visiting Cuba, I noticed an unusual number of Cubans sporting Yankees caps. It was back when the Cuban pitcher, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, had joined the team. This struck me as supremely ironic. In a country where "Abajo Yanqui Invasor!" (Down with the Invading Yankees!) had become a slogan (and perhaps for good reason following the Bay of Pigs), America's team is closely followed and even revered.

But it's not just newly arrived Cuban peloteros like El Duque or Aroldis Chapman, the most recent Cuban free-agent defector to flirt with becoming a Yankee. Jorge Posada, catcher for this year's World Champion Yankees, is in fact a walking Caribbean trifecta. His father is Cuban, his mother is Dominican, and he was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Never was there a truer Yankee!

So in honor of the 2009 Yankees (not the Yanquis!) who are celebrating their victory in the Canyon of Heroes in southern Manhattan as I write these words, I propose a etymological contest (Un Concurso Etimológico).

Take a stab at telling our readers the origins of these three (in)famous words from the inter-American lexicon:

Yankee

Gringo

Yuma

Rules: Do not resort to Google or Wikipedia for help in your answers. I'm more interested in getting the unvarnished, mythic, and "urban legendary" ideas about the origins of these words. I do have my own theories - but feel free to let 'er rip with your own.

Prizes: The most creative, enlightening, and accurate responses will get one of my Cuban music CD compliations (I have a survery/sampler version, a bolero version, and am working on a new Cuban hip-hop sampler). Winner's choice!

Heat and Light

Can we talk? Can we listen? Can we hear one another?

In the header above, I explain that I intended this blog to serve as a platform where "one Yuma (me) could share his toughts on all things Cuban, a subject that often generates more heat than light."

Recent heated events in Miami and Havana have made my words seem somewhat prophetic. But, then again, it's not rocket science to accurately predict that Cubans of different opinioins and political persuasions will come to (verbal) blows. The tendency toward personal attacks, disqualification of anyone who thinks differently, and EL GRITO!!! - in short "verbal violence" - is a trait deeply rooted in Cuba's political culture (tanto en La Habana como en La Pequena Habana).

Aplatanado

Pop quiz:

Who am I?

My wife calls me "gordito" even though I lost 15 lbs. and two sizes cycling like a madman over the summer. My little dog is named Pepe, but I can never remember what that is short for (Francisco? José? Pedro?). I can properlly use and pronounce at least three different versions of the all-important word Coño! And I can even cook up a mean plate of picadillo santiaguero - better than mi mujer cubana.

Answer:

Soy Yuma - un americano... aplatanado.