[MamaS]

I think Devora got it -- it is passive-aggressive hostility toward those whose names (and appearance) are not "American".
In our school system we started having an increase of Hispanics. The school system tried to be proactive, hiring secretaries and receptionists who spoke Spanish. The secretary in our school had been there since about 1940. She was very dismissive of the new bilingual requirements. One day as we were struggling to enroll some children whose parents spoke no English I commented that it would help if someone in the office could speak to them in their language. "I can speak enough Spanish for them" she announced. And then addressed the parents with "Hola, Adios, Taco Bell and La Cucaracha to you!" I notified the principal that she was calling our Hispanic parents cockroaches and we had a bilingual office aide two weeks later.