More Hispanics Declaring Themselves White

[xchrom]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/upshot/more-hispanics-declaring-themselves-white.html?hp&_r=1



Hispanics are often described as driving up the nonwhite share of the population. But a new study of census forms finds that more Hispanics are identifying as white.

An estimated net 1.2 million Americans of the 35 million Americans identified in 2000 as of “Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin,” as the census form puts it, changed their race from “some other race” to “white” between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, according to research presented at an annual meeting of the Population Association of America and reported by Pew Research.

The researchers, who have not yet published their findings, compared individual census forms from the 2000 and 2010 censuses. They found that millions of Americans answered the census questions about race and ethnicity differently in 2000 and 2010. The largest shifts were among Americans of Hispanic origin, who are the nation’s fastest growing ethnic group by total numbers.

Race is an immutable characteristic for many white, black and Asian-Americans. It is less clear for Americans of Hispanic origin. The census form asks two questions about race and ethnicity: one about whether individuals are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and another about race. “Hispanics” do not constitute a race, according to the census, and so 37 percent of Hispanics, presumably dissatisfied with options like “white” or “black,” selected “some other race.”

[Chathamization]

1. Not surprising, given the "Hispanic is not a race" line has been pushed pretty hard

Looking at what gets written in, the headline might also be "As Years Drag on, Fewer Hispanics Fighting Against Arbitrary Census Exclusion."

[Bad Thoughts]

2. I have no choice

Demographically speaking, Nuevomexicanos can't be as pure blooded or aristocratic as they claim. However, parents told their children that they were completely Spanish for centuries. Without digging deeply, there is no basis to challenge the claim. Consequently, I must mark myself as a white Hispanic.

[Supersedeas]

3. race is less clear for some, but not all

[SoCalDem]

4. I am half Cuban and always identify myself as white..never latin/hispanic/whatever

My paternal grandmother was born in Lyon France...my paternal grandfather in Toledo Spain.. They married and moved to Havana.. My father was born there, but was he truly a Cubano?

Heritage is a funny thing

[otohara]

5. HalfSpanic

My mom told us the whole Spanish thing - but she her cooking was pure Mexican.

[troublesome_mind]

6. I always leave them blank.

I don't see how me being female/male, white/black/hispanic is relevant unless one is participating in a statistics poll or something where these details may be useful.