Am I "Caucasian" or "Hispanic" in ethnicity? Is race the same thing?

Question

My Yahoo Avatar looks very similar to the way I do in real life -- I have thin lips, a broad nose, and spiked hair and am not obese, anorexic, super-muscular, dwarfed, or a giant. However, because they only have 4 hair colors, I chose black because my hair is so dark brown that it's almost black -- especially with all that gel. The reason for my dark coloration and white-sounding name is because my father is Irish (his mother was Italian) while my mother is mostly Hispanic. However, despite this great mixture, they have always defined me as "white, non-hispanic" on every ID card they've ever written for me -- it's on my birth certificate like that despite my ability to get really dark in the sun. So what race am I really in if I have dark brown hair and eyes with a skin that tans pretty easily? What SHOULD they have put on my registration forms in K-12?

Answer 1

You've asked two different questions. Race is one thing, ethnicity another. Even if you are ethnically Hispanic, you are racially Caucasian. Truth is more likely you're like me, a Caucasian mutt.

Answer 2

OMG, the ignorance. Hispanic is not a race or color. You can be white, black , asian, whatever and be Hispanic.

In the US there is a lot of confusion. You are Caucasian. Period.

The criteria of Hispanic is being born in Spain, Latin America (except Brazil, Caribbean and the Guyanas).

Latinos would include Brazil, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania and everywhere that these languages are spoken, because they derived from Latin.

So basically Hispanic is based in culture or nationality, not race or ethnicity (which are the same thing)

Answer 3

You are a white hispanic. people that live in spain are just as european as the english or french or italian, or irish. generally european people in this country are called white. but these days people in the US try to make hispanic/latino a race when really it is an ethnicity. which is more of a cultural thing so yes you are white and yes you are hispanic. you are a white hispanic or if you like a caucasian hispanic. not to mention your dad's side is white too. good luck.

Answer 4

legally you would be considered white with hispanic ethnicity... in the usa if you are latino, caucasian or middle eastern you are considered white.. the census people now accept bi racial as a "race" ...but on most dls or id cards youre black,white,asian or native american in the states

Answer 5

You are actually Hispanic. A doctor told me when I was having my bi-racial children that they are the predominant color. So if one of your parents were Black, then you would be Black.

Answer 6

Sorry I can't answer. Hec, I didn't know I didn't know I was brown until I got to junior high. All my friends were all different, but we didn't know that. We were all just kids, who gives a **** what you are.
They didn't even have a category back then for me. I am a Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

Answer 7

You're "Other," literally, on those forms there is "Other" and usually a "Describe here:" part. You'd just put down, hispanic and caucasian.

Answer 8

they should put that you are mostly Hispanic then that the rest of your is mixed with Irish and Italian.

Answer 9

its a fine line but I would say your hispanic... just going with your parents heritage. But I could be wrong. You decide.

Answer 10

Confused or Heinz 57 ........you choose.