Why do I now have to check a box for "Hispanic" when 25 years ago I only had to check the "white" box?

Question

My family came from Spain to Southwestern USA before the Mayflower. When I was a kid, I had to choose boxes of "white", "black" or "Asian". I thought I was like all of the other kids that were Italian or Greek or Irish - I was "White". Now I have to check a box that I am "Hispanic" - which is a national origin. Sometimes, I can check the "Hispanic" box and a "White" box. I haven't changed - why did my classification change?

How would you feel if you had to change your classification? Suddenly, you were singled out - all Irish (but only Irish) have to check a box or Italian or any other form. Of course it's discriminatory.

I never crossed the border - nor did my family. They have lived in the region for over 400 years and became citizens of the USA without ever having moved.

Answer 1

You can thank the multicultural bean counters for that one.

Answer 2

it is an ethnic classification, you are also not required to check that you are Hispanic. if your family has married in with white families through the years then you would be more white than Hispanic anyway.
reasons for this are because people of certain races are more likely to have some diseases, than other races (IE blacks & Sickle Cell Anemia)

Another reason for this change is a decrease in ethnocentrism in recognizing that there are more than just whites, blacks and asians in the US. Personally if I was of hispanic decent i would have no problems checking that I was so, I believe in being proud of your history no matter where it is.

Answer 3

Because some people want Hispanics to have better representation in legislative assemblies on all levels. If you don't know how many people consider themselves "Hispanic" in a given area, they won't know how to best represent that area.

Answer 4

in 25 years you will check boxes for white and hispanic

Answer 5

Thats so you can benefit from Affirmative Action programs and remember to vote for you Democratic candidate

You've never heard of Hector P. Garcia?

Answer 6

I don think any buddys buzness what u look like. If u are a race, you can't get a head. But I can, cuz I don care much, I check anything i want. Try it, it works.

Answer 7

Because you're Hispanic.

Don't take it so personal and act like you're being discriminated against. If you don't like it, there's the border ...

Answer 8

you knwo what i woudl do, i woudl write "go fu*k yourself" under all the nationalities . . .in fact, il support you caus ei think you have a valid point, next time im asked to choose one of those boxes im goign to write in every nationality i come fom im goign to write

english
sweedish
indian
scottish
irish
german
american
and swiss

Answer 9

You're not hispanic - you've just been tanning too much. LOL

Answer 10

Everyone thinks things need to be "politically correct".