# Am I legally Hispanic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018 "2003-06-24T13:48:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/21 "2003-06-25T16:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > The current laws use specific race and ethnicity qualifications. And what are those qualifications? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/22 "2003-06-25T17:51:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \* > \*\*Here’s the thing: there is none. There is no legal definition of race that can really be applied at all. So basically, its whatever you say you are and people accept you for. > \*\* Almost but not quite. There are very solid rules (that vary somewhat by tribe) on whether or not you may claim you are a Native American (“Indian & Eskimo”). If you put down you are a member of the Mohicans, you’d better be able to back it up. But yes, if you want to claim that you are “Hispanic”- there are no legal barriers to this. For an ethical matter, I would guess that you should have SOME claim, but then I would say that Yoyo would not qualify. I am 1/4 Spanish, thus I can say I am “hispanic”- or not. Since I feel that “affirmative action” is racism in itself (IMHO, of course!), and thus morally wrong- not to mention BS, then I apply the moniker as I see fit. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/23 "2003-06-25T19:48:08Z")
This is a bit of a tangent, but when or how did Spanish (as in from Spain) become “non-white”? Spaniards are not different from other Europeans as far as I know. I mean the average Spaniard is dark haired (but often blue or green eyed) but not any more “non-white” than a typical Italian or Greek. Actually Spaniards include a lot of subgroups from Basque and Celtic types in the north to Moorish type Andalusians. I know the Moors ruled much of Spain for centuries, but they were not mostly “black” - they were Berbers, Arabs, and Jews. There may have been an occasional sub-Saharan African but dark Spaniard looks more Semitic than (for the lack of a better word) negroid. I am half Spanish. Ironically, in the past for saying this I have taken heat from people who think I am denying the “blackness” of Spain and whitewashing my heritage, and some Spaniards who insist they are “Aryan” through and through and are nowhere near as “Jewish” or “Arab” as I would say. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/24 "2003-06-25T21:59:31Z")
“Hispanic” IS “white”. It is “white of Hispanic origin”. And, although I admit that most dudes think of “south of the border” when they think of “Hispanic”, it also includes Spain. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/25 "2003-06-25T23:11:52Z")
I was told that “Hispanic” was a term invented by the U.S. Census in the 70’s to classify the increasing number of “brown-but-not-white-or-black” people in the US. Mr. Levins, who is now considered Hispanic, was born in 1970. His birth certificate says “Caucasian” on it. He is a 5th generation Texan; he has no known relatives anywhere but here. His surname, however, is Spanish. People assume he is “Mexican.” His sister married a Caucasian guy from up north; she marked “hispanic” on her daughter’s birth certificate so that her daughter, in spite of her “white last name,” could qualify for minority status. I personally find all of this very confusing; it sounds to me as if you are whatever you claim to be. Your last name is considered enough “proof” of minority status, if you want it to be, but then again, there are plenty of people with Spanish surnames who “look white enough” for people to assume they have no Latin heritage. This my MHO, but I think it’s weird that only people with darker complexions have to have that annoying prefix before the word “American.” I, too, am a 5th generation Texan, but the word “American” is enough to describe me. No one ever refers to me as “Irish-American,” even though I am just as “Irish-American” as Mr. Levins is “Latin-or-Mexican-American,” i.e., we can trace our ancestry back to that particular country. I’m not Irish. Mr. Levins isn’t Mexican. We are both 5-generation Americans. Only one of us, however, is ever required to prove it, or to field questions about it. _sigh_ I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/26 "2003-06-26T01:38:44Z")
I have a good friend who is, like me, of eastern european Jewish origin. He married a Mexican and his kids, who grew up in a thoroughly middle class suburb of Detroit and took advantage of every “Hispanic” advantage going. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/27 "2003-06-26T01:55:40Z")
While this certainly doesn’t carry the force of law, the New Mexico State Fair commission is going to require that artists whose work is displayed in the Hispanic Arts building be at least one quarter “Hispanic.” From the [The Albuquerque Journal](http://www.abqjournal.com/news/55077news06-25-03.htm) (a pay site - sorry): > [@](#): > > The fair requires artists showing their work in the Indian Arts Building to have a tribal census number, which is proof they are an enrolled member of an Indian tribe that is recognized by the federal government. > While no similar proof of ethnicity exists for Hispanics, the Hispanic Arts Building will ask entrants to its show to declare they are at least one-quarter Hispanic beginning this year, Cloer said. For example, an artist with one Hispanic grandparent would qualify. > “Word of honor,” Cloer said. “They’re just going to take their word.” ---
**Author:** ![robo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@robo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/28 "2003-06-26T10:56:59Z")
Regarding the Art Fair: That’s funny - do they define “hispanic”. If not they’re back to square one. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/29 "2003-06-26T11:51:02Z")
That is funny. In fact the statement: “I’m one quarter Hispanic” is one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/30 "2003-06-26T12:00:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > \*\*“Hispanic” IS “white”. It is “white of Hispanic origin”. \*\* Where did you get this definition? Because under this definition, a black Cuban or Dominican, say, would not be considered Hispanic. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/31 "2003-06-26T12:12:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InternetLegend \* > \*\*While this certainly doesn’t carry the force of law, the New Mexico State Fair commission is going to require that artists whose work is displayed in the Hispanic Arts building be at least one quarter “Hispanic.” \*\* So… there’s no end. If my grandfather is 1/4 hispanic, I can be deemed hispanic (I’m limiting this to the purpose of this particular state fair). Therefore, I’m deemed hispanic. In 40 years, because I’m hispanic, that’ll qualify my grandkid to be considered hispanic. Seriously, though, I wonder if I should start calling myself hispanic? I don’t believe I have any blood for hispanic descent, but I’ve adopted the culture in a big sense. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/32 "2003-06-28T05:47:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > **So… there’s no end. If my grandfather is 1/4 hispanic, I can be deemed hispanic (I’m limiting this to the purpose of this particular state fair). Therefore, I’m deemed hispanic. In 40 years, because I’m hispanic, that’ll qualify my grandkid to be considered hispanic.** Welcome to New Mexico! I believe the general idea is that if you think of yourself as “Hispanic” and if one of your grandparents can make (or eat) decent chile, you’re in the Hispanic Arts Building. It doesn’t have to make sense: we’re in New Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lite)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/33 "2003-06-28T06:13:32Z")
Well, Sammy Sosa was born and raised in Dominican Republic and is referred to as African-American. Bob Marley was born and raised in Jamaica but is referred to as African-American. You’re Hispanic if you can get a liberal to bitch about your rights being denied if you’re not rich, while claiming said ethnicity. _An aside. During the 2000 census I left race unmarked. When the canvass finally got to my door, I calimed Euro-American (instead of white/caucasian) the look on her face was priceless_ ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/34 "2003-06-28T07:47:19Z")
Sammy Sosa and Bob Marley definitely are not “African-Americans”, even if some people call them such. Sosa is Hispanic/Latino. As far as “Liberals”, the whole Hispanic (as defined by the federal govt.) label is largely a conservative invention. A big part of it had to do with the “sun-belt” politics of Nixon, Reagan, and the Bushes trying to boost the conservative Cuban-American vote and trying to build up a Republican base in the Southwest. So a new “protected class” was formed. It backfired on them a bit when immigration surged in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Immigrants tend to vote Democrat, with some exceptions. But among second and third generation Hispanics, the Republican party has gotten quite competitive in Texas and the Southwest. ---
**Author:** ![lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lite)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018/35 "2003-06-28T07:57:03Z")
yeah, but you forgot to mention that Clinton opened the borders and McAuliff had workers at the ports of entry to sign people up for the Democratic party (The immigrants didn’t know that registering wasn’t mandatory) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-legally-hispanic/184018.md?page=1)