I feel almost embarrassed for asking this, but this question seems to come up on every job application and I usually end up guessing since I don’t know which one for sure since I’m mixed.
My father was born in Cuba and moved here (the US) at age 13. My mother was born in the United States. What does this make me? Hispanic/Latino or White? There’s another option for “Two or More Races” which I figured I would be, but next to that option it has in parenthesis, “(Not Hispanic or Latino)”.
That depends on how far back you’d like to trace your lineage. I believe in the “Out Of Africa” idea. Check the box next to African American. I do, and I’m Irish/Swedish/Dutch/English…and ultimately African.
Yes. “Race” is more of a social construction than something cut and dried like nationality. In any case, “Cuban” is not, and never has been, a race. There are all kinds of races and mixtures of races in Cuba. For all we know, your father is completely “white” (that is, of European origin).
Hispanic or Latino is not a race: it describes the language you or your ancestors speak or spoke.
Where did your more distant ancestors come from? If most came from Europe, then you could describe yourself as “Caucasian” or “white”. If most came from Africa south of the Sahara, then you could describe yourself as “African American” or “black”. If your ancestors came from both areas, then you could describe yourself as of “two or more races”.
Honestly, my family has so many different ethnicities, that I don’t even try. I look like a good german or dutch girl - but my mom looks like the ban de soleil commercial. We are a bit of everything - and really, who cares?
If it is coming up on job applications, maybe you should check the one most likely to get you the job. I myself would check Chamorro if it would get me an interview, except it’s probably illegal and I’d end up in job-application prison or something.
Check whatever you like. Myself, I check the Hispanic box. I used to do ‘other’ (since I don’t believe in the term race), but it was pointed out to me that being officially ‘Hispanic’ means I’m eligible for all kinds of government goodies that I would not be eligible for as ‘Other’.
Or, choose to not choose a race. There are never requirements to declare a race–you always have the option to “decline to state”. I think the only exception might be the US Census, but I don’t think the typically enforce it.
So if it doesn’t matter since the whole “race” issue is fuzzy at best, will picking “Hispanic” perhaps boost my chances in terms of affirmative action? Could anything negative come of it (people claiming I’m not Hispanic)? Because saying I’m a white male hasn’t resulted in anything positive thus far…
That’s definitely the last thing you want to pick…even if you look like a white male. If you are more than 1/8 ‘Hispanic’ heritage (gods know what that means, but it seems significant to the government types for some reason) then definitely claim to be Hispanic.
For instance most of my college was paid for not because we were poor (we were) but simply because I am ‘Hispanic’. Hell, if they are going to throw money at you…
So the first impression your future employer gets when you come in for an interview is “this person tried to willfully mislead us”, and you still manage to get jobs. You must work in sales.