# What race am I considered? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421 "2009-02-18T18:01:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/1 "2009-02-18T18:01:21Z")
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)”. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/2 "2009-02-18T18:05:57Z")
You are whatever race you declare yourself to be. There are no hard-and-fast rules in this area. [Cecil column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/653/what-percentage-of-black-parentage-do-you-need-to-be-considered-black) on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/3 "2009-02-18T18:11:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/4 "2009-02-18T18:16:47Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > You are whatever race you declare yourself to be. There are no hard-and-fast rules in this area. 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). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/5 "2009-02-18T18:22:45Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/6 "2009-02-18T18:24:35Z")
As far as checking the little boxes on forms go, probably “Hispanic/Latino.” It’s an affirmative action thing. See [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic#Definitions_in_the_United_States). ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/7 "2009-02-18T18:26:15Z")
I just check “other” - keeps 'em guessing. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/8 "2009-02-18T18:28:01Z")
You’re human. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/9 "2009-02-18T18:31:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/10 "2009-02-18T19:01:23Z")
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’. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/11 "2009-02-18T19:13:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/12 "2009-02-18T19:24:36Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > 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. And note that on the Census, at least, race and “Hispanic” are separate questions, since, as it says, “Hispanic can be any race.” Ed ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/13 "2009-02-18T19:32:16Z")
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… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/14 "2009-02-18T19:34:26Z")
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… -XT ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/15 "2009-02-18T19:35:32Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > You’re human. On the Internet, you never know. Might be sentient housecat. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/16 "2009-02-18T19:39:54Z")
> [@bobo t](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/17 "2009-02-18T19:43:05Z")
> [@puppygod](#): > > On the Internet, you never know. Might be sentient housecat. Oxymoron. Sentient housecats don’t need to ask anyone anything. Dogs on the other hand … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/18 "2009-02-18T19:48:17Z")
When it’s an option, I check “Native American”. I was born here, after all. (I really do; this isn’t one of my usual drive-by snarks) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/19 "2009-02-18T19:51:25Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > When it’s an option, I check “Native American”. I was born here, after all. > > (I really do; this isn’t one of my usual drive-by snarks) My lawsuit against the makers of Grape-nuts about the lack of grapes and/or nuts in their cereal is still pending. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421/20 "2009-02-18T19:53:09Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > I look like a good german or dutch girl Nonsense. As anyone who remembers the NSFW Doper Photo thread can attest, you look like an extremely _naughty_ German or Dutch girl. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-race-am-i-considered/486421.md?page=2)