The bureau says Latinos are more likely than other groups to answer “some other race” or skip the race question on Census forms, according to NBC Latino. That can have significant consequences.
“Census data is used in very important ways, for example to monitor compliance regarding civil rights and racial disparities,” Fordham University law professor Tanya Hernandez tells the network. “To understand why a Latino, Asian and white person can have the same income profile but still have different access to a mortgage, for example, you need to examine racial categories.”
But many NBC Latino Facebook fans strongly oppose the idea. Fifty-three have posted negative comments, while just 11 support the proposed change.
“LATINO should be the race title,” argues Rokki Perez. “Otherwise it implies Spanish origin. Hispanic was a word invented by the American government anyhow. Census needs to get with the times!”
“Hispanic is NOT a race. There are white hispanics, black hispanics, brown hispanics, asian hispanics etc and a mixture of all and even more,” writes Xavier Zaragoza.
“It bothers whenever I am forced to identify that way,” says Lorraine Valdespino. “Same for filling out forms for my mixed race kids. Really, race is such a dated term. I would rather be telling them my ethnic origin or background without the term Race involved at all.”
“I don’t ever identify myself as an Hispanic. I am a Mexican,” writes Martha Gonzalez Chavez
But Janeva Flores says she can live with the idea. “Better to have an option other than White!” writes Flores, adding that she was “confused as hell” trying to fill out her last census form: “I even called the help line and they couldn’t give me an answer either! Latino, Hispanic, just give us a better option already.”
“I have always considered myself hispanic…… because I’m Latina from Puerto Rico,” writes Betsy Girona Glover. “And of course I think we are our own race. I’m all for it.”
Several laws, including the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, require the federal government to collect data on race. Any changes to the way the census categorizes race must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. The next U.S. census is scheduled for 2020.
Would you support listing “Hispanic” as a race on the next census? How do you think the government should classify race and ethnicity in our diverse country? by Trish Anderton [Gimby]