Hispanic or non-Hispanic? Which box do you check and why?

Question

So... I'm non-Hispanic, as are my 2 other kids. I'm a mix of German and Polish, along with a few other things I suppose. My skin (and that of my two older kids) is pale, easy-to-burn & lots of freckles with sunlight. Beyond skin, since I'm not Hispanic, I don't identify with the culture. I don't speak any other languages. I grew up on polish sausage and sauerkraut, even though my good friends have taught me how to make a few delicious dishes, such as tamales & posole.

I just had my 3rd child. I gave her my last name. Her dad lives 11 hours away and may or may not be a part of her life. Her dad is Mexican-American. She is gorgeous with dark brown hair and green-brown eyes like me. But she also has a healthy glow to her skin. So much that a neighbor asked if she had some Native American in her. And my older kids (teens) joked that she looks like them with a tan. And it's just not something I ever thought about, a baby is a baby.

So I called & set up her 1-week doctor appointment and on the phone they asked me race. And would I check the box Hispanic or non-Hispanic? And it really threw me off. I can't pick a box and choose her identity, because I feel like as she gets older she will decide what she identifies with.

So what box do you choose and why? And does it matter what I choose on school forms & such until she's old enough to decide for herself?

Answer

If she has Mexican American in her blood check Hispanic, especially for medical records. They don't ask it for cultural reasons, they ask it because some races are predisposed to certain diseases and illnesses based off their genetics. If something was ever wrong with your child, it might help answer what it could be better.

Answer

Hispanic is not a race. She would probably be (if you decide to identify her fathers ethnicity) Hispanic ethnicity, white race. Hispanics can be White, Black, Asian etc. What most people would consider Hispanics are almost always labeled as "White" in the race box. For example, my nationality is "American", my ethnicity is Hispanic, race is "White" even though I'm brown 😜. The average person on the street would just call me "Mexican" since they don't know the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality.

Answer

I don't identify with the colonizer. I'm latinx.

Answer

Is there an 'Other/Prefer not to answer' box?

Answer

"Hispanic" isn't a race. It's an ethnicity. These questions are always optional so just don't answer it if you don't feel comfortable

Answer

I never really know what to check while growing up. But I'm 50% Hispanic, 25% Asian, and 25% Caucasian. My mom always just checked Hispanic because that's what I am the most of so that's what I learned to do, but sometimes I put down "other." So I would check the race that holds the majority or just put "other" down.

Answer

My kids are mixed so it's just tick all that apply.

Answer

I have the same issue. 
I was born in Massachusetts . My parents are born and raised in Puerto Rico.

If your born in Puerto Rico your American since it's common wealth.

So either way if I was born there or states I'm American which is usually labeled "white".

Hispanic - I always thought was someone from central / Latin America etc.

I never had heard the word Hispanic till my parents and I moved from pr back to the states.

I just check -white / Hispanic . Sometimes Hispanics they label with (Mexican, Puerto Rican , Cuban . ) and that's when I check Hispanic

Answer

I check every box that applies.  I'm multi ethnic.  German, Hispanic, Norse, Caucasian, Native American(Cheyenne, Cherokee, Navajo), Slavic, and Romanian.  Also a tiny tiny sliver of mongolian.

Answer

I have this problem being multi-ethinec I either choose Hispanic or African American

Hispanic or non-Hispanic? Which box do you check and why?

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