Can I check Hispanic?? Forum

[sfamor]

Wondering if I can check the Hispanic box along with White... I am 1/4 Spanish (2 Great-grandparents were born in Spain, moved separately to Mexico as children, met and married there and eventually moved to the U.S.). Most people I've spoken to have said that I definitely should not be checking Hispanic and that I am just European American mix. For the most part I agree with them, but I was raised with my Grandpa who is the one who is 100% Spanish and I identify strongly with that culture. I learned Spanish and English at the same time as a child and my family name is Garcia. I don't want to misrepresent myself and am leaning strongly toward not checking Hispanic, but thought I'd throw it out there...

[Halie]

To tell you the truth, you could probably get away with it especially if your last name is Garcia. I also have a grandparent who is from Spain and I did the same thing when I was applying to UG. Now, I'm on the listserv for every Hispanic org on campus. However, I (unlike you) don't speak Spanish (embarrassingly), don't really identify as "Hispanic" and probably would't put it on a law school app.

[kahechsof]

Hmmm.
What is the wikipedia definition of Hispanic?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_a ... _Americans
Seems like it may include the Iberian Peninsula.

[sfamor]

To clarify, my mom's maiden name is Garcia. I have my dads Scottish last name! I did just learn that my cousin had checked Hispanic on his apps, but he does have the last name of Garcia and it probably wasn't questioned.

[ResolutePear]

So, your family lived a couple generations in Mexico? Not only would I check Hispanic, but I'd also check Mexican.

My great-grandparents from one side of my family moved from Spain to Cuba. The other side is of African descent(Afro-Cuban). If anybody were to call me European or African.. well, that'd just be ignorant.

[kahechsof]

To clarify, my mom's maiden name is Garcia. I have my dads Scottish last name! I did just learn that my cousin had checked Hispanic on his apps, but he does have the last name of Garcia and it probably wasn't questioned.

If I thought something I was writing would not pass questioning, I wouldn't write it to begin with.
You can always just meet it upfront with an addendum.

[dkt4]

srzly?

[TheFriendlyBarber]

Do whatever the hell you want

[rgndvo]

OP: This question is really a red-herring. You, a Spaniard, want to check Hispanic in order to receive some sort of boost in your apps. Even though it would probably be honest to do so (especially on those applications whose "Hispanic" section specifically includes Spanish , of which there are many), it doesn't matter unless you are Puerto Rican or Mexican. No "other Hispanics" are given any AA boost whatsoever. A good Diversity Statement is considered a "strong soft," but I'm not sure if a 1/4 Spanish heritage provides you the opportunity to generate one.

[vanwinkle]

Apparently the US Census Bureau, as of the 2010 Census, asks individuals if they are "of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin" and count "yes" respondents as Hispanic. That sounds like something you'd answer yes to, since you're of Spanish origin.

(Source: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... stion.html)

What I'd ask is, what have you been identifying with? Put that. But if you do choose to identify as Hispanic, just explain your answer in a DS/addendum. That way you're being clear about it.

[FeelTheHeat]

Necromancing this thread.

I am 1/2 Spaniard/Cuban (mixed) and 1/2 white. I have normally checked Hispanic and White for most application matters, but now that I am applying for jobs/the bar/etc. I want to make sure it is entirely correct. I have a VERY Spanish last name, and, having grown up in Miami, identify with Spanish culture, but I want to be sure I am checking things off correctly.

[071816]

Necromancing this thread.

I am 1/2 Spaniard/Cuban (mixed) and 1/2 white. I have normally checked Hispanic and White for most application matters, but now that I am applying for jobs/the bar/etc. I want to make sure it is entirely correct. I have a VERY Spanish last name, and, having grown up in Miami, identify with Spanish culture, but I want to be sure I am checking things off correctly.

Pretty sure no one will ever call you out for not being "hispanic" enough. This is basically just a question of what you choose to identify with.

You're basically the opposite of me though. I'm 100% Cuban-American (of mostly Spanish ancestry) and have a fairly uncommon last name. People here in California never know what to make of me as far as ethnicity is concerned.

[FeelTheHeat]

Necromancing this thread.

I am 1/2 Spaniard/Cuban (mixed) and 1/2 white. I have normally checked Hispanic and White for most application matters, but now that I am applying for jobs/the bar/etc. I want to make sure it is entirely correct. I have a VERY Spanish last name, and, having grown up in Miami, identify with Spanish culture, but I want to be sure I am checking things off correctly.

Pretty sure no one will ever call you out for not being "hispanic" enough. This is basically just a question of what you choose to identify with.

You're basically the opposite of me though. I'm 100% Cuban-American (of mostly Spanish ancestry) and have a fairly uncommon last name. People here in California never know what to make of me as far as ethnicity is concerned.

I mean, I absolutely identify with both. I don't even think it works to my benefit because I have invariably chosen both whenever asked, but I just wanted to be sure I'm not doing anything wrong.

[ResolutePear]

Necromancing this thread.

I am 1/2 Spaniard/Cuban (mixed) and 1/2 white. I have normally checked Hispanic and White for most application matters, but now that I am applying for jobs/the bar/etc. I want to make sure it is entirely correct. I have a VERY Spanish last name, and, having grown up in Miami, identify with Spanish culture, but I want to be sure I am checking things off correctly.

Pretty sure no one will ever call you out for not being "hispanic" enough. This is basically just a question of what you choose to identify with.

You're basically the opposite of me though. I'm 100% Cuban-American (of mostly Spanish ancestry) and have a fairly uncommon last name. People here in California never know what to make of me as far as ethnicity is concerned.

I mean, I absolutely identify with both. I don't even think it works to my benefit because I have invariably chosen both whenever asked, but I just wanted to be sure I'm not doing anything wrong.

You could probably walk into a police station and ask for a cop to identify you.

Depending where you do this, you might get a very good description or a jail cell for the night.

THE POSSIBILITIES MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.

[071816]

Necromancing this thread.

I am 1/2 Spaniard/Cuban (mixed) and 1/2 white. I have normally checked Hispanic and White for most application matters, but now that I am applying for jobs/the bar/etc. I want to make sure it is entirely correct. I have a VERY Spanish last name, and, having grown up in Miami, identify with Spanish culture, but I want to be sure I am checking things off correctly.

Pretty sure no one will ever call you out for not being "hispanic" enough. This is basically just a question of what you choose to identify with.

You're basically the opposite of me though. I'm 100% Cuban-American (of mostly Spanish ancestry) and have a fairly uncommon last name. People here in California never know what to make of me as far as ethnicity is concerned.

I mean, I absolutely identify with both. I don't even think it works to my benefit because I have invariably chosen both whenever asked, but I just wanted to be sure I'm not doing anything wrong.

Not sure if there's a right answer here. My cousin's half Cuban, half English or something and he identifies with his Cuban side quite a bit. I don't think it would be disingenuous to identify yourself as hispanic on job apps and stuff seeing as how hispanic isn't a race. Nor is it verifiable, so it's just more of a cultural thing. You should be fine IMO.

[Kidist]

.

[ResolutePear]

To be honest, I don't think your background qualifies as an URM. You could probably get away with it with few problems, but its a bit disingenuous and kinda manipulating the system.

Cubans are not a URM in law.

HTH.

[avd90]

Wondering if I can check the Hispanic box along with White... I am 1/4 Spanish (2 Great-grandparents were born in Spain, moved separately to Mexico as children, met and married there and eventually moved to the U.S.). Most people I've spoken to have said that I definitely should not be checking Hispanic and that I am just European American mix. For the most part I agree with them, but I was raised with my Grandpa who is the one who is 100% Spanish and I identify strongly with that culture. I learned Spanish and English at the same time as a child and my family name is Garcia. I don't want to misrepresent myself and am leaning strongly toward not checking Hispanic, but thought I'd throw it out there...

Hispanic is not a race, remember that. You can't really check white (non-hispanic), honestly. You need to be 1/4, and technically if they have Mexican citizenship I believe you can check Mexican, which is URM

[20130312]

What did you put on your application for undergrad? Consistency would be important for C&F.

[FloridaCoastalorbust]

Adam and Eve were probably of Middle-Eastern descent so I check 'of Eastern origin' on my apps. So far it has gotten me HYS with 132/2.3 but out at Catholic, Notre Dame and Regent.

[fashiongirl]

I'm 1/4 Chinese. I don't know anything about Chinese culture because I never met my grandfather, who is 100% Chinese. I always tell people I'm part Chinese so I would definitely account for your 25%.

[ResolutePear]

Adam and Eve were probably of Middle-Eastern descent so I check 'of Eastern origin' on my apps. So far it has gotten me HYS with 132/2.3 but out at Catholic, Notre Dame and Regent.

I don't believe you.

[JoeMo]

Because Hispanic is not a race in my Law School Apps I disclosed South American. It probably helps that I was born in South America.

But honestly, both the OP and the reviver of this thread seem to be looking for a boost and in that case I'd warn against doing it, if only because if this is the first time you'll be checking the "Hispanic" box you're going to raise a lot of eyebrows. But also because integrity goes a long way and you lose a lot of it when you do things like try to get a boost out of the most minimal of consequences.

The fact that you needed a paragraph to explain your hispanic origin should be a huge red flag to yourself that perhaps you shouldn't check it.

/rant