The identity question: More Latinos checking ‘White’ on Census

By the numbers, it’s clear that more Latinos checked “white” on the 2010 Census than the 2000 Census; less clear are the reasons behind that shift.

Using preliminary findings reported by the Pew Research Center, several journalists attempted to explain why Latinos might check the “white” box and what it means for race in the U.S. While some pointed to a dearth of suitable options in the “race” category, others discussed European heritage and the potential desire for assimilation or identification with the majority.

However, the multiplicity of reasons behind this numerical demographic shift highlight the fact that parsing race is no easy task in the U.S. One New York Times reporter, in particular, was taken to task by several other news writers for jumping to conclusions about the “whitening” of the U.S.

By the numbers

According to U.S. Census data reported by Latino Rebels, “2.5 million Americans of Hispanic origin…changed their race from ‘some other race’ in 2000 to ‘white’ in 2010.”

On the other hand, 1.3 million people of Hispanic origin switched in the other direction, and over a million Americans chose non-Hispanic white on one Census and Hispanic white on the other. At the very least, the numbers indicate a certain level of confusion as to how we define race in the U.S., especially on the Census.

That confusion is somewhat understandable: the survey first asks about ethnicity, allowing respondents to check “Hispanic” or “non-Hispanic,” and then asks a separate question about race. With choices limited to white, black, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander or “some other race,” the Huffington Post suggests that Latinos don’t always have a clear option, which may account for some of the back-and-forth on the last two Censuses.

Potential reasons

Journalists have offered up a plethora of reasons, outside of limited Census options, to account for Latinos self-identifying as “white.”

Some, like Kansas City Star reporter Mary Sanchez, suggest that “the pressure—and the growing opportunity—to blend into society and to identify with the majority” is an important factor. Sanchez points out that numerous other immigrants, such as those from Ireland and Italy, were initially considered “other” but today identify both internally and externally as white.

Others, such as Roque Planas, note that many Latinos are white, inasmuch as we consider people of European descent to be white. Many Latin Americans have Spanish ancestors.

Planas also explained that there’s a long history of mixed race individuals in Latin America self-identifying as white. She highlights studies showing that there’s a persistent trend of bias toward those with lighter skin in Latin America, which may partially account for that history. As more Latinos move to the U.S., those identities and a particular understanding of race may come with them.

Being cautious with conclusions

While the media does offer up some potential reasons for the Census data, many are also hesitant to draw solid conclusions from that information about a new identity Hispanic controversy.

There’s good reason for this: while there are raw numbers, the Pew Research Center analysis of those numbers is only indicative of a preliminary study, and Pew doesn’t make any definitive claims about racial identity in America.

Additionally, as stated in the Kansas City Star, choosing and defining a race is a nuanced and difficult task, one tempered by considerations far beyond skin color: “Race is a construct. Its meaning throughout history has had no basis in biological reality but rather in social domination and political contention.”

Given that, assuming that all Latinos who check “white” on the Census are doing so for one particular reason—whether that’s assimilation, lack of options, visible skin color, ancestry or anything else—is problematic.

When New York Times reporter Nate Cohn attempted to simplify the question, concluding that Hispanics were choosing to assimilate into the white majority by checking a box, numerous other reporters tore his article apart, arguing that Cohn was jumping to conclusions.

With the U.S. Latino population continuing to rise, the next few years are likely to hold increasingly complex discussions on race and racial identity in America.