If you are Hispanic, your race can be any race because "Hispanic" is considered an ethnicity, not a race, by the U.S. Census Bureau and federal definitions. Hispanics may identify racially as White, Black, American Indian, Asian, multiracial, or "some other race," among other categories
. To clarify:
- The term "Hispanic" refers to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America, and Spain
- The Census Bureau asks about Hispanic ethnicity separately from race, so Hispanics can be of any race
- Many Hispanics identify as White or "some other race," and a growing number identify as multiracial
- The distinction between race and ethnicity means your Hispanic identity describes your cultural or ancestral background, while your race describes your racial identity, which you self-report and may vary widely
In summary, being Hispanic means you belong to an ethnic group, but your race is a separate self-identified category that can be White, Black, Indigenous, Asian, multiracial, or another race depending on your personal or family background
