A Philosophical Question

Parents Forum
1

<p>My husband is 7/8 Hispanic. His family emigrated from Spain to Mexico "several" generations ago and his grandparent emigrated to the US when his mother was a small child. His entire family is Caucasian. My family is a Heinz 57 mix. So my daughter, who is nearly half Hispanic, considers herself to be just that - Hispanic - and has done so ever since she was very small. That being said, she has never been part of any Hispanic community and even my husband's family lives in another state. So she has received a fairly WASP-ish upbringing and an education in a very well-to-do and high achieving school district (although we're not well-to-do ourselves).</p>

<p>So the question is, does it seem wrong for her to mark herself as Hispanic? We've never told her to do so, she just does because it's part and parcel of how she sees herself. But truthfully, we have a pretty good chuckle when she gets invited to college preview weekends for "students of color." She would definitely be a duck out of water at something like that.</p>

<p>And here's the bonus question. Her stats are good, but one of the Ivies would definitely be a reach. Does it seem wrong to apply to a school like that if the only reason you might be accepted is because the school just needed another Hispanic girl from the PNW?</p>

2

<p>Many times on applications, it asks you to mark the race/cultural group that you most identify with. Those are the key words.</p>

3

<p>Well, 'Hispanic' isn't a race even though so many people assume it is one. There are caucasian hispanics, black hispanics, native American hispanics, Asian hispanics, etc. </p>

<p>I don't think there are official rules but like HGFM, I've also seen the 'most identify with' criteria on some forms that ask the question. I personally disagree with all of the profiling and pigeon-holing based on something a person has no control over (like race and ancestry) and the generalizations and assumptions institutions and people make based on criteria like this but if your D thinks it'll help her and the college wants to give a preference for it (they may or may not) - why not? I don't think it'd be wrong for her to mark herself that way - especially since you said that's how she's always considered herself.</p>

<p>If an ivy were to accept your D rest assured that her identifying herself as hispanic wouldn't be the only reason for the selection. It might distinguish her in some way and possibly even give her a bit of an edge (maybe) but I'm sure there are plenty of hispanics with outstanding stats applying to the ivies.</p>

4

<p>Interesting that this issue comes up given the current political environment. Like your D, Barack Obama has parents from mixed cultural backgrounds. He looks black to most people. But is he really black if he has a white mother from Kansas? (In the bad old days, even being 1/8 black meant you were black.) Of course, none of this should matter at all! But she's at an age where, by definition, she is trying to figure out who she is.</p>

<p>So I agree with previous posters: What's important is how she identifies HERSELF at this point in her life. Note that what she emphasizes may change somewhat over time. I suspect the idea of being Hispanic where almost everyone else in her life is Anglo has a certain amount of romance attached to it. What is cool is that at college, she will have many opportunities to explore the Hispanic/Latino part of her identity in courses, social groups, etc. Bottomline? Her embrace of her Hispanic heritage, whether incidental or longterm, in no way is a rejection of you. So relax, mom. And absolutely do NOT feel bad or guilty if she defines herself as Hispanic on her applications. It is definitely appropriate for her to do so.</p>

5

<p>IMO, anything that is honest and will enhance your chances is perfectly fine. And I think a person would be foolish not to give herself every honest advantage.</p>

6

<p>Your D has every right to so identify herself. The D of my next door neighbors does so. Her adoptive parents are both Caucasian (I hate that term) and the family feels it helps her. I was shocked when they told me that as I didn't know her background and to me she doesn't "look" half Puerto Rican. She has been raised comfortably and her dad has a PhD but they think she encountered prejudice in H.S. because of her appearance.</p>

7

<p>Addressing just one small aspect of your question, jaf1991, there have been threads here on CC discussing whether people of Spanish decent (Europeans) were "hispanic" in the same vein as people of Mexican/South American decent which usually means being of mixed European and indigenous heritage.</p>

<p>It's an interesting question, and not one that has an obvious resolution. I think it's judgement call, and probably one that is up to your daughter. Personally it feels a little squirrely to me if there isn't any contact with Latin culture, Spanish language in the home (or the grandparents' or extended family's home), and there is no indigenous heredity.</p>

<p>A few years ago my daughter totally identified with all things Japanese. She took Japanese language classes and immersed herself in the culture and thought that inside, she was really Japanese -- but that didn't make it so. I had a friend who did the same thing with Native American culture, even changed her name to a Native American name -- but it didn't make her Native American.</p>

<p>Now, of course, with your daughter the ties are much more grounded and historical in terms of the roots to Spain and immigration of the family generations ago, and that's why I think your question is a legitimate one and very interesting. But it mostly goes back, for me, to the intent of the question in the first place, which is to define, for whatever reasons, cultural diversity. Many don't agree with the intent of the question and so see no reason to respect it, others feel differently.</p>

<p>Personally, I don't know what I think about it, but I guess mostly I do support efforts to increase cultural diversity in colleges. For those who don't, I think it probably makes the most sense just to not answer the ethnicity question at all, and for those that do answer it, I would hope their answers serve the intention of question more than their own interests. But that's just me. I think you raise a good question here, and one with two right answers, in a way, depending on how you look at the issue.</p>

8

<p>From Webster -

[quote]

Hispanic -</p>

<p>1: of or relating to the people, speech, or culture of Spain or of Spain and Portugal
2: of, relating to, or being a person of Latin American descent living in the United States; especially : one of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin

[/quote]
</p>

9

<p>Everyone, thanks for your responses.</p>

<p>Rentof2, if my husband weren't pretty much estranged from his family there would have been Spanish culture. Unfortunately they're in Arizona, we're in Washington, and my husband feels no inclination to see them. He is a native Spanish speaker, but since I don't speak Spanish at all, it has never been used in our home. Yet he also strongly identifies with his Hispanic roots. </p>

<p>Regarding people of Spanish descent, I know that the College Board considers you qualified for NHRP if you are at least 1/4 Hispanic and they include of Spanish descent in their definition of Hispanic. </p>

<p>It's too complicated!</p>

10

<p>It's complicated, but probably not that important in the grand scheme of things. It could be a marginal help to your daughter in admissions, or it might not be. She should just answer it truthfully as she sees it and not worry much over it. But this question of what constitutes "hispanic" comes up here a lot and it's a very interesting one.</p>

<p>Did your daughter identify herself as hispanic for the CollegeBoard? If so, then she should stay consistent with that, I think.</p>

11

<p>Rentof2, she did indeed and was nominated for NHRP, which makes the question more personal. She does, however, clearly qualify under their guidelines. </p>

<p>This is not a question I ever want her to ask. I want her to assume that, wherever she's accepted, it was strictly based on merit!</p>

12

<p>Well, it will still be based on merit, no matter what. :)</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
does it seem wrong for her to mark herself as Hispanic?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, there's nothing wrong with that. Some might say it would be denying her heritage to do otherwise.</p>

14

<p>One of my DDs looks very Hispanic and went to university in an area with a very Hispanic population. Reading about the adopted daughter experiencing prejudice in HS being half PR, my DD was recruited for the Hispanic sorority, has people speak Spanish to her all the time and the prof in a Hispanic history class talked about the racist attitudes toward "us." DD announced that as far as she knew she never had experienced any prejudice due to her appearance, maybe part of it is attitude??</p>

<p>If your DD thinks of herself as Hispanic and that is the blood line, go for it. My DD actually has some Native American heritage which jumps out visually every generation or two in appearances, but no identification and no tribal number, we did not check that box.</p>