<p>Hmm. Yes, I'll call the colleges...I think you're right clownzskareme...I guess the "other" box is for me : |</p>
<p>I find the whole topic fascinating... and a bit scary to be honest...what determines "how much" of a race one is? When someone talked about going to the diversity days and the person who might be going was hispanic (spain) but caucasion was the implication be that there would be a problem because of how someone looked and would stand out as not fitting in? And does anyone not know that in several countries there were wite slaves? People brought there against their will and often it was the same places as African Slaves? Of course I am not complaring the two situations, but it does bring up some interesting questions</p>
<p>I'm with those who say hispanic, college-wise, means latin american. If you know that's what they mean and say "oh, but hispanic can mean from spain, too" you are being dishonest, because you know they will think you are something you are not. Spanish = European (white)</p>
<p>But if you still aren't convinced, i agree with the above : call the school.</p>
<p>I'm glad I'm defintely black, and I know I come from slaves, because I would hate to be in a situation like that. But someone who is Italian isn't considered a minority, neither is a russian, or a Brit, or Swiss or a German, so I think Spaniards are considered white, with all other europeans. If push comes to shove, mark other and specify Spanish</p>
<p>my great grandfather was from south africa and an enthusiastic supporter of the apartheid regime--does this mean i can check the african american box? i'm really in touch with my roots and all, i still have his collection of old "white only" signs that he salvaged to remember the good old days. i have a really dark tan too. what do you think?</p>
<p>I don't think so, but maybe somebody else can be more useful (aren't white south africans of Dutch descent?)</p>
<p>So, we are talking skin color. Not just geographics. Not just heritage.</p>
<p>I dunno...Now that this is all being discussed, I believe Affirmative Action based on race/skin color is completely retarded. AA based on income and other socioeconomic factors is more pratical in my opinion</p>
<p>let's not sway off topic. It's not a question of what you believe, but what colleges believe that matters</p>
<p>MerbMan427 -</p>
<p>"Hispanic" is a tough one because it's an ethnicity rather than a race. A race is hard enough to define; an ethnicity is even harder.</p>
<p>I'd suggest a test: If you think that after you enrolled in college you would honestly feel perfectly comfortable joining the Hispanic Student Union, or the Latino Club, or what have you, without feeling like an impostor, then go ahead and put down Hispanic.</p>
<p>The fact that you are worried about whether schools "check up" on these sorts of things suggests to me that you might not pass this test.</p>
<p>Another test is if they have a minority admit weekend, would you feel comfortable there?</p>
<p>I don't think those should be the tests. If I were him I would check Hispanic if it's allowed by the college.</p>
<p>Yes, in theory, AA is supposed to help hispanics like poor Mexican farmers or poor Cubans who floated up on a raft, not whites from Spain which is precisely the reason why I hate the AA system. That said, this isn't a debate on affirmative action.</p>
<p>However, within the current system, if it's allowed, I would try to get every advantage that I can, including checking the "Hispanic" box. Ethically, you can argue if it's right or not but if it's legal, I'm doing it. This will probably be the only time the OP will identify himself as Hispanic but nevertheless it is probably a legit thing to do which exposes the flaw with the current AA system.</p>
<p>interesting things from dictionary.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Usage Note: Though often used interchangeably in American English, Hispanic and Latino are not identical terms, and in certain contexts the choice between them can be significant. Hispanic, from the Latin word for Spain, has the broader reference, potentially encompassing all Spanish-speaking peoples in both hemispheres and emphasizing the common denominator of language among communities that sometimes have little else in common. Latinowhich in Spanish means "Latin" but which as an English word is probably a shortening of the Spanish word latinoamericanorefers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. Of the two, only Hispanic can be used in referring to Spain and its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a Hispanic, not a Latino, and one cannot substitute Latino in the phrase the Hispanic influence on native Mexican cultures without garbling the meaning. In practice, however, this distinction is of little significance when referring to residents of the United States, most of whom are of Latin American origin and can theoretically be called by either word. ·A more important distinction concerns the sociopolitical rift that has opened between Latino and Hispanic in American usage. For a certain segment of the Spanish-speaking population, Latino is a term of ethnic pride and Hispanic a label that borders on the offensive. According to this view, Hispanic lacks the authenticity and cultural resonance of Latino, with its Spanish sound and its ability to show the feminine form Latina when used of women. Furthermore, Hispanicthe term used by the U.S. Census Bureau and other government agenciesis said to bear the stamp of an Anglo establishment far removed from the concerns of the Spanish-speaking community. While these views are strongly held by some, they are by no means universal, and the division in usage seems as related to geography as it is to politics, with Latino widely preferred in California and Hispanic the more usual term in Florida and Texas. Even in these regions, however, usage is often mixed, and it is not uncommon to find both terms used by the same writer or speaker.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Great post, awakened dream!! </p>
<p>So, what the colleges want, believe whatever, also may depend on their geographic location. Really interesting info, The college may ask you to identify yourself with something that in your area may be offensive. </p>
<p>At my D's school. 50% of the class is Asian- Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Taiwanese as well), and then throw in some from the Philipines (which in itself has some questions), and a whole slew of other Aisan countries. </p>
<p>My D, Irish American, is in the minority. And if a form just says Asian, that bothers some. We have one girl who is Chinese, Black, and Thai. Another is White and Middle Eastern. Four kids, trying to be cool, called themselves the cool white kids (the other kids thought it was just stupid). Anyway, two of the kids have Chinese parents. One girl in the group said, well, I'm not white. Her friend, the ring leader (white and middle eastern) said, might as well be....don't know what to conclude from that....</p>
<p>As I stated, the system needs to take alot more into account than just race. There are many factors affecting people and should be taken into consideration.</p>
<p>it's people like norcal guy that makes me sick. when colleges put hispanic they are clearly referring to kids from latin american countries. so people stop trying to pretend that u don't know what they are referring to. putting hispanic when u don't identify w/ latin american countries is plain wrong. i am a descendant of a latin american country and it gets me p i s s e d off that someone would put hispanic when they have no real affiliation w/ the latin american culture.</p>
<p>I agree. When people are truly unsure it's one thing, but too often its bordering on lying to give oneself as much of an advantage as possible.</p>
<p>I actually agree with you purplechick. As I said before, ethically it is very questionable and the creators of affirmative action certainly did not intend AA to help people like the OP. That said, college admissions is a game. The OP is simply playing within the rules. The rules need to be changed. This is why I (even though I am ardently anti-AA) don't fault URM's and even some non-URM's (like the OP) for supporting AA. It helps them and gives them an advantage. Who wouldn't support affirmative action if it allows them to get into the schools that they want?</p>
<p>And it is not lying at all. The OP is Hispanic, just not Latino.</p>
<p>purplechick VS. norcalguy</p>
<p>norcalguy 1
purplechick 0</p>
<p>OHHH A forum battle...lol, j/k</p>
<p>It's hardly a forum battle since I agree with her.</p>
<p>Our difference is that her disgust is aimed at the OP (and me). My disgust is aimed at a flawed AA system that allows rich blacks, people like the OP, and someone who is 15/16 white and 1/16 black to receive the perferential treatment reserved for poor blacks, Latinos, and native americans.</p>
<p>but seriously norcal guy would u put hispanic if you were in Merbman's position esp since u know that the type of hispanic that they r referring to are of latin american culture</p>