My mother came to the United States to attend college from Honduras–in the early 60s. She met my father, got married, had three children, and the rest is history. She never spoke Spanish at home, it wasn’t “the thing” then; thus I am not bilingual. My mother is very adamant that my children, who are 1/4 Hispanic, should claim they are Hispanic. She feels like she went through a lot in her life, and if that helps them, they deserve it. I never claimed it, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t–and from what I read, 1/4 is considered “Hispanic.” LOL, my daughter marked it on her PSAT form last October.
I mean, that’s absolutely Hispanic but they’re not required to claim that.
Fwiw, Hispanic doesn’t give you as much of a boost as people think but there are scholarships and whatnot that are for people of Hispanic descent.
The federal Department of Education defines “Hispanic/Latino” as “A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.” But for census, college application, scholarship, and other purposes, you’re Hispanic/Latino only if you satisfy this or a similar definition, and you self identify as Hispanic/Latino. So your kids have a choice. Being 1/4 Hispanic/Latino by the federal definition, they can legitimately claim to be Hispanic/Latino if they so choose. But it’s not wrong or misleading for them to decline to self-identify as Hispanic/Latino. I’d leave the ultimate decision up to them, after first perhaps talking it through with them, explaining why their grandmother feels it’s so important, and any reservations you may have.
Agree with bclintonk. It is acceptable, but do they truly identify as Latino? Will the join Latino clubs or other organizations on campus?
@jym626 why does what clubs they join matter at all? You’re kidding right?
NHRP’s Definition of Hispanic/Latino
To be eligible, you must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial category, so you can be of any race.
You must have ancestors from at least one of these countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela.
I understand why your child’s grandmother wants to emphasize her hardships. But I can see why you wouldn’t because it is after presumably successful generations and diluted by nonhispanic ancestry. You can make use of any designations- it may or may not make a difference. If there were a nice way to tell her I would let her know that that was HER life and the grandchildren had the same advantages as every other American kid.
The rules for claiming minority group status has nothing to do with lifestyle.
Ethnicity groups are not uniform. Two doctors for parents not exactly disadvantaged even if both Hispanic for example.
We have a similar issue. I felt like my children probably should not and the guidance counselor said they should. Over the years we’ve put a mish-mash of responses on forms. He ended up checking the box for white and of Hispanic/Mexican origin BUT he wrote a few sentences long explanation he included on other information stating that he personally identifies as white but does have multiple family members who lived in Mexico for at least 3 generations. We felt like that way the schools could interpret it however they felt was best. The GC didn’t think it would make any difference in acceptances but that it was more honest that way and the explanation showed good character.
Truly, there is less benefit from this than grandmother’s like to believe. Happykid went to a special Hispanic Student college fair, and got to have that whole college fair experience without it being a total mob scene, but that’s the only benefit she received in the whole process.
It is fine for them to check the Hispanic ‘race’ box and ‘ethnicity’ box. But it doesn’t matter at all in California public schools and doesn’t give much of an advantage, if any, other places. Most schools just use it for federal reporting purposes.
There are so many “Hispanics” in this country that it does not really give any boost.
If you were to apply for Hispanic-based scholarships, then you would have to submit paperwork with your history and then you might get $500 at the most.
hispanic is a language grouping. it is not a race ,ethnic background or anything else. hispanics come in all races. it is a misunderstood term. a white person from canada who speaks english is not considered the same race as a black person from the bahamas because they also speak english . many people in america from central and south america “look” a certain way (they are metiztso) and they speak spanish because the spainards conquered those areas in the 1500’s and forced their language on the natives. so many people say stuff like 1/4 hispanic…but that is actually just made up.
There is definitely an advantage if you are able to mark it on the PSAT for NHS. I was thinking that many of the high scholarship schools give the same scholarship for NHS as NMF. I know Texas A&M does.
jym626 “Will the join Latino clubs or other organizations on campus?” not really relevant and it sounds like you think “hispanics” are required to join “hispanic clubs”. why would someone need to join those clubs? many people are not interested in or turned off by those groups. do non hispanics need to join their ethnic or religious group on campus or did they get exempted?
^I don’t think jym626 is saying people have to join one sort of club or another, just trying to gauge how much the OP’s children actually identify with this particular group.
Clearly, your mother wanted to feel and be “American”, and chose to come here, assimilate, and wanted that for you too. My g-grandfather felt that way from Ireland. The “thing” as he saw it, was come to America to become American. But now Robinjones’ mother’s feelings have changed and she wants grandkids to claim their 1/4 heritage.
I agree they can rightfully claim they have hispanic ancestry, although from what little you’ve told us, they don’t seem to identify with hispanic until now.
The peculiar part for me is not their right to claim ancestry- even if essentially ignored until now- but rather the desire to claim it all of a sudden as college thoughts approach.
younghoss, if you are trying to get a leg up in admission or scholarships and you as the applicant are ok with it…why not take full advantage?
I think the OP thinks it is wrong to play the game like that and perhaps wants people on CC to give it our blessing. (get some validation from strangers perhaps)
bottom line it is her choice if she is comfortable with it,. methinks she is not from how she wrote the question!
sylvan8798 that is not a way to gauge anything. (those groups are not sitting around singing 19th century mexican or cuban folk songs…they are political and have a very clear slant)
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/ is where you should ask this.
For the National Hispanic Recognition Program, 1/4 Hispanic is what they say as the minimum to be considered Hispanic. My youngest daughter has a hispanic Grandma too, and she identifies mostly with hispanic as her heritage so she put down Hispanic.
“National Hispanic Recognition Program” started by the people who own the SAT.(College Board…a private company)
they can make up any “rules” they want. as can anybody else. the OP should do as they please. and if it helps the student with admissions or scholarships and the OP and the child are ok with it…they should go for it!
zobroward, when you use the expression “wrong to play the game like that” referring to the sudden desire to claim identity with ancestry, seemingly only to get an advantage in college, it doesn’t sound very ethical. Why not take full advantage, you ask me? The way you have worded it speaks for itself.
There are reasons why not, and reasons why; each person must decide for themself what action to take.