<p>The only race on this planet is the human race. Let's not use some human geographical distinction created by white racist 19th century Darwinists.</p>
<p>My grandmother was from Uruguay. In fact, my great-great grandparents settled in Uruguay (originially from Europe). My grandmother was born and raised there and came to the USA as an adult. My mom grew up in a Spanish speaking home and is fluent in Spanish. I did not grow up in a Spanish speaking home, but have studied abroad and in school. Now I am fluent in Spanish, active in the Latino community where I live. I was selected to attend a program geared toward minorities this summer (very selective program).
I should be named a National Hispanic Scholar (under the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition program). I have put down Hispanic and will put down Hispanic on my college apps. But, I am hearing that being Hispanic and not of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent doesn't offer very much advantage.</p>
<p>That is true .</p>
<p>You've got a mountain of a point there, Gryffon.</p>
<p>And much of the blame for the confusion/controversy over the term "hispanic" can be laid at the feet of the Nixon administration. It was his Commerce Department that first invoked the term "hispanic" (as a tool for government initiatives) when bureaucrats were looking to categorize the world of spanish speakers.</p>
<p>Incidentally, for better or worse, when the academic Hispanic Institute was established in New York a century ago, they didn't have the Caribbean islands or Mexico in mind.</p>