[AndreasLV]

A recent study conducted by Amon Emeka and Jody Agius Vallejo, assistant professors of sociology in USC Dornsife, explores why many people with Latin American ancestry do not choose a Latino ethnic identification on U.S. Census surveys. The paper was published in the November 2011 issue of Social Science Research. Photos courtesy of Amon Emeka and Jody Agius Vallejo.

Some first, second, and later generation Latinos in the United States are not identifying ethnically as Latino as they integrate into the fabric of American society, a recent USC Dornsife study found. On the American Community Survey (ACS), which is administered by the U.S. Census Bureau, many people with Latin American ancestry do not identify ethnically as Hispanic.
The study led by Amon Emeka and Jody Agius Vallejo, assistant professors of sociology in USC Dornsife, examines why Latinos often do not choose a Latino ethnic identification on U.S. Census surveys. Emeka and Agius Vallejo’s paper was published in the November 2011 issue of Social Science Research.
Emeka and Agius Vallejo analyzed figures from the U.S. Census’ 2006 American Community Survey and investigated why Latinos are identifying as non-Hispanic. The survey is administered each year to gather information on the social and economic needs of communities and to provide scholars data on Latin American groups.
Currently, the federal government defines “Latino” not as a racial group but as an ethnicity, and Latinos can be of any race. Respondents are asked on U.S. Census and ACS forms “Is this person Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino?” which is followed by the question, “What is this person’s race.” Researchers typically rely on the first question, the Hispanic ethnicity question to determine the number of Hispanic respondents and the size of the Hispanic population. However as Emeka and Agius Vallejo point out, analysts do not consider the way the question, “What is your ancestry?” is answered.
As Emeka and Agius Vallejo demonstrate, of approximately 44.1 million U.S. residents who declared Hispanic or Latin American ancestry in the survey that year, 2.5 million — or 6 percent — did not check the Hispanic box and thus do not ethnically identify as Spanish/Hispanic/Latino. As a result of some Latinos’ propensity to not check the Hispanic race box on the census, a correct analysis of Hispanic achievement and mobility in America is undermined. Data from U.S. Census Bureau surveys are used to make population projections and track the minority groups with the largest and fastest educational growths, and 2.5 million people with Latin American ancestry are left out of these analyses. Read the rest @ http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-12-...y-latinos.html

BTW I am one of those that does not identify as "Hispanic/Latino".

Non-Hispanic identification was most common among U.S.-born Latin Americans, respondents with mixed ancestries, those who speak only English, and those who identify on the race question as Black or Asian the study found.

[OWV9LSxH]

latino an ethnicity ????

[rNr5Di3S]

latino an ethnicity ????

Exactly

[Spisivavona]

I think that's sad. That's how many cultures and identity is lost because later descendents began to identify and speak other than their parents. I see it around, but I don't know if everyone stopped identifyng as what they are or their parents are, we would no longer have diversity.

[Aleksis]

I think that's sad. That's how many cultures and identity is lost because later descendents began to identify and speak other than their parents. I see it around, but I don't know if everyone stopped identifyng as what they are or their parents are, we would no longer have diversity.

What are you talking about? My family in Colombia doesn't identify as Latino nor Hispanic. Those are US invented ethnicities. What's sad is that my parents let the US impose that identity on them !

[Blellurgews]

What are you talking about? My family in Colombia doesn't identify as Latino nor Hispanic. Those are US invented ethnicities. What's sad is that my parents let the US impose that identity on them !

I understand that, but it what separates you from everyone else. In Colombia you wouldn't have to identify or say you are Latino/Hispanic but here if you don't identify as that and instead identify as something else how is that positive!? you lose a separate identity. It's enfuriating because I see this and youth really lose their ethnic culture.

[VitaliyMurnov]

I understand that, but it what separates you from everyone else. In Colombia you wouldn't have to identify or say you are Latino/Hispanic but here if you don't identify as that and instead identify as something else how is that positive!? you lose a separate identity. It's enfuriating because I see this and youth really lose their ethnic culture.

LMAO, I do not want a FALSE separate identity. What I really am is TRIETHNIC, and Latino/Hispanic only recognizes the Euro part, what about my AfroIndigenous heritage and culture? Just drop that and really lose my REAL heritage for a false identity. NO WAY. In Colombia my maternal family are seen as AfroIndigenous/Afro-Mestizo, that is their identity and that is my identity as well.

---------- Post added 2011-12-29 at 11:10 ----------

It's enfuriating because I see this and youth really lose their ethnic culture.

BY REJECTING THIS LABEL, I AM ACTUALLY RECLAIMING MY ETHNIC CULTURE. If I identified as a "Latino/Hispanic" I would follow that BS American culture instead of my native AfroColombian Pacific coastal heritage. The US "Latino/Hispanic" culture CANNOT TEACH ME ANYTHING ABOUT MY REAL HERITAGE OF SOUTHWESTERN COLOMBIA AND NORTHERN ECUADOR. I talk to so called "Latinos" and "Hispanics" and cannot identify with them because they don't know nothing about Currulao, Bunde, Juga, Patakore, marimbas, and my AfroIndigenous culture.

[jabader]

that's in your case someone more aware of your ethicity and admixture and even then you'd have to explain that. but for this, its a matter of the later descendents rejecting Latino heritage or rejecting an Americanized label if that's clear and from whatI see its the heritage.

[drycleden]

that's in your case someone more aware of your ethicity and admixture and even then you'd have to explain that. but for this, its a matter of the later descendents rejecting Latino heritage or rejecting an Americanized label if that's clear and from whatI see its the heritage.

Well some just want to be seen as Americans period, if they were born here and raised here, aren't they equally American to everyone else? Other Americans of immigrant backgrounds don't have to be grouped into another "ethnicity" like Europeans for example.

[Abnorbprootly]

Well Europeans aren't ever grouped. Even Aframs struggle with general categories. However, in their case they have another side to identify with and if they lost that they lose a significant heritage.

[AdSuiteAdobe]

Any political group hoping to capitalize on Spanish-speaking identity, by means hoping for it as a steady, unified, and reliable voting bloc, must be disappointed at the findings of this study.

[Dokescoonse]

Any political group hoping to capitalize on Spanish-speaking identity, by means hoping for it as a steady, unified, and reliable voting bloc, must be disappointed at the findings of this study.

A lot of those AMERICANS of Spanish speaking ancestry DO NOT talk Spanish though so how can they have a Spanish-speaking identity?

[flopay]

"Spanish-speaking" was a phrase I came up with quickly for lack of a better one. I meant "Spanish-speaking-descended individuals."

[Soypopetype]

I choosed Triracial

[yK2VgoEI]

Well Europeans aren't ever grouped. Even Aframs struggle with general categories. However, in their case they have another side to identify with and if they lost that they lose a significant heritage.

Just because you don't identify a certain way on a census or EEO forms doesn't mean you don't identify with your heritage, it just means you don't agree with the labels. However, I think most young Americans are not really into their heritage, so why would they identify with it? They just feel American. Same thing with young Colombians, my cousins don't identify with any of their ancestries, not the Euro, Afro nor Indigenous. They just feel Colombian. For a lot of people, having a national identity is all they need. They don't need to identify with their parents' or grandparents' culture. Ask a Brazilian what they are and most will say Brazilian. Why do you think Americans are any different? It's like you're saying just because their parents speak Spanish they can't just see themselves as Americans period. If a person of Afram parents is born in Colombia, they will not say I'm an Afram, they will just say they're Colombian. Who can tell that person they're not Colombian just because their parents aren't originally? I know Chinese Colombians who just identify as Colombian period. I've met Chinese Jamaicans who just say they're Jamaican period. So why is it an issue when people solely identify with American nationality in the US?

[Sopzoozyren]

I'm not saying you can't identify as American but you can't lose ur heritage either. imo anyway

[Fsfkkkjz]

I'm not saying you can't identify as American but you can't lose ur heritage either. imo anyway

I'm not losing it I have dual citizenship

BTW when you have multiple heritages, some are bound to get lost, no one can keep up with maintaining ALL their heritages. Most people choose to lose their Afro and Indigenous heritage in Colombia though. NOT ME

[Ndptbudd]

They should put Mestizo, Triracial, And Mulatto in the Census.

[Qxkmsxsx]

I'm not losing it I have dual citizenship

BTW when you have multiple heritages, some are bound to get lost, no one can keep up with maintaining ALL their heritages. Most people choose to lose their Afro and Indigenous heritage in Colombia though. NOT ME

we can agree to disagree then lol

---------- Post added 2011-12-29 at 12:04 ----------

They should put Mestizo, Triracial, And Mulatto in the Census.

too complicate they'd have to do that for us to then

[heltduell]

we can agree to disagree then lol

---------- Post added 2011-12-29 at 12:04 ----------



too complicate they'd have to do that for us to then

disagreeing about what? You have European heritage but you don't identify with it....So how are you saying for someone with multiple heritages to identify with all of them?