Two-Thirds of Hispanic Adults Say Being Hispanic is Part of Their Racial Background % of Hispanic adults who say being Hispanic is part of their
Federal policy defines “Hispanic” not as a race, but as an ethnicity. And it prescribes that Hispanics can in fact be of any race. But these census findings suggest that standard U.S. racial categories might either be confusing or not provide relevant options for Hispanics to describe their racial identity. They also raise an important question long pondered by social scientists and policymakers: Do Hispanics consider their Hispanic background to be part of their racial background, their ethnic background or both?
A new Pew Research Center survey of multiracial Americans finds that, for two-thirds of Hispanics, their Hispanic background is a part of their racial background – not something separate. This suggests that Hispanics have a unique view of race that doesn’t necessarily fit within the official U.S. definitions.
Two-Thirds of Hispanic Adults Say Being Hispanic  | is Part of Their Racial Background  | % of Hispanic adults who say being Hispanic is part of their  | NET: 67%  | Both racial and  | Ethnic  | Racial  | Don to  | background  | ethnic background  | background  | know  | 11%  | 56%  | 19%  | 13%  | Note: Hispanic is based on selfide intification of race or origin. Figures may not add  | to 100% beca use of rounding  | Source: Pew Research Center survey, Feb 6-April 6, 2015  | (n=2,438 sampled Hispanic adults)  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 