Race on census and other forms

Piggy-backing on the conversation about who's Latino, I was wondering what people mark for race on census and other forms. Until a few years ago, I marked "white," like the vast majority of non-black Latinos. But some friends got me to think about it, and I reached the conclusion (before DNA testing) that I, like most of us of Mexican ancestry, am more NA in culture than white (Spanish). My DNA testing only reinformed my belief, since I'm a B2.

I know very few Mexicans who mark NA, and I even checked the info on my students. Hasta los más morenos are identified as white.

Of course, one problem is that being called an "indio" is a big putdown, so I'm guessing most Mexicans won't be checking NA anytime soon.

Thoughts?

Laura Gonzalez

Label

Comment

Over the years I have been labeled white, Chicano Mexican/American Latino.
There is one label that I don't like and won't choose, though it is often chosen for me.
I do not like Hispanic. Never have, never will. I guess that it is because it a word that is not said with pride. It sounds too much like spic. I was called this too many times as a kid by racists.

I am Mexican and American and proud to be both.

As to race, I have a few. Before working on genealogy, I thought that I would find about half indian ancestors and about half European ancestors. I was surprised to find that the mix was different than what I expected. From one grandparent I traced only white ancestors. From another grandparent I found over 90% confirmed white with only a few percentages of confirmed indian. With the other two grandparents, not married to each other, I again found the majority to be white but both descended from the same mulato labeled as such in the early 1700s. I do believe this mulato was black and not indian as some people claim that the label was also used for. This mulato married a woman from Theocaltiche and I only have her parents names and no further ancestors on this line. This is my big deadend that i have never been able to breakthrough. I believe that I also descend from another mulato fro the early 1700's but am still trying to confirm that line.
In the " white" lines going back to Spain in the 15th and 16centuries, I have confirmed five lines that come from Northern Africa/ middle eastern region and were labeled moors.
R A Ricci