If my father is from Mexico, am I considered Hispanic for the census? if my daughter is then 1/4 Mexican, is she considered Hispanic for the census?

I would think you should mark whatever the majority of the blood in your veins says you are.

Race is usually decided by the fathers race. So yes.

@Pandora Actually, it’s often decided by the maternal line, because you can never really be sure of who the father is (at least you couldn’t until 20 years ago).

You can check multiple boxes.

@papayalily LOL True, but when I went to get a social security card for my son as an infant they said it usually goes by the father. However they said I can put down which ever I wanted since my child was mixed, so long as they are that race as well.
So I went with my race since I wasn’t mixed.

Race is in the eye of the beholder !!
There is hundreds of thousands of “LILLY WHITE” Americans who claim to be Native Americans !! As they are 1/64th American Indian !!

Mark what you feel comfortable marking. You do not have to support the race categories created by the census.

Technically you both would be considered Hispanic to answer your question.

@papayalily So what you’re saying is: Mama’s Baby,Papa’s ,,,Maybe !!!!

I would think they would consider you Hispanic since, in America, white is the default. Just put what you want though.

My people are not on the census so I check “other” and write it in.

I am debating writing in “the Indy 500” as my race this year to see if anyone is paying attention. :)

You’re whatever ethnic group you affiliate with as your own ethnic group.

I believe for the purposes of the census at least, they are two separate issues. I just checked my census form and above the questions (8 & 9) it says this: “NOTE: Please answer BOTH Question 8 about Hispanic origin and Question 9 about race. For this census, Hispanic origins are not races.” Question 8 is about whether or not you are of “Hispanic, Latino or Spanish” origin. Question 9 is a question about race. So I would think you would answer question 8 yes, probably option 2 “Yes, Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano” and answer Question 9 with option 1 “White.”

Sí.

@Pandora Hispanic is not considered a separate race on the census form.
Lillycoyote has beat me with the correct answer. Hispanic is about origin, while race is defined differently.

@YARNLADY I get to win sometimes, don’t I? : )

Do what you want. Check the box you want to check. They can’t check up on it and if they did, who are they to tell you what race you are. This is America, baby. We’re all mutts. The basters son’s of Aaron for those of us whose ancestors braved the cold Atlantic.

Wow, I’m hitting up @lillycoyote to help me with my census form :)
Like @Arisztid, I’ve always marked “other” on any forms asking for race or nationality.

@Neizvestnaya LOL. Give me a little time. It’s been sitting around for a couple of days and I only just opened the thing to try to answer this question. And I really hate filling out forms. I’ve usually had enough by question 4. Just giving it a quick looking over, all I can say is God have mercy on anyone who has 12 people living in their residence. Though it might not be that bad. You only have to reference persons 2–12 to person one. That is how is person 2 related to person 1, how is person 3 related to person 1, etc. You don’t have to cross reference how person 3 is related to person 8 or how person 9 is related to person 4. Oy!

@lillycoyote : i just did census yesterday and i was discussing exactly what you wrote (statement on census form) with my coworker. i usually do check “Hispanic” for myself when taking civil services tests and such. i was wondering about my daughter, who is ¼ hispanic. technically, can she be in Hispanic category or is that a stretch?

I am not going to risk it, I caved to Pressure (and fears of what would happen if I lied on a government form) and did not write “the Indy 500.” My wife told me that they would notice.

I put Rromani Gypsy but one of these days I am going to do it. If they send it back because want a human race I shall be The Boston Marathon.

@MagicalMystery Boy, I’m not sure. That’s a tough one. I would tend to say yes, because of the way the census asks about relationships between the people living in the household. If you were to check that you are of Hispanic origin, but your daughter is not, that kind of doesn’t seem right but who knows. I’m not quite sure why they are only asking about Hispanic, Latino or Spanish ethnicity anyway. I wouldn’t be able to answer the question of they were asking about the ethnic status of people of European origin or ancestry. I’m half German, on my Mother’s side, but on my Dad’s side thing are quite a bit murkier. Scotch, Irish, English and who knows what else. :)