On TikTok, I made the assertion that ‘Latino’ should be classified as a race and I got some interesting pushback but I'm happy to see that many people liked my video and agreed with me and others had some thoughtful criticism. Considering this, I expanded on my beliefs from just a simple 2-minute video and wrote an article on why Latino should be federally recognized as a race. These discussions, I hope, will bring other Latinos together to discuss our place, racially, in the United States. It's an important discussion considering the racial climate we live in. Sure, in many ways I can say that race is a silly concept and we should prioritize ethnicity, but we don't live in a world where race doesn't exist. Considering we live in a racialized world, I had to share my two cents on the issue.
The main arguments for why Latinos should be federally recognized as a race include:
- Unique Racial Identity
Latinos have a unique racial identity characterized by mixtures of federally recognized races (white, indigenous, and black), which results in distinct phenotypes and cultures not accurately represented in the current racial categories.
- Inadequate Categorization
Existing racial categories force Latinos into rigid groups, such as white, black, or Native American, which do not capture their complexity, cultural diversity, and genetic makeup.
- Phenotypic and Regional Distinctiveness
Latinos are often described as "brown," distinct from black, white, or Native American. Phenotypically, the average Latino person has physical characteristics that differentiate them from other racial groups.
Like Asians, whose racial classification is based on regionalism rather than phenotype, Latinos could similarly be considered a race based on their shared regional and cultural heritage.
- Historical Discrimination and Legal Recognition
Historically, Latinos have been treated as a distinct group (e.g., in segregation and the Hernandez v. Texas case), highlighting that they are socially and legally "a class apart" despite being categorized as white in some instances.
- Changing Social Constructs
The definition of race as a social construct evolves, and Latino identity could adapt similarly. The societal trend toward acknowledging multi-racial identities further supports the recognition of Latinos as a distinct race.
- Comparisons to Broad Classifications
As "Asian" encompasses diverse phenotypes and cultures, the Latino identity—similarly broad and multifaceted—could justify classification as a race.
What are your thoughts on the issue?