Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or who are descendants of those from Spanish-speaking countries. In other words, Hispanic refers to the language that a person speaks or that their ancestors spoke. For this reason, people who are Hispanic may vary in their race and also where they live or originate.

Why do they ask if you are Hispanic?

We ask a question about whether a person is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin to create statistics about this ethnic group. Local, state, tribal, and federal programs use these data, and they are critical factors in the basic research behind numerous policies, particularly for civil rights.

Why do employers ask if you are Hispanic or Latino?

We ask whether someone is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin to create statistics about this ethnic group. Though many respondents expect to see a Hispanic, Latino or Spanish answer category on the race question, this question is asked separately because people of Hispanic origin may be of any race(s).

What is the difference between heritage and ethnicity?

As nouns the difference between heritage and ethnicity is that heritage is heritage, inheritance, legacy while ethnicity is the common characteristics of a group of people.

What does Pocho mean?

Under the most common definition, pocho -- or the feminine pocha -- is slang for a Mexican American who is neither one nor the other, who speaks no Spanish or speaks it poorly, who is adrift between two cultures, or lives comfortably in both.