Check box for race: human
By Cindy Rodriguez
Denver Post Columnist
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 –
The stats tell the story of a community divided and seemingly confused.
When asked to pick a race on U.S. Census forms, nearly half of all Latinos in America choose white, and almost as many say they belong to “some other race.”
Thing is, technically, there is no “other” race. Choosing it implies a rejection of the race paradigm.
Science tells us there is only one race: the human race. But politics, history, culture and the need to put people into categories keep the notion of race alive.
Most Latinos come from a mix of races, making it impossible for most of us to choose one.