Are Spaniards Considered White or Hispanic?

Are Spaniards Considered White or Hispanic?

All people from Spain are considered Hispanic. However, they may be part of any race, including white.

Race is a social construct used by census bureaus as a way to classify the people living within a country. According to the United States’ census, there are five races: white, black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. White refers to people whose families originated in Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Hispanic refers to the Iberian Peninsula, home of Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar and parts of France. The Romans called this region Hispania. The term Hispanic later extended to the places and groups in the new world that were conquered and colonized by the Spaniards.