Today, about 130 million people of African descent live in Latin America, making up roughly a quarter of the total population, according to estimates from the Project on Ethnicity and Race in Latin America ( PERLA) at Princeton University. In Latin America’s colonial period, about 15 times as many African slaves were taken to Spanish and Portuguese colonies than to the U.S. The multiple dimensions of Hispanic identity also reflect the long colonial history of Latin America, during which mixing occurred among indigenous Americans, white Europeans, slaves from Africa and Asians. Census Bureau’s own classification of Hispanic identity – census survey forms have described “Hispanic” as an ethnic origin, not a race. For example, two-thirds of Latinos (67%) say their Hispanic background is a part of their racial background. These findings reflect the complexity of identity and race among Latinos. In fact, higher shares of Afro-Latinos identified as white alone or white in combination with another race (39%) or volunteered that their race or one of their races was Hispanic (24%). When asked directly about their race, only 18% of Afro-Latinos identified their race or one of their races as black. 47%).Īfro-Latinos’ views of race are also unique. About six-in-ten Afro-Latinos reported family incomes below $30,000 in 2013, compared with about half of those who did not identify as Afro-Latino (62% vs. 37%), and more likely to have lower family incomes. 52%), less likely to have some college education (24% vs. They are also more likely than other Latinos to be foreign born (70% vs. Those who identify as Afro-Latino are more concentrated on the East Coast and in the South than other Latinos (65% of Afro-Latinos live in these regions vs. In the U.S., Latinos with Caribbean roots are more likely to identify as Afro-Latino or Afro-Caribbean than those with roots elsewhere (34% versus 22%, respectively). has asked the Latino population directly whether they considered themselves Afro-Latino. This is the first time a nationally representative survey in the U.S. Latinos self-identify as Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean or of African descent with roots in Latin America. A Pew Research Center survey of Latino adults shows that one-quarter of all U.S. They are characterized by their diverse views of racial identity, reflecting the complex and varied nature of race and identity among Latinos. Among the many ways Hispanics see their identity is their racial background.Īfro-Latinos are one of these Latino identity groups. They may also look to their indigenous roots. For example, many Hispanics tie their identity to their ancestral countries of origin – Mexico, Cuba, Peru or the Dominican Republic. Hispanics is multidimensional and multifaceted. Note: An updated version of this post was published on May 2, 2022.

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