34 Percent of US Latinos Identify as More Than One Race: Study

"Mestizo" and "mulatto" are Spanish-language terms traditionally used to describe those of mixed-race heritage. While these terms aren't a part of mainstream vocabulary in the U.S., many individuals of Latin descent use them to describe their complex ancestry. In fact, 34 percent of U.S. Latino indicated that they are belong to more than one racial group, "mestizo," "mulatto" or some other mixed-race combination.

According to new statistics published by Pew Research, U.S. Latinos recognize that race isn't black or white; instead it's an amalgamation of histories, resulting in backgrounds comprising white European and indigenous roots or European and black African roots, such as the case with mestizo and mulatto, respectively.

Across Latin America, both terms are commonly used to describe individuals of mixed-raced identity. In the Andean countries of South America, most of Central America and Mexico, mestizo represents the racial majority. In those same nations, mulattos only make up 4 percent of the population. Brazil and Caribbean nations saw a great influx of African slaves, so African ancestry is larger in those nations -- evident by the fact that 47 percent of Brazil's population identify as mulatto and 11 percent of the Dominican Republic's population does as well. Additionally, 68 percent of the Dominican Republic's population identify as "mestizo/indio."

According to Pew, U.S. Latinos who identify as mixed-race, mestizo or mulatto are more likely to be U.S.-born than those who do not (44 percent vs. 37 percent). Also, mixed-race, mestizo or mulatto U.S. Latinos are more likely to be non-Mexican than those who do not identify as mixed-raced (45 percent compared to 36 percent). Additionally, 44 percent of mixed-raced Latinos have "some college or more," compared to 27 percent for non-mixed Latinos.

These terms prove that U.S. Latinos defy the labels pressed on the group. Racial identity is a complex conversation for many Latinos, and conventional classification can't successfully describe the fusion of culture, history or linage. When mixed-race, mestizo or mulatto individuals were surveyed and asked a standard race question, only 13 percent explicitly select two or more races or volunteer that they are "mixed-race." Forty percent of mestizo/mulatto Latinos listed their race as white, while 20 percent stated they were "Hispanic."

Latinos/Hispanics face challenges when asked to measure their identity in a nation that doesn't understand their identity. A great deal of Hispanics do not select that they're white, black or Asian, instead 40 percent mark the "some other race" category. Additionally, many Latino adults consider "Hispanic" to characterize their racial background, not just ethnicity.