Why do people keep saying "hispanic" as if it were an ethnicity or race?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic

Considering quite clearly hispanic is not a race or an ethnicity. But simply put it is a term to denote one's cultural heritage from Spain. Which is a white european nation.

Hispanics can be any of three races: Caucasian (of European descent, found in large amounts in Argentinia, Brazil (Brazil is the nation with the third highest amount of white people, at 93 million), Amerindian (the descendants of native tribes of the area) or African (Jamaicans, Haitains, etc..).

However there is no such race as "hispanic." One can be a blue eyed and blond haired Argentianian with pale skin or one can be dark eyed, with skin as dark as night and rasta hair from Jamaica. Both are hispanics So why do people keep mentioning it as a race or racial term? It just defies logic.

Answer 1

hispanics are those from south america.. Spanish are Spaniards, dont get em mixed.

Answer 2

Political correctness.  You've had a melange of terms thrown around like chicano, latino, as well as slurs.  I tend to agree with the old John Wayne talking record, "The Hyphenated American."  Rather than something-American, why not just be Americans?  Race, color, creed, shouldn't be such a big deal.

Answer 3

it's because it is an ethnicity! Stop trying to be what you are not.

Answer 4

Its just us americans that say that. Hispanic in american terms basically means mexican, puerto rican, jamican and all those other races.

Answer 5

His Panic....I alway thought someone was panicking.

Answer 6

I really only use the word to describe people who are from any race..or actually country that speaks Spanish.. that simple!