What is Hispanic?
== In English, the word "Hispanic" derives from the Latin word Hispania, which described the Hispanic peninsula, now occupied by both Spain and Portugal. The word, therefore, describes anything related to the Hispanic Peninsula and by extension, anything derived from either Spain or Portugal. The term "Hispanic" was originally coined by the 19th Century French as part of their justification for French intervention in Mexico. In the US, the term Hispanic is used in law and in custom to refer to anyone connected with or descended from the cultures or peoples of Spain, Portugal, or the Spanish or Portugese-speaking nations of South and Central America and the Caribbean. This grouping is used because people from all these nations experienced similar types of discrimination during the period just before anti-discrimination efforts began to take hold in culture and in law in the US. == Hispanic is the ethnicity of those who speak Spanish. So any nation that has Spanish as their mother tongue, is Hispanic. That is from Mexico, Argentina, etc. In the US, it has been used wrongfully to describe people from Latin America. However, those from Spain are Caucasian since they are of European decent.
But not all Latin Americans are Hispanic. Brazilians for example do not speak Spanish. we speak Portuguese, thus making us Lusophone.
If your father is half Hispanic and your mom is Caucasian are you considered Hispanic?
Being Hispanic is not a race but a cultural identity. If one of your paternal grandparents was Hispanic and your mother is Caucasian, you can call your self Hispanic if you want. The term does seem to apply better if you have been part of the Hispanic community, participated in the culture, or have personally experienced anti-Hispanic prejudice or discrimination at some point.
Are all Mexicans hispanic?
Yes. If they speak spanish, they are hispanic. Hispanic is not a race but an ethnic background. If you come of spanish background, culture or language, it means you're hispanic. But if you are native american, you still speak your native language and practice your culture, then no, you are not hispanic. You come from a Hispanic country, but you're not necessarily one in this case.
What would be the ethnicity of someone with a white father and hispanic mother?
Depends on race of mother - hispanic is generally a mix of white european (spain) and native american - if more european blood then she is white - if she is white hispanic then the race of the child is white. The child is only hispanic if he/she was raised hispanic, if not, then child is white non-hispanic.