Race/ethnicity (new definition)

New ethnicity/race definition categories developed in 1997 by the U. S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The designations categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non‐citizens.

Identify Ethnicity

First, individuals are asked to designate their ethnicity as:

• Hispanic or Latino; or
• Not Hispanic or Latino

Hispanic or Latino Defined	A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish Culture or origin regardless of race.

 

Identify Race

Second, individuals are asked to indicate one or more races that apply from among the following:

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White

Race Categories Defined
American Indian or Alaska Native	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Asian	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black or African American	A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White	A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.