Latinos Must Sign Ethnic Affidavit To Qualify For New York City Business Program

Released: Thursday, June 07, 2012

NEW YORK (Huff Post Latino Voices) - Do Brazilians count? What about Spaniards?

Defining exactly who is "Hispanic" and who is not, when the label should be applied and when it should not, is a matter on which academics, Census-takers, and even those who identify themselves as part of the ethnic group, sometimes disagree.

Those debates have intensified as cities, corporations, and universities expand, contract, and otherwise change diversity and affirmative action programs. In New York, Latino entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of a city program designed to give businesses owned by women and minorities access to information and guidance, must first swear that they are Hispanic, in the way that the city defines it.

Before Latino applicants can qualify they must sign an affidavit confirming their ethnic identity.

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