Racial Identity Issues

 Psychological effects of being considered Hispanic.

In addition to being immigrants, Brazilians in the United States tend to be seen by the American mainstream as Hispanics/Latinos.

Do you, as a Brazilian, consider yourself to be Hispanic/Latino?

• Most Brazilians don´t identify with the term Hispanic partly because Brazilians don´t speak Spanish.
  

• Many also don´t identify with the term Hispanic because Brazil has a distinct culture from the rest of Latin America.
  

• Also because Brazil is a multi-racial country which has absorbed millions of immigrants including from Europe and Japan (adding to the mix of Africans, indigenous people, and Portuguese).
  

• Brazilians may not identify with the term Latino either, because in the U.S. the term is often equated with the term Latino. Other Brazilians may think they are Latino because they come from Latin America. Many prefer just to be considered “Brazilian”.
  

The American population at large identify Brazilians as Hispanics and/or Latinos.

• Many Brazilians dislike being forced to pick a race on the census or forms, given that the option “Brazilian” is not available. Brazilians generally choose the “other” category, as opposed to marking “Latino” or “Hispanic”.

• Afro-Brazilians or Brazilians of mixed race are also not sure which box to fill in the U.S. In Brazil, they´d usually check the “mixed race” or “White” boxes.

The American population at large identify Brazilians as Hispanics and/or Latinos, and racialize them accordingly. Researchers find that the pressure felt by some Brazilians to being racialized as Hispanics imposes a stigma that may lead to psychological issues including depression and anxiety.

• Brazilians may feel the brunt of American stereotypes about Hispanics and/or Latinos. Racial and ethnic minority teenagers are at risk for anxiety and depression. First-generation immigrant teenagers from non-English speaking countries reported more incidents of bullying and violence at school than do non-immigrant teenagers.

While you, as a potential Brazilian immigrant in the U.S., may succeed and like living in the U.S., you should be aware of these possible sources of distress.