---
title: "A Conversation About Identity"
description: "We invited journalists, scholars and civic leaders to share their views."
date: "2012-05-30"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/05/30/a-conversation-about-identity-tell-us-your-story/"
categories:
  - "Hispanic/Latino Identity"
  - "Integration & Identity"
  - "Race & Ethnicity"
  - "Racial & Ethnic Identity"
---

# A Conversation About Identity

## Overview

### Slideshow

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/PRC_12.05.29_Hispanic_IdentityKEY3.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/05/30/a-conversation-about-identity-tell-us-your-story/prc_12-05-29_hispanic_identity1-2/)

[Key Findings from the Identity Report](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/05/30/a-conversation-about-identity-tell-us-your-story/prc_12-05-29_hispanic_identity1-2/)

The Pew Hispanic Center recently published “[When Labels Don’t Fit: Hispanics and Their Views of Identity](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/04/04/when-labels-dont-fit-hispanics-and-their-views-of-identity/).” The report was based on a new nationwide survey that found most Hispanics don’t embrace the term “Hispanic.” And even fewer prefer the term “Latino.”

In the days following the release, hundreds of people offered their observations on social media, and scores of newspapers and websites published articles, commentaries and editorials. Some of our readers emailed us with their own opinions and stories.

It’s a fascinating topic, and we’d like to continue the conversation. So we invited journalists, scholars and civic leaders to share their views. Each day for the next two weeks, we will publish one of these commentaries [here](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/). <!-- We also invite you to join the discussion. Share your thoughts, views and personal stories about your own identity on our [Pew Hispanic Center Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=369018429828830&id=363415300384049). -->

(Click on the photos below to read the commentaries.)

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Capeda_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/05/30/esther-cepeda-im-a-minority-within-a-minority/)

**Esther Cepeda** 05.30.12 I'm a Minority Within a Minority

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Murguia_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/05/31/janet-murguia-diverse-identities-but-much-common-ground/)

**Janet Murguía** 05.31.12 Diverse Identities but Much Common Ground

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Menendez_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/01/alicia-menendez-my-gringa-mother/)

**Alicia Menendez** 06.01.12 My Gringa Mother

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/06/Arturo_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/04/arturo-vargas-labels-aside-latinos-share-common-values/)

**Arturo Vargas** 06.04.12 Labels Aside, Latinos Share Common Values

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Escobar_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/05/gabriel-escobar-where-are-you-from/)

**Gabriel Escobar** 06.05.12 “Where are You *From*?”

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Lilley_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/06/sandra-lilley-wonderfully-american/)

**Sandra Lilley** 06.06.12 Wonderfully American

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/lopez_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/07/juan-carlos-lopez-looking-beyond-the-debate-on-immigration/)

**Juan Carlos Lopez** 06.07.12 Looking Beyond the Debate on Immigration

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/05/Web_130.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/06/08/jody-agius-vallejo-latino-ethnicity-and-americas-future/)

**Jody Vallejo** 06.08.12 Latino Ethnicity and America’s Future

Views in this conversation series are those of each author alone, and not the views of the Pew Hispanic Center, which is nonpartisan and non-advocacy.

---

**Next:** [II. Esther Cepeda: I’m a Minority Within a Minority](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/05/30/esther-cepeda-im-a-minority-within-a-minority.md)