Understanding the Complexities of Skin Color, Perceptions of Race, and Discrimination Among Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans

Abstract

Caribbean Latino/a groups have a higher percentage of Black and Brown individuals who are often labeled Black in the United States. Unfortunately, little is known about how skin color affects the experiences of dark-skinned Latino/as. The present study is based on the Latino National Survey (LNS), which contains 8,634 completed interviews of self-identified Latino/a residents of the United States including 335 Dominicans, 420 Cubans, and 822 Puerto Ricans. Results demonstrated that Latino/as high in acculturation, females, respondents with a high school degree or higher, and Dominicans were more likely to perceive Latino as a race. Second, White respondents were less likely to perceive Latino as a race. Last, perceived discrimination was associated with high acculturation, being male, a higher income, and perceptions of race and age. More specifically, younger and darker-skinned Latino/as perceived more discrimination than White and older Latino/as. Research and practice implications are discussed.