is because we, Americans, view race from a Black v White perspective?

I.e., someone can't be black *and* white, at least not in a tax form on in a census.

But like BSR and Hiktori have mentioned, the label of Latino/a vs Hispanic has an entire history and complexity that many people, including myself, are generally ignorant about.

Black identity in many ways is built upon the idea of separateness from white culture. Black in the past and in many ways could not be White and our identity for better or worse is the response to the consequences of being excluded.

While, the histories of Latinos in the United States, from what I know, are more intertwined and nuanced. Obviously, Latinos have been and are marginalized, but there is the aspect of culture, legitimacy, and language that Blacks in general don't face.

It doesn't seem accurate from the knowledge I have to view race from a Black, White perspective when learning about the history of Latino/as in America.