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| PLAYING THE RACE CARD Should we have a "multi-racial" category on the census? July 29, 1997 |
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Other questions asked in this forum:
What exactly is the race-related information collected on the census form used for? How will the Census Bureau use this information productively? Why is there an "Hispanic" category on the census form? Instead of using "other," could we use "American" as a category? Isn't it more important to categorize people by how they are perceived by society, not by how they think of themselves? Are mixed racial people turning a government poll into a platform for personal self-identity issues?
NewsHour Backgrounders
July 16, 1997
Paul Solman leads a debate on the multiracial census category.
June 18, 1997
Essayist Richard Rodriguez discusses his views on checking the race box.
June 12, 1997:
Despite a clash over a ban on census sampling included in the bill, a flood relief package to help northwestern states passes Congress.
June 11, 1997:
Reps. Shimkus and Allen discuss the role of the census in flood relief problems.
Outside Links
U.S. Census Bureau
Project RACEQuestion: Why does the Census Bureau insist on having a "race" categorywhen itis a concept that has been constructed by society? Shouldn't weclassifyourselves by ethnicity or cultural background instead?
Clyde Tucker responds:
Racial and ethnic information is required to meet legislative and administrative needs. The categories were developed to collect data on groups that historically had suffered discrimination.
Susan Graham responds:
This is an excellent question. Race IS a social construct, yet thecensus has always identified people by race. The census bureau will respondthat they do allow for the "ancestry" question on the long form, although thelong form will be discontinued after the 2000 census. Only one in sixhouseholds gets the long form. The rest of us do not have the opportunity toidentify our ethnic or cultural backgrounds.
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