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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? Shouldn't we classify ourselves by ethnicity or cultural background instead?
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 do mixed racial people insist that the census form accomodatehowthey want to define thsemselves? It seems as if they are turning agovernment poll into a platform for personal self-identity issues.
Clyde Tucker responds:
You could ask the same question of the other racial groups.However, since information on race is necessary, those with a mixedracial heritage have expressed a desire to identify all parts of their racial heritage. Some individuals of mixed racial heritage do, however, identify in a single racial category,and the recommendations allow them to continue to do so.
Susan Graham responds:
The census form has always been a platform for race and identity issues. Why should multiracial persons be subjected to different and arbitrarytreatment? The recommendation also adds "African American" to the "black"category, changes "Alaskan Native " to "Alaska Native" (dropping the "n") andallows for additional labels in the Hispanic category because racial andethnic identity is important. It is also time for those in Washington torecognize that not all Americans fit neatly into one box and that there is anappropriate name for persons of more than one race--multiracial.
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