How Will You Answer US Census Question 9?

[Karlis]

How Will You Answer US Census Question 9?

During the next weeks all USA households will receive a U.S. Census Bureau census paper. Question Nine concerns a person’s racial origins, and has a box with one of three options: “Black, African American or Negro".

Do you think the word “negro” on the Census Form is offensive? If so, which word or phrase do you think could replace it? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the word “negro” has been on the Census Question Form since 1950.

Using remarks with perceived racist innuendo have caused embarrassment to politicians in the past.

For example:

The US Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, has apologised for private comments he made about Barack Obama before the 2008 presidential election.

He is quoted in a new book as saying Mr Obama could win since he was a "light-skinned" African-American "with no Negro dialect", unless he wanted one.

After the extract was published by The Atlantic magazine on Friday, the senator confirmed he had made the remarks and apologised.

"I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologise for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans for my improper comments," he said in a statement.

"I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda. Moreover, throughout my career... I have worked hard to advance issues important to the African-American community."

Mr Obama later issued a statement accepting the apology.

"Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today. I accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart," he said.

"As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."

Source

[Eldorado]

Negro is a proper word...it's the term N**g*r that's offensive.

[el midgetron]

The US Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, has apologised for private comments he made about Barack Obama before the 2008 presidential election.

The three different choices for black people on the census from was actually brought up (by myself) in a thread about that harry reid incident.

Apparently the term negro is offensive to some, as its a throw back to the vocabulary of segregation. However, as pointed out by another member, some older black folks still identify with the term, hence its inculded on the census form. Its also still used in some pre-established contexts like the name of the organization; United Negro College Fund.

I suspect it was more than just the word that was an issue with Reid's comment. It was atleast partly due to the suggested expectation that a black person would walk and talk like a "black person".

[+DieChecker]

Apparently the term negro is offensive to some, as its a throw back to the vocabulary of segregation. However, as pointed out by another member, some older black folks still identify with the term, hence its inculded on the census form. Its also still used in some pre-established contexts like the name of the organization; United Negro College Fund.

I agree some of the older people identify with the word. Also I have met several people who moved here from Africa that relate to that term, rather the the ironically named, "African American".

[+DieChecker]

I do think it is interesting that they have a write-in section under some catagories, such as Asian, and Pacific Islander, so people can mark down if they are Samoan, or Japanese. But, there is no place to park down if you are German, Greek, Iranian, Moraccan, or Ethiopian. Why do you suppose there is distiction between the Asian ethnicities, the Pacific Island ethnicities and the Latino ethnicities, but none for White or Black?

[Indiogene]

The US Census should hold up to the promise and commitment to not give private info. on how one chose to mark on the race/ethnicity box and otherwise without ones' proper consent. The term "Negro" alike "Colored" is no longer a popular or acceptable word, same goes to "black" and "Afro" among many of the African-American community.

I received my Census form for myself and family: wife and 2 boys. I seen the Spanish billboards in Southern Cal. and the census wants to measure how diverse our country is, esp. in urban areas and regions like the Northeast and west coast states. Whites are no longer the majority in Cal. anyway, but don't expect a demographic "bomb" for Hispanics to replace Anglos or non-Hispanic whites, blacks, Asians, etc. in the near future.

Personally, I worry about being honest about certain fields when asked to check a box and certain questions about income level, property assets, racial-ethnic ancestry, etc. had historically frightened some applicants to lie about it or not disclose it. Should I mark "white" and "Native American", except you can mark more than 2 races? My wife is Hispanic plus some Asian and European descent.

The US Census cannot legally ask ones' religion, due to federal law in regards to privacy matters on "sensitive" information about people. International law experts had criticized the US Census for having racial categories at all and how world history shown the misuse or abuse of racial/ethnic/religious data has horrific consequences on people, in terms of human rights, persecution and political manuevers or pandering.

[ninjadude]

The US Census should hold up to the promise and commitment to not give private info.

it does. A census information detail is not available for 72 years. By law. It is used before that in aggregate.