Thread: The word 'Negro' on 2010 census form sparks debate

The word 'Negro' on 2010 census form sparks debate

By Chris Metinko and Linda Goldston
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 01/09/2010 12:37:48 PM PST
Updated: 01/09/2010 12:37:49 PM PST

Responding to an emotional outcry, the U.S. Census Bureau on Friday announced it would explore eliminating the term "Negro" from future surveys.

But the revelation this week that the Jim Crow Era word remains part of a question about race in the 2010 census has sparked a passionate debate. How, many are asking, could the government still be asking Americans if they identify themselves with a term that many consider outdated, obsolete and downright racist?

"My first reaction when I saw that was we take two steps forward to take one step back," said Rick Callender, former president of the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP. "African-Americans in this country have not referred to themselves as Negro since the 1950s."

Question 9 on the census, which asks for a person's race, lists as one of the options: "Black, African Am., or Negro." The controversy arose earlier this week as the Census Bureau started its road tour in New York.

"I wouldn't say it offends me, but it makes me feel uncomfortable," said Austin Jackson, a 16-year-old from Fremont who serves as president of the NAACP Youth Council in Alameda County. "It's unfortunate they would use such a clearly outdated term."

Sonny Le, a regional spokesman for the Census Bureau, said the term "Negro" has been on the survey for at least 100 years. He said the form is reviewed and analyzed thoroughly by different offices and advisory groups before being finalized.

Le said the

decision to keep the term "Negro" on the form was due principally to the fact some older African-Americans still identify themselves by that term. In fact, in the 2000 census, more than 50,000 people chose to write down explicitly that they identified themselves as "Negro" in a section where the census allows people to provide additional information. That number does not include those who checked the box "Black, African-Am., or Negro."

"We decided to keep the term, but at the same time, I think it's good for everybody to have this conversation now," Le said. "The census is an evolving process. It's supposed to reflect our country. If enough people do not want the term, we should revisit again whether or not it belongs."

Callender questioned the Census Bureau's argument that older African-Americans still identify themselves as "Negro."

"I'm not sure who that refers to. I'd like to know who those older African-Americans are," said Callender. He said his grandmother, who died in her 80s, never used the term, nor does his mother, who is in her 60s.

On Friday, the Census Bureau issued a release stating it will gather research from the 2010 census to analyze the effects of removing the term "Negro" on future surveys and the 2020 census.

David Glover, executive director of Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal, expects that the term will be a turnoff to many African-Americans when they receive the questionnaires from the Census Bureau in March. That could be a problem for Glover and other community activists, who have been working to increase the participation of African-Americans in the once-a-decade count.

If they are offended, Glover said he will tell residents who bring it up to him to "go ahead and be counted because being counted is the most important thing."

Jackson said people shouldn't spend too much time on one question on the census.

"This is a good discussion to have," Jackson said. "But, honestly, there are more important things going on in the world right now than this."

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14156729

Better yet get rid of this idiotic divisive question. If you agree to help make that happen check "other" and put in "American" or "Human".

RELATED

Tell the Census your Race is AMERICAN

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-184426.html

It is agreed that all humanity originated somewhere in Africa by both Religious organizations and evolutionists so we could all claim to be African Americans.

Congress Approved "Negro" on 2010 Census Form (Video Inside ...

On the 2010 Census form there is an option under the Race category that reads, Black, African Am., or Negro.
WHAT could be the reason ?

http://thisis50.ning.com/profiles/blog/ ... e=activity