HolyCoast: The "N" Word on the Census Form?
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Thursday, January 07, 2010

The "N" Word on the Census Form?

Well, not exactly, but the reaction is almost the same:
A fiery blast from the past is conjuring controversy in the new millennium. The word "negro" is now featured on an official U.S. document and now many are questioning if the Census Bureau is being insensitive.

It's a word that many African Americans associate with segregation, so imagine how shocked many were to see it on the 2010 U.S. census form.

"The fact that it's 2010 and they're still putting 'negro,' I am a little offended," said Secaucus resident Dawud Ingram.

Question #9 on the this year's census asks about your race. One of the boxes you can choose is "black," "African American," or "negro," all placed next to the same box. Ingram said it's not a word he uses to identify neither himself nor anybody else.

"African Americans haven't been going by the term 'negro' for decades now. It's really confusing," he said.

But census officials disagree, saying they found some older African Americans identify themselves that way and they're trying to be inclusive. In a statement, they said: "Results from the census in 2000 showed that a number of respondents provided a write-in response of 'negro' when answering the question on race."

In fact, Congress approved the form more than a year ago.
Frankly, the only question on the census that anyone should answer is "how many people live at this address". That's the only information required by the Constitution and anything else is voluntary. Answer that one and then tell them to go away.

2 comments:

Linda said...

Yep, I agree with you! Only the number of people, but so many will be intimidated by the census takers they will give any info they ask.

Robb said...

I guess this guy hasn't heard of the United NEGRO College Fund or the National Association for the Advancement of [Liberal] COLORED People.

If these terms are outdated/wrong/offensive, why don't they change them?