The US 2010 Census

As a class, we have spent some time on the US Census Bureau website, investigating the 2010 census.  Here's what we discovered:

• What methods did the Census Bureau use in the 2010 census? 
• where you live is very important: where is your permanent residence?
• separate races in very limited ways
• mail, telephone, door-to-door 
• self-identification (ideology): census methods ask people to self-identify: dialectical process of identity formation (checking the box reinforces and creates your identity)
• the use of the word "Hispanic" to identify Latino/as
• a lot less detailed than 2000 census (in 2000 census they asked subdivisions of counties, but in 2010, just county)
• white includes many different identities 

• How are they similar and different than the methods discussed by Prewitt in "Racial Classification in America: Where do we go from here?"
• a lot less detailed than 2000 census (in 2000 census they asked subdivisions of counties, but in 2010, just county)
• Hispanics as ethic category (not racial)
• you can choose "more than one" as racial category
• racial classifications minimized (less options)
• the same 6 categories 
• bilingual forms were used (Spanish, for example)

• What were the results of the 2010 census?
• Hispanic increased in every single state but PR
• Asian racial group fastest increasing since 2000 census
• CA has the largest amount of minority groups in 2010
• lower number of American Indians/Native peoples since 2000
• white and black still represent the largest multiple race combination 
• American Indians and Native Hawaiians have low population demographics as single-race categories, but their numbers increase when they are combined with other racial categories 
• added "other" racial category: many more people than expected chose this category
• THIRD largest category chosen by USA citizens, other than white or black
• 97% of "other" belong to Hispanic ethnic category
• the majority of the total population reported only one race
• children are more likely to be racial or ethnic minorities than adults (interracial mixing)

Discussion: Should we classify people according to race and, if so, how should a country like the USA do it? What are the pros and cons of racial classification?

Discussion: What is the purpose of racial classification by governments? Think about policy.

• for quotas on immigration (1924: Johnson-Reed Act)
• results shape policies (school systems, example)
• shape politics (elections, where candidates invest their money)
• who gets a piece of the pie!  how big is the piece?

Discussion: the case of Middle Eastern peoples (P9 of Prewitt): How should the USA categorize people of Middle Eastern descent?  As a geographic designation or ethnoracial designation (i.e, Arab American)?

• don't ask either of these--they are both racist 
• based on country
• pick and choose strategy: look at how Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are classified
• what about African American?  We don't ask African Americans to specify their country of origin, so why for Middle Eastern people?  

Discussion: White?  What should be done--if anything--about the classification of "white"?  (P10, Prewitt).  Why is "white" also a problematic racial classification?