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Why does the American Census recognize only one ethnicity?
It's 'Hispanic,' in case you're wondering. If you primarily identify with the language and culture of any country or people who don't speak spanish or aren't in the western hemisphere, you're 'non-Hispanic.'
Isn't it nice to know that Belgians, Persians, Kenyans, and Tibetans are all the same Ethnicity? Why, the world is just one big happy family!
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Would people be OK with the Census if the only choices under race were 'white' and 'non-white?'
Since it's clearly confusing people, I should point out that 'race' and 'ethnicity' are two different things. You can be white & hispanic or native-american and non-hispanic, for instance.
Belgian isn't a race or an ethnicity - in fact, there are arguably two or three distinct ethnicities in Belgium, tiny as it is - francophone and flemmish, at a minimum, IIRC. Which only makes it more absurd that Belgians and Tibetans are the SAME ETHNICITY in America!
DavidH: Computers, perhaps? And, hey, maybe human and non-human will be on the Census some day - when PETA gets equal rights for animals.
upyr1: you are non-Hispanic. Actually, even if you were from Spain, you would be non-Hispanic!
10 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
I believe the census should not be asking race or ethnicity period.
It should simply ask how many people live at an address. ethnicity and skin color are irrelevant.
So I would not be happy if the form asked "white" or "Non white". edit My dad's family came from Italy and my last name is more common in Spain than in Itlay so while it is clear I am of Latin decent am I hispanic? I keep things simple my last name is the Italian spelling of a Spanish name and I'm Amercian.
edit if I were from spain and spoke spanish how would I not be hispanic? the fact we're arguing over what a hispanic is or isn't shows the stupidity of a government agency asking the question. Let's keep things simple-
how many people live at an adress.
- subprimelendorLv 51 decade ago
The color of your skin has nothing to do with your ethnicity. This division was introduced legally into documentation in the early 70's in the wake of the Civil Rights movement. It was a way to maintain discrimination alive. People should have fought it back then. The problem is that "white" is not an ethnic background.
Source(s): Those of you who think you don't have to fill that out are very wrong. That is a question on a mortgage application. And if the applicant says he/she will not answer it, the law requires the broker taking the application to fill out him/herself based on "visual appearance" and THAT'S required by law for a broker. So believe me, the government knows what color you are and where your ancestors are from. Look it up. - ?Lv 41 decade ago
That's a good point, actually. Years ago, when I worked for the government, you would get points for being part of a "protected class" when applying for a job or a promotion. "Hispanic" was one of them, but if you were from Spain it didn't count. Women, and of course, African Americans would get points, and female African Americans would get double-points, unless it was Charlize Theron. http://www.moono.com/html/charlize-theron/charlize...
At the company where I work now, they have a "demographic data" section on the HR form. There are a number of Israelis there who are classified as, "Asian/Pacific Rim".
Our brilliant government at work.
As to your question - how about the choice under race being "Human" and "Non Human" - but then, who would run the census?
- 1 decade ago
I read somewhere that the elderly Hispanic population of the USA actually fears the census. Our government is trying to educate/inform that part of the population so they can better understand and by doing so ease their minds.
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Question 8 asks if you are Hispanic or non-Hispanic. Question 9 asks your specific race if you are non-Hispanic.
GM, there's a space on question 8 to write in your Hispanic origin if you don't fit one of the larger categories.
- 1 decade ago
Obama is trying to find out where his new voter base will be.
j/k
It is stupid. Census is an important part of our nations history and shouldn't be boiled down to 5 questions.
- 1 decade ago
i'm a latina and the only choice were mexican, cuban, chicano, puerto rican, well not every latino out there is those races, i'm a proud Colombian
- 1 decade ago
"Belgian" isn't a race.
And there are a DOZEN races on the form:
- mooeyLv 41 decade ago
If you don't like it then don't fill it out. Why people complain about it is just silly.
