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'Negro' Race Choice On Census Form Sparks Outrage
wcbstv ^ | 1/6/10 | Christine Sloan

Posted on 01/07/2010 12:00:04 AM PST by FromLori

Question #9 Causes Uproar, Asks For Citizens To Pick 'Black,' 'African American' Or 'Negro' From Same Box

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. Newark resident Jabbar Ali can't believe it.

"I thought it was something we left behind a long time ago – the word 'negro,'" said Ali.

Chanou Wilshire said the census form doesn't give her an option since it's got "African American," "black," and "negro" next to the same box.

"It's highly offensive," she told CBS 2.

But not everyone is offended.

"How you define yourself I guess is subjective. But for me, that on a form doesn't offend me at all," said Brooklyn resident Tiffany Campbell.

Others don't understand why the question of race has to come up on any form.

"I'm an American. What's wrong with just being an American?" asked Newark resident Derri Gowns.

Census bureau officials said they're preparing for the 2020 form, asking folks now in a questionnaire whether the word 'negro' should be removed.

What do you think about the word? Should it be removed? Vote in our poll on the right and leave your comments below!


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2010census; census; negro; outrage
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To: FromLori
United Negro College Fund
61 posted on 01/07/2010 6:53:04 AM PST by TornadoAlley3 (Obama is everything Oklahoma is not.)
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To: Salamander

Hey, at least the choices didn’t include “Darkie” or “Whitey.”


62 posted on 01/07/2010 7:59:41 AM PST by shibumi (" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
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To: dancusa

“…Most private sector job apps don’t ask for race. Government job apps always ask for race…”

Correct, this makes my point, however, every application is accompanied with some form of the following, Voluntary affirmative action information, Ethnicity and race identification, Race ID for governmental recordkeeping and reporting requirements, Self declaration of ethnic ID/Origins; and if you don’t provide such the employer becomes a government agent and gets to decide which group you belong,to for them; so every light skinned individual is white so far as they are concerned, such as being Moroccan, Spanish or ....


63 posted on 01/07/2010 8:00:33 AM PST by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
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To: shibumi

I’ll answer the “race” question if and only if they have a “Whitey” checkbox.


64 posted on 01/07/2010 8:01:33 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: MrB; Salamander

I guess if I wanted to be hyper-accurate I’d have to describe myself as “Kilted Honkey Amero-Centric WASP.”


65 posted on 01/07/2010 8:11:43 AM PST by shibumi (" ..... then we will fight in the shade.")
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To: shibumi

Always check “other”.


66 posted on 01/07/2010 8:12:52 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: FromLori
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
67 posted on 01/07/2010 12:50:15 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: EDINVA

United NEGRO College Fund — A word is a terrible thing to waste!


68 posted on 01/07/2010 12:51:52 PM PST by Mr. Wright
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To: Mr. Wright

now THAT’s funny !


69 posted on 01/07/2010 1:08:12 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: Salamander
LOL

I might put down "lichen." I'm pretty sure I am a symbiotic combination of two different organisms.

70 posted on 01/07/2010 1:08:40 PM PST by TigersEye (Tar & feathers! Pitchforks and torches! ... Get some while supplies last.)
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To: Huck
Or maybe write in “blanco”.

"Pisces" is another possibility. I prefer to identify with my cosmic essence and the government has no authority to tell me otherwise.

71 posted on 01/07/2010 1:31:04 PM PST by TigersEye (Tar & feathers! Pitchforks and torches! ... Get some while supplies last.)
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To: Nervous Tick
If pressed, I intend to say that in post racial America each of us is free to choose our race, and who has the right to tell me what it is?

No one, my FRiend. AFAIC "Grand Prix" and "America's Cup" are legitimate races too.

72 posted on 01/07/2010 1:36:00 PM PST by TigersEye (Tar & feathers! Pitchforks and torches! ... Get some while supplies last.)
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2422481/posts


73 posted on 01/07/2010 6:20:44 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Happy New Year! Freedom is Priceless.)
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To: FromLori

Interesting timing on this news story. Hmmm


74 posted on 01/10/2010 9:27:29 AM PST by TBall
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To: FromLori

What about the African-Africans who now live in this country? The ones who aren’t citizens? We demand ANOTHER box to check!


75 posted on 01/11/2010 7:59:22 AM PST by Darnright (There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive. - Tacitus)
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