Posted on 02/25/2013 5:06:13 PM PST by ConservativeStatement
WASHINGTON After more than a century, the Census Bureau is dropping its use of the word "Negro" to describe black Americans in surveys.
Instead of the term that came into use during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation, census forms will use the more modern labels "black" or "African-American".
The change will take effect next year when the Census Bureau distributes its annual American Community Survey to more than 3.5 million U.S. households, Nicholas Jones, chief of the bureau's racial statistics branch, said in an interview.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
And how are the census folks going to know this just by surname?
Not trying to argue, just trying to follow your logic. ;-)
My grandmother was Dutch...
No legitimate reason exists for identifying races and ethnicities -- but plenty of illegitimate reasons are around: gerrymandering of electoral districts; encouraging claims of "victimization"; racial considerations when drawing public school attendance zones; and more.
What if we stopped? What if the Federal Government simply stopped keeping records of color, race, and ethnic origin? Wouldn't we take a big step away from racial discrimination if we just stopped keeping records of race?
Also, keep in mind that there's a practical impediment to keeping records of race: the increasing population of people of mixed race. President Obama, Tiger Woods, and many others fall into this category. I remember my late grandmother, when she would see a mixed-race couple, saying with some disdain that "some day we'll all be café au lait." I tend to agree with her conclusion, but not her disdain.
So, is a person who is part "black," part "white," part Latino, and part Asian considered a "minority" for purposes of drawing school zones and Congressional Districts? What about "Native Americans"? What about Muslims -- Sunnis, Shi'ites, Caucasian or "black" converts? Are they entitled to some sort of protected status, or consideration when electoral boundaries are drawn?
Stop the madness. Just stop. No good can come from the government taking note of race or ethnicity.
Will Cablanasian be a choice?
I’m not sure what you mean about the census,however the slave toke the name of the slave owners last name. Being that they were his property, and all. Notice all the Jefferson’s,Washington’s,etc.
I was just curious as to when the classification of people by skin color began to be seen as important. In a melting pot it seems maybe out of place unless politically motivated.
Uh, isn’t “negro” Spanish or Latin for “black”? What’s the difference?
I am STILL awaiting a Census Question that asks "how long have you been on Welfare?" or "Have you EVER held a real job in your life?"....but....that would be "Racist"
After Emancipation the freed slaves were also able to take a new name if they wished. Generally that of a famous person. Just a little more FYI. ;)
Or "darkie" when mom was around.
In one of the WPA oral histories of ex-slaves, a man who had not had a surname as a slave explained how he chose his. He had always heard the white folks talking about Jeff Davis, so he figured Davis was a good name and picked that.
Some of the freedmen kept their existing surnames (not always that of their most recent owner) but many chose a different surname.
How about “Natural Born Democrats”.
“Are they keeping Cracker-Americans?”
No. They are changing that to Peckerwoods.
I just received my warning letter that I got picked. Should I fill it out? Or start the woodstove with it?
Actually, back in the late 60’s and early 70’s it was not considered a racial slur. It really was the preferred and like I said ‘fashionable’ term used mostly by hippy-types. “Darkie” always had a racist overtone, but ‘spades’ was never used that way. It was superceded by “afro-american,” eventually, but yea, it wasn’t uncommon at all. Surely some others on this forum remember.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for Beowolf O’Schultz!
I can't remember the details but there was an event somewhere in America a few years ago where the guest speaker was someone from South Africa and yup.... got introduced as a South African African American.
Jefferson Davis. Lol.
...Census Bureau distributes its annual American Community Survey to more than 3.5 million U.S. households....
&&&
Don’t even think about sending one here. We are not required by the Constitution to answer that nonsense.
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