The US Census: How accurate is it?

[straightBOS]

Originally posted by BLUTANG
However, in my opinion it's better than nothing.

I agree 100%.

The census is only as accurate as the people who take-- or choose not to take it.

I think that most mixed race people who also include Black are considered Black because there is the assumption that their outward appearance may make them appear to be Black. We of course vary tremedously in terms of skin shade, but at some point the census has to make some sort of decision. Remember, we are not ONLY looking at a simple head count. The census decides how congressional lines are drawn, how money is spent is allocated, etc. So, if a town is 50% Black, 20% white and 30% other, what does that mean?

Also, most non-Blacks do classify themsleves as white partly because there may not be these same racial questions in their countries. As far as they know, they are not of African-descent, they may come from the "continent" of Europe, so, when posed with this question, they choose white.

India, is considered a sub-continent, and is usually not mentioned when one speaks of Asia, so it might be difficult for Indians to consider themselves to be Asian. So, with no other alternative, they choose white.

If we want broader acceptance of racial categories, then these new categories have to importance greater than just who lives here.