There has been a lot of controversy surrounding question #9 on the 2010 census regarding race. Many were outraged when the census had an answer box, asking citizens if they were black, African-American, or negro. Some people do not find it a need to address their race, and will skip the question. Well some people, on the internet, are suggesting another idea of checking the “other” box, on question 9, and writing themselves as “American”.
According to Mark Krikorian of the National Review, he believes it’s an honest answer.
It’s a truthful answer but at the same time is a way for ordinary citizens to express their rejection of unconstitutional racial classification schemes. In fact, “American” was the plurality ancestry selection for respondents to the 2000 census in four states and several hundred counties.
Joe Snider of news-leader.com believes most people do not care how they are classified as, and this question will continue to divide our country.
“We don’t care!” When I make that statement, I’m not talking about white people, I’m talking about the American public in general. And I’ll go a step further to tell you that I have enough American Indian in me to make a case that I’m American Indian. The difference is that I don’t find a need to yell, “Look at me! Look at me!”I’m American and that’s the bottom line.
However as people are making a political statement with this idea, this could actually keep certain laws from being enforced. In a USA Today article, the reason that the census asks about a persons race is so that federal agencies have the information to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination laws such as the voting rights act, the civil rights act, fair employment practices, and affirmative action mandates.
So i want to ask : Do you agree with this movement, or do you believe this is silly and will you be honest with the Census form so that you’re counted?
