Frustrated with Census form. (salary, legally, stats)

[liloulou]

I just filled out my Census form and wow, I think this form is written very poorly... the first half of the question asks about skin color and the second part asks about ethnicity/origins (which are all part of the same question mind you). This doesn't make sense at all.

And in my family... I have someone who is a naturalized citizen from Africa, but he is not black. So, is he an African-American? Technically, yes. But on the census form, No, because that is linked with the Black race.

Plus there is no category for me to put him in... he is not white either. I had to write him in in Other.

And then how do I classify our children, who do not look white like me, and have double nationality? (Frustrated I just listed them as white, but it begs the question).

[Nancy in Nokomis]

I think you should call up the guberment census dept. and ask them - we pay their salary so they should help you out

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by liloulou

I just filled out my Census form and wow, I think this form is written very poorly... the first half of the question asks about skin color and the second part asks about ethnicity/origins (which are all part of the same question mind you). This doesn't make sense at all.

And in my family... I have someone who is a naturalized citizen from Africa, but he is not black. So, is he an African-American? Technically, yes. But on the census form, No, because that is linked with the Black race.

Plus there is no category for me to put him in... he is not white either. I had to write him in in Other.

And then how do I classify our children, who do not look white like me, and have double nationality? (Frustrated I just listed them as white, but it begs the question).

Your family member from Africa should probably go with the closest definition to his ethnicity. As I mentioned in another census thread, I haven't opened mine up yet. But if "check all that apply" is an option, I would use that for your children. Otherwise, I suppose "Other" is the best option there too.

[Stephen 81]

I can sympathize. My friends who are Arab or Persian never really know how to answer these questions, either. "Other Asian" seems very strange to someone from the Middle East, who doesn't really consider themselves Asian, and African-American isn't a great label to describe someone from Egypt, given that Americans typically use black and African-American as synonyms (as reflected in the Census).

I'm actually really surprised that after eight and a half years after 9/11, the government is still kind of clueless with regard to Americans from the Middle East and North Africa.

Also...sorry if you were referring to someone who was not an Arab from North Africa. Based on your "from Africa, but not black" comment, I just assumed. Anyways, there are many groups that are poorly defined by the 2010 census, you and your family are not alone!

[cb at sea]

Aside from that...they want a phone # in case they have "questions"....what could they POSSIBLY question on the form? Nuts!

[jeepejeep]

Are you aware that legally you are required to answer only the first 2 questions? That's all I answered and All I intend to answer.

[normie]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Aside from that...they want a phone # in case they have "questions"....what could they POSSIBLY question on the form? Nuts!

LOL, didn't you hear that's the newest plan for how to pay off our national debt? Sell the phone numbers fo telemarketers! (Yes, I'm joking...)

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by liloulou

I just filled out my Census form and wow, I think this form is written very poorly... the first half of the question asks about skin color and the second part asks about ethnicity/origins (which are all part of the same question mind you). This doesn't make sense at all.

And in my family... I have someone who is a naturalized citizen from Africa, but he is not black. So, is he an African-American? Technically, yes. But on the census form, No, because that is linked with the Black race.

Plus there is no category for me to put him in... he is not white either. I had to write him in in Other.

And then how do I classify our children, who do not look white like me, and have double nationality? (Frustrated I just listed them as white, but it begs the question).

Many of my friends are simply writing in "American" and refusing to answer the race question. Why does the government need to know that anyway? What difference does it make?

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

Are you aware that legally you are required to answer only the first 2 questions? That's all I answered and All I intend to answer.

Actually, that's wrong.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Many of my friends are simply writing in "American" and refusing to answer the race question. Why does the government need to know that anyway? What difference does it make?

Well we all know that NOVA is a rather ethnically and racially diverse region. I personally would be curious to know what the stats were for that. And with the influx of (legal) immigration, I think it would help to have a more accurate analysis of how things are trending.