WI Faith Voices for Justice
  • Home
    • Newsletter
    • About >
      • Programs >
        • Dane Sanctuary Coalition
        • Interfaith Community Building
        • Advocacy Workshop
        • Minimum Wage Challenge
        • Poverty Simulation
      • Sacred Site Visits
    • Annual Reports
    • Blog
    • Contact
  • Donate
  • Annual Celebration
    • A Voice for Justice Award
  • 2023 Ramadan Iftar

Should Race Be on the Census?

11/27/2019

0 Comments

 
Questions about race have appeared on the U.S. Census since 1790. But should race be a question on the census?  The Science Museum of Minnesota’s exhibit on race asks this question. The exhibit notes “Keeping the question about race on the U.S. Census helps reinforce misconceptions. But removing the question would make it hard to track and correct racial discrimination.  What should we do?”
 
The U.S. Census Bureau says  “Local, state, tribal, and federal programs use these data, and they are critical factors in the basic research behind numerous policies, particularly for civil rights. Race data are used in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for specific groups. These data are also used to evaluate government programs and policies to ensure that they fairly and equitably serve the needs of all racial groups and to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination laws, regulations, and policies.” Read more about how data on race is used here.
 
However, as the Science Museum exhibit notes, the way the question is worded on the Census is confusing and inconsistent, sometimes using skin color and sometimes tribal or national identities as categories.  The questions on Hispanic (sic) identity is confusing and leaves many unsure how to answer.
 
What do you think? Should the Census continue to ask about race? If so, should the current question remain as is? What do you think? Find the question on Hispanic (sic) identity and the question on race below.
 
Or should the question be simplified, with just six broad categories asking about population group rather than race, and alphabetized, so ‘white’ is not privileged at the top?  Alternatively, should people be given the option of filling in a blank to give their own self-identity?  Or should the question be eliminated altogether? 
 
Please post your comments below and we will share them in our next e-newsletter.
 
For more information on the history of the race on the Census, see: Smithsonian Magazine, “How the U.S. Census Defines Race” By Erin Blakemore, Nov. 9, 2015.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    about

    The latest news from WFVJ, contributed by board members, interns, members, and friends.  
    Share your experiences with our Minimum Wage Challenge and discuss other economic justice issues.

    Archives

    January 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    Economic Justice
    Living Wage
    Minimum Wage Challenge
    #raisethewage


    Follow WFVJ's blog by clicking on the RSS Feed below:

    RSS Feed

Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice | Moving from Charity to Justice
c/o Madison Christian Community
7118 Old Sauk Road
Madison, WI 53717
608-513-7121
wifaithvoices4justice@gmail.com
Website managed by Rooted Consulting
Picture