- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 9 - 12 Months
2010 Census just upset me...
Choose your race:
[] Black, African-American, or Negro
Negro?! Are you serious? Who in the hell identifies as a freaking Negro? I don't want to check the box because I feel the need to specify that I am not a negro.
Maybe I should choose "Other" and write in the word "human". ugh....
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 2010 Census just upset me...
I also wrote down my official race but also noted human in other.
Their reason for using this word is ridiculous:
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/01/06/2010-01-06_census_negro_issue_use_of_word_on_forms_raises_hackles_memories_of_jim_crow.html
i seriously doubt it. Even my grandmother's birth certificate says "colored". There was not a point in history to my knowledge whre the word "negro" was not used in a negative way.
*photo removed*
That was the article I read.
I found this vague explanation on the census website.
Negro is Black in spanish, I just assumed that's what it meant. I didn't even think of the other meaning. I don't think they meant "Nee-gro" as the slang term, I pronounced it "Neg-ro" as in the spanish color black. Yikes am I wrong??? I'm sorry if that's the case, that's just bad on their part!
Did you read any of the comments? I was amazed at the poster who said there should only be two boxes for race on the census: "white" and "person of color".
Hmmm...I'm a huge advocate for gay rights but I don't see how this is relevant on the census. No where does it assume that you're straight, either.
::shrugs::
What surprised me is that you could only choose from "male" or "female". There should be additional options. I suppose one could leave it blank...
I had heard that reasoning as well. I'm not sure that I agree with it. Even if elderly African Americans identified themselves as Negro, wouldn't you think that if given the options currently on the form that they would choose "Black/African Am."? I just really don't understand why the word was included. I am Caucasian, but that wasn't on the form. So out of the options I was given, I chose "White". It just seems like a strange reason to include a word that has inflammatory undertones.
I have not seen the Census yet, but from you ladies are saying it seems that the Census still has a way to go. Personally, if I was in a group that was either not mentioned such as the LGTB community or what I view as a racist word was being used to identify me I would write all over it with a red marker adding my additions and mailing it back that way.
If they want all the people to fill it out then they need to include all people in a correct way.
I was thinking this, too.
Then I read that article about elderly African Americans writing in "Negro" on the 2000 census when it was left out.
Bronx Zoo: Summer 2013
To read my blog, click on the giraffe pic below!
You would think they would just leave it out and let the 50,000 write it in instead of being offensive to millions. I would guess there are less than 50,000 who would (or would want to) identify with that term in 2010. I also think it makes it seem like an acceptable term to use when it certainly is not.
There's no place for straight either
Good point, but does it ask if you are married? Again I have not seen the form yet, but if it ask if you are married then they are assuming you are straight (male and female).
There has been debate about that recently. They decided to leave it in there because some people do still prefer to define themselves as Negro. They said they'd leave it on this Census and see what the popularity of that answer is and consider taking it off the next one if it's unpopular.
It has been discussed. If you have a problem with it, cross it off. Chances are they didn't do it to make YOU mad.
I don't know why sexual orientation is even part of this discussion. It has nothing to do with the reasons behind the census.
Perhaps we should also ask people what side of the bed they sleep on, or whether they roll the toilet paper over or under.
lol. I see how that could be confusing. I too don't identify with being called African American because it isn't accurate. No one in my family has been to Africa in over 4 generations. We are a pretty diverse family including many ethnicities [white, hispanic, native american, etc.]. So I just prefer black. I was more upset over the word negro being used because I assume it would offensive to black americans and african americans. My grandparents were very involved in the civil rights movements and to see that word being used is a slap in the face to them. KWIM?
This is incorrect. Negro was at some point socially and politically correct. It's when it turned into the n-word that it became a negative moniker.
I'm sure they didn't do it to make ME mad but I'm pretty sure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that using the word Negro on a form is going to offend millions of people from different races.
thank you for clearing that up. I'm pretty sure the time you speak of was during slavery or immediately following.
Gay marriage is legal in my state...
Touche'.
I guess it depends on the state you live in, huh?
I actually commend the Census for trying to simplify the form when there are so many moving parts...I'm glad I'm not in charge of creating a form that really gets at everyone's individual situation!
Actually no, it was doing the time and at the height of the Civil Rights movement. I'm black, born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama - in those days referred to as Bombingham. My grandparents were involved in the movement as well. One set is from Selma - and participated in the March from there over the Edmund Pettis bridge to the state capital. They themselves told me in their day they were referred to by themselves and other people as Negros.
I'm not trying to offend or upset you, nor am I making a case for whether the term should or shouldn't be used on the census form. I'm just saying for every person you know that might be offended, I can probably name someone who wouldn't be, or better yet, may be offended at it's exclusion. It's just impossible to please everyone. That being said, I understand your position and I'm sorry that it upset you.
thank you for explaining that. i really appreciate you because i honestly didn't know how anyone could identify with the word negro. i'm still offended but it opens my eyes a little bit more.
I agree with this. It seems like adding this to the census to try to include everyone is going to offend more people then it includes. The small minority of people who would identify themselves as negro could just check other and write it in on the form.
This doesn't make sense, though. The N word has been around a LOT longer than 50 years.
I didn't say that it hadn't. I just simply meant that the negro word hasn't always been deragatory, and it wasn't just in the days of slavery and immediately afterwards that it was acceptable. Sorry I wasn't more clear.
In researching my family tree, I saw that the census' in the early 20s all said Negro. I wasn't sure if it was derogatory or not during that time.