I found it interesting to read a piece of copy recently published by the San Antonio Express-News 
newspaper on their website about the “evolution,” so to speak, of the Census with regards to Latinos.
It seems that the Census Bureau (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sacultura/85281612.html) has always been a bit confused about how to think of the Latino population that in recent years has started a growth pattern making it a significant part of our society.
PART OF IT seems to be a desire on the part of some to think of the Latino population as somehow being separate from the rest of the country’s population. But a big part of the confusion seems to come from the fact that some people think of ethnicity, while others think primarily of race.
That makes coming up with questions about the composition of the U.S. population difficult, since we’re not all addressing the same issue.
Much has been made of the Census form that will be sent out to people in about three weeks, with many ethnic groups concerned that the current set-up does not give them specific options to account for who they are.
People who actually originate from the African continent, or those who come from Caribbean nations who do not consider themselves to be Latino, have been among the most outspoken on this point. To them, identification as “African-American” somehow seems too vague.
THEN, THERE WILL be those of us who have no problem marking “yes” to the question of whether Hispanic/Latino applies to us. That question is asked of everybody, with people who respond positively then being asked to answer a sub-question that gets to our specific ethnicity.
When I fill out my Census form, I will mark “yes,” then put a check in the box that identifies Mexico as the place of origin for my family (three of my four grandparents were born there and came to this country some 80 years ago, so I think that qualifies as an accurate answer).
Personally, I think that provides adequate information in terms of identifying myself. But that makes me a person who thinks primarily in terms of ethnicity, while the Census is going to want to know about race.
Throughout the years, the Census used to automatically label everybody of Latino ethnic backgrounds as “Mexican,” then later adjusted that to say that “Mexican” ethnicity was “white” racially (which I’m sure offends the sensibilities of the bigots of our society, not that I care much).
IN RECENT YEARS, those of us who say “yes” to being Hispanic/Latino are given a chance to say for ourselves what “race” we think we are, although it appears we can’t agree on that issue – largely because it is not a simple black/white choice.
I expect this year’s Census to produce “racial” results similar to the last Census in 2000 – 48 percent of those people who said they were Hispanic/Latino said they were “white,” while 42 percent marked “other,” then used the space provided for an explanation to complain that “Hispanic/Latino” was not considered a “race” in and of itself.
As much as I support the idea that Latino doesn’t just get lumped into the mass of white people, I’d have to say it is accurate not to consider it a separate race. Because anybody who seriously looks at a group of us is not going to see a group of Pancho Villa clones.
I have known people whose ethnic origins trace to Latin American countries who span the range of skin tones. We truly have people of all races among us. In fact, I’d guess most of us are a racial mixture, even if many of us don’t want to have to admit to that fact.
IN ALL HONESTY, I’m still not sure how to fill out the form, even though the last Census in my home community resulted in a Census-taker coming to my home, looking at me and making the judgment that I was “white,” even though she told me she thought it would not be unreasonable for “Latino” to be separate. This time, I hope to be able to fill out the form and leave it at that, although I’m still bantering about the “racial” categories that just don’t seem to apply.
For me, the relevant part will be where I identify my ethnic background. I’m sure there are many Latinos who will feel the same way. Even if they can’t enjoy the pleasures of being of Mexican ethnicity that I can, I’m sure they feel equally as proud of being of Puerto Rican or Cuban or whatever national background they have.
If it means that the reality of our society’s composition these days doesn’t let us all fit into the half-dozen racial categories that the Census Bureau has concocted to try to define us, then perhaps that is the fault of the Census.
Because it sure isn’t our fault for being who we are.
-30-
newspaper on their website about the “evolution,” so to speak, of the Census with regards to Latinos.It seems that the Census Bureau (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sacultura/85281612.html) has always been a bit confused about how to think of the Latino population that in recent years has started a growth pattern making it a significant part of our society.
PART OF IT seems to be a desire on the part of some to think of the Latino population as somehow being separate from the rest of the country’s population. But a big part of the confusion seems to come from the fact that some people think of ethnicity, while others think primarily of race.
That makes coming up with questions about the composition of the U.S. population difficult, since we’re not all addressing the same issue.
Much has been made of the Census form that will be sent out to people in about three weeks, with many ethnic groups concerned that the current set-up does not give them specific options to account for who they are.
People who actually originate from the African continent, or those who come from Caribbean nations who do not consider themselves to be Latino, have been among the most outspoken on this point. To them, identification as “African-American” somehow seems too vague.
THEN, THERE WILL be those of us who have no problem marking “yes” to the question of whether Hispanic/Latino applies to us. That question is asked of everybody, with people who respond positively then being asked to answer a sub-question that gets to our specific ethnicity.
When I fill out my Census form, I will mark “yes,” then put a check in the box that identifies Mexico as the place of origin for my family (three of my four grandparents were born there and came to this country some 80 years ago, so I think that qualifies as an accurate answer).
Personally, I think that provides adequate information in terms of identifying myself. But that makes me a person who thinks primarily in terms of ethnicity, while the Census is going to want to know about race.
Throughout the years, the Census used to automatically label everybody of Latino ethnic backgrounds as “Mexican,” then later adjusted that to say that “Mexican” ethnicity was “white” racially (which I’m sure offends the sensibilities of the bigots of our society, not that I care much).
IN RECENT YEARS, those of us who say “yes” to being Hispanic/Latino are given a chance to say for ourselves what “race” we think we are, although it appears we can’t agree on that issue – largely because it is not a simple black/white choice.
I expect this year’s Census to produce “racial” results similar to the last Census in 2000 – 48 percent of those people who said they were Hispanic/Latino said they were “white,” while 42 percent marked “other,” then used the space provided for an explanation to complain that “Hispanic/Latino” was not considered a “race” in and of itself.
As much as I support the idea that Latino doesn’t just get lumped into the mass of white people, I’d have to say it is accurate not to consider it a separate race. Because anybody who seriously looks at a group of us is not going to see a group of Pancho Villa clones.
I have known people whose ethnic origins trace to Latin American countries who span the range of skin tones. We truly have people of all races among us. In fact, I’d guess most of us are a racial mixture, even if many of us don’t want to have to admit to that fact.
IN ALL HONESTY, I’m still not sure how to fill out the form, even though the last Census in my home community resulted in a Census-taker coming to my home, looking at me and making the judgment that I was “white,” even though she told me she thought it would not be unreasonable for “Latino” to be separate. This time, I hope to be able to fill out the form and leave it at that, although I’m still bantering about the “racial” categories that just don’t seem to apply.
For me, the relevant part will be where I identify my ethnic background. I’m sure there are many Latinos who will feel the same way. Even if they can’t enjoy the pleasures of being of Mexican ethnicity that I can, I’m sure they feel equally as proud of being of Puerto Rican or Cuban or whatever national background they have.
If it means that the reality of our society’s composition these days doesn’t let us all fit into the half-dozen racial categories that the Census Bureau has concocted to try to define us, then perhaps that is the fault of the Census.
Because it sure isn’t our fault for being who we are.
-30-
1 comments:
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