Is there a legitimate reason for US Census (or any other official) to ask about your ethnicity?

Question

If the US really wants to be color blind, is it necessary to ask whether you are white, black, hispanic, etc. etc? Why can't we just be citizens or aliens? By now there is such a mixture of 'ethnicities' in nearly everyone it doesn't really matter, does it? Perhaps we should be more specific and have to answer, "I am 33% black, 19% asian, 28% caucasion, 20% American Indian, etc. etc.

Answer 1

It is important to recognize cultural difference.

Instead of being a melting pot we should strive to be a salad bowl

- Melting pot- to be color blind, we are all equal no matter what, skin difference and culture do not make a difference
- Salad bowl - to respect each other and our differences, to acknowledge the differences of others and still live equally, all cultures are beautiful and do not have to become one

Having said that, the U.S. census is very limiting in it's racial standards. And to add to that they should allow us to self identify our ethnicity (some groups do not have that choice).

Answer 2

As a Public Health worker, I must tell you that it is very important for the US Census to collect information about race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity, as well as length of time in the US have proven, time and time again, to be confounding variables in research. These characteristics are also good markers for the presence or absence of certain risk factors.

There are some many GOOD reasons for getting information on race and ethnicity, in terms of Public Health and other Social Welfare programs, that I cannot list them all. Of course, there are bad reasons too. In this case, I believe the benefit outweighs the disadvantage, and this sort of information can help improve neighborhoods, create better plans for cities, integrate areas, etc.

Answer 3

if it is the census bureau, then i would say they have a legitimate reason. there are other government agencies that also have good reasons, but i take your point. i believe that the reason that this information is needed is to protect minorities by ensuring that people in those minorities are receiving the same privileges and punishments as the majority. i do agree, however, that the US might be better off if race were not considered, ever. for privilege or punishment. in a perfect world, people would just be people.

Answer 4

To some extent there would be a reason, motives being to check if you are an illegal alien in the country, your background check for security reasons to name only a few. But other than important things which affect countries as a whole, I don't see any real need why they should feel the need to gather that information.

Answer 5

amassing that variety of guidance facilitates the democrats of their ongoing attempt to be tolerant. Do they ask while you're registered to vote, What celebration? have self assurance me, the hot worldwide order will see to That one too! i'm Joking! that's superb to collect demographic guidance once you have a gamble. what variety of human beings stay the place. by way of fact at an analogous time as the government is meant to handle us the two, Wee ALL know that we basically are no longer equivalent. this is to no longer say that everybody is bigger Or Worse than everybody else, basically distinctive, and as a result no longer equivalent. we don't think of alike, like an analogous meals, music, God, way of existence, something! the government could desire to anticipate we are equivalent, yet reality is, we are no longer. i'm indignant that Hispanic gets that is own separate question. that's like they want to grant all and sundry all the probabilities they could to declare they're something as nicely white. Hispanic isn't a race! that's an ethnicity, or subculture! no longer A RACE! It says they want the archives to be sure investment for bilingual classes. this is a project! Q#9 lists some races on spectacular, yet seem on the backside at each of categories that could desire to be basically undeniable "Asian" this is greater "Liberalism run Amok"!

Answer 6

I doubt the inquiries esp by the Census is due to any racism but keeping track of the numbers and georgaphical locations also helps to make sure that resources and monies allocated to states,counties are distributed equally and not have larger shares going to "preferred" ethnic groups. Its also to assure that medical.social, educational resources are equally available to all.There are difference that do need to be addressed in reference to race as for instance studies show that African American women tend to get more of the harder to cure breast cancers and its only by identifying the underlying cause of this and other statistical facts can be determined.( the reason is that the easiest to cure is the estrogen induced breast cancer but African American Women tend to take less estrogen making them more at risk of getting the more difficult cancers to cure.-it also explains why more die of breast cancer)

Answer 7

until the late 1960's the country was legally segregated so they had a reason to keep the figures. Now I suppose its just a legacy, but it could be that they have to keep track in order to maintain white supremacy ... hmmmm.

Answer 8

u have a point. it shouldnt matter what race u are but i guess the reason they ask this stupid question is to see if some 1 is an "illegal alien".

Answer 9

I totally agree!

Answer 10

Not if race is just a social construct.