12.3 – Think and Apply Activity 1
The history of racial identities and ethnicities in the United States affects the categories we use for ourselves today (and might be seen differently in other countries or across different groups). We often see these categories on forms and applications that connect us to different opportunities, depending on how this information is used. Let’s look at one example.
U.S. Census Activity
1) What is a “census”? What do you know about it? Have you ever completed one in the U.S. or in another country?
Look at the U.S. Census Activity handout. In the U.S., the census is conducted every ten years and is an attempt to count all the people in the country. The census is not only a count of people, but a way to collect other data about who is living in the United States. What other types of data do you think may be collected on the census?
2) Read and try to complete these two census questions from the 2020 U.S. Census:
3) In partners or small groups, review these definitions of race, ethnicity, and culture. Would add anything to them?
4) Then, discuss and answer the four questions below (there are no correct or incorrect answers). Share your thoughts with the whole class.
- Looking at all of the choices in the two census questions, was it easy or difficult for you and others in your group to select which categories to pick for yourselves?
- Why does the Census Bureau ask about race and ethnicity? Is it important to ask about a person’s race and ethnicity? Why or why not?
- Is there a better way to ask about a person’s background with regard to race and ethnicity?
- What about your home country/countries? What do they ask on the census about race?
