STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Census Considers Adding Latino Category, Removing "Negro"

The U.S. Census Bureau is considering some minor changes to its forms that may have a major impact on how Latinos fit into the racial fabric of the country.

In the past, America’s method of defining race was skin deep. However, the oversimplification of such a nuanced concept has left many Latinos and other people of mixed-race origin stuck between Black and white. The inability to stuff race within these two categories resulted in more than one-third of the country’s Latinos skipping the Black/white question on Census forms in 2010.

Now, the U.S. Census Bureau is considering some minor changes to its forms that may have a major impact on how Latinos fit into the racial fabric of the country. The Seattle Times writes:

“… the U.S. Census Bureau is researching ways to clear up the confusion by adding Latino or Hispanic to a list of government-defined race categories that includes White, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black and American Indian, along with a 'two or more races' option.

"The bureau is also considering an end to use of the term Negro, which is listed alongside black and African American on the form. And it's floating the idea of allowing people from the Middle East and North Africa, now counted as white, to write in their country of origin.

"[…] Luis Fraga, a political-science professor at the University of Washington who directs its Diversity Research Institute, said, 'Identifying ourselves by racial grouping is at the very core of who we are as a nation and how we understand political power.'"

Read the full story here.

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.  

(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.