Should Negro remain on the 2010 census?
(UPH) - The word "negro" has been on the U.S. census for decades...But, is it now time for it to be removed? You would think so by it being 2010 (for crying out loud).
Currently it is listed as one of many descriptive classifications to specify people of African decent. You would think that listing Black and African American would be sufficient enough for someone to identify his or her own race. In comparison, the "White" option has no other classifications. Perhaps, the Census people assume that blacks have an identity crisis therefore it is best to list as many descriptive names for their race as possible.
My thoughts are that this will swiftly go from being barely accepted to out-right offensive.
What is your take on this? Would you be ok with the government labeling you as a Negro?
Currently it is listed as one of many descriptive classifications to specify people of African decent. You would think that listing Black and African American would be sufficient enough for someone to identify his or her own race. In comparison, the "White" option has no other classifications. Perhaps, the Census people assume that blacks have an identity crisis therefore it is best to list as many descriptive names for their race as possible.
My thoughts are that this will swiftly go from being barely accepted to out-right offensive.
What is your take on this? Would you be ok with the government labeling you as a Negro?
Recently, I found the 2010 Census form hanging on my door. As I began filling it out, I came across a dilemma. The U.S. government wants to know if my children are adopted or not and it wants to know what our races are. Being adopted myself, I had to put “Other” and “Don’t Know Adopted” for my race and “Other” and “Don’t Know” for my kids’ races.
Can you imagine not knowing your ethnicity, your race? Now imagine walking into a vital records office and asking the clerk for your original birth certificate only to be told “No, you can’t have it, it’s sealed.”
How about being presented with a “family history form” to fill out at every single doctor’s office visit and having to put “N/A Adopted” where life saving information should be?
Imagine being asked what your nationality is and having to respond with “I don’t know”.
It is time that the archaic practice of sealing and altering birth certificates of adopted persons stops.
Adoption is a 5 billion dollar, unregulated industry that profits from the sale and redistribution of children. It turns children into chattel who are re-labeled and sold as “blank slates”.
Genealogy, a modern-day fascination, cannot be enjoyed by adopted persons with sealed identities. Family trees are exclusive to the non-adopted persons in our society.
If adoption is truly to return to what is best for a child, then the rights of children to their biological identities should NEVER be violated. Every single judge that finalizes an adoption and orders a child’s birth certificate to be sealed should be ashamed of him/herself.
I challenge all readers: Ask the adopted persons that you know if their original birth certificates are sealed.
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Mara, thanks for offering your experiences on this matter. I couldn't imagine being in the dark about my ethnicity and race. But, I would presume that it is comparable in some ways to not knowing your ancestry. Either way, it is not a desirable situation.
Also, I've never thought of adoption being a profitable industry. That is an interesting perspective that many people may not be aware of. Would you have any suggestions on how to properly regulate the adoption industry?
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