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02/08/2010: "Racially-Charged Word Included In 2010 Census"

FORT SMITH, Ark. --
In March, every U.S. household will have received a 2010 census form in the mail. The census is a time for U.S. residents to stand up and be counted to help determine how much money and other resources communities need. But this year, many Americans are questioning the use of one word many say is demeaning, even racist.

The census measures such things as shifts in population that can affect congressional districts. The data also influences how billions of federal dollars is allocated for local projects like hospitals, schools and roads.

This year's census is one of the shortest forms in history, and every American has to fill out the census form.

But it's question No. 9 that's getting a lot of attention. It asks about race, and one option is "Black, African American or Negro.""Why not leave it as African American? I think that would be more appropriate," said University of Arkansas at Fort Smith sociology professor Lonnie Watts.

Watts said the word "negro" is no longer appropriate in our country, and the word itself is racist."Can a word or the use of a word be racist?

Yes, it can," Watts said. "Words can hurt. Words can cut deeper than the sharpest knife. The Census Bureau said the word "negro" has been on the questionnaire since 1950.

They said it's not intended to offend anyone, but to be inclusive. In 2000 they said more than 50,000 people -- a majority from the South -- wrote in word "negro" under "other race" despite it being listed on the form. The government uses race data to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act, assess fairness of employment practices and monitor racial disparities in areas such as health and education.

"And I think in this particular case, I have no objection to the word 'negro' being on there," said Fort Smith resident Cecil Greene, Jr.

Greene attended segregated schools in Fort Smith in the 1940s."It was a different time. Fort Smith has not changed a whole lot physically.

Sociologically, it's undergone many positive changed since then," Greene said.Greene said he realizes a segment of the African American community objects to the use of the word "negro," but said it still has a positive standing."

There are a number of organizations -- namely the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. -- they've maintained that and the United Negro College Fund so the terms are still in use,"

Greene said. But, the word could soon be dropped by the census bureau, which said a test will be embedded in the 2010 form to measure the effect of removing the word "negro." Officials said the current wording is based on the U.S. Office of Management And Budget Standards.

Replies: 1 Comment

on Friday, February 12th, Ann said

Pretty soon the word "word" will be considered racist considering how blacks use it to exclaim a positive understanding of something.

ie:

Black person: "Whites are all racists!"

Another black person: "Word!"

Once too many whites use that term, as many already do, blacks will decide that saying "word!" is racist. Just wait and see...