Why does the census collect racial information

One-quarter of the space on this year’s census form is taken up with questions related to race and ethnicity.

Is that really any of the government’s business?

I recently heard a proposal which makes a lot of sense.

Question 9 on the census form asks “What is Person 1’s race?”

Despite the temptation to concoct some ridiculous answer to satisfy my frustration over the question being asked in the first place, lying in this constitutionally mandated process is wrong.

Instead, I will answer Question 9 by checking the last option — “Some other race” — and writing in “American.” It’s a truthful answer, but at the same time, it is a way for ordinary citizens to express their rejection of unconstitutional racial classification schemes.

In fact, “American” was the plurality ancestry selection for respondents to the 2000 census in four states and several hundred counties.

So remember: Question 9 — “Some other race” — “American”.

Category: Editorials