The U.S. Census Bureau must adhere to the 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity which guide the Census Bureau in classifying written responses to the race question:
White– A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
Black or African American– A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
American Indian or Alaska Native– A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Asian– A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander– A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
The 1997 OMB standards permit the reporting of more than one race. An individual’s response to the race question is based upon self-identification.
An individual’s response to the race question is based upon self-identification. The Census Bureau does not tell individuals which boxes to mark or what heritage to write in. For the first time in Census 2000, individuals were presented with the option to self-identify with more than one race and this continued with the 2010 Census. People who identify with more than one race may choose to provide multiple races in response to the race question. For example, if a respondent identifies as "Asian" and "White," they may respond to the question on race by checking the appropriate boxes that describe their racial identities and/or writing in these identities on the spaces provided.
What is Race?
The data on race were derived from answers to the question on race that was asked of individuals in the United States. The Census Bureau collects racial data in accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and these data are based on self-identification.
The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. People may choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as “American Indian” and “White.” People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.
OMB requires five minimum categories: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Reasons for Collecting Information on Race
Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. States use these data to meet legislative redistricting principles. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.
Contact Us
For assistance, please contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll free) or visit ask.census.gov for further information.
As an expert in the field of demography and the sociology of race and ethnicity, my understanding and insights are shaped by extensive research and analysis of census data, policies, and their implications. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the historical and sociopolitical dimensions of racial and ethnic categorization, particularly in the United States. This is evidenced by my familiarity with key legislative and policy changes over time, and how these have shaped data collection and interpretation in the realm of demography.
The 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity, which guide the U.S. Census Bureau, are a critical focal point in understanding how racial and ethnic data are collected and classified. These standards are not just bureaucratic tools; they reflect complex social and political negotiations over identity, recognition, and resource allocation.
The categories outlined by the OMB and used in the Census - White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - are socially constructed. This means they are not based on any scientific understanding of biological or genetic differences but are instead formed through historical, cultural, and political processes. The inclusion of a category reflects the recognition of that group's social and political significance in the U.S. context.
The OMB's allowance for the reporting of more than one race in the Census, starting in 2000, was a significant shift. It acknowledged the increasing diversity and complexity of racial identities in the United States. This multiracial reporting is a recognition of the growing number of individuals who identify with more than one racial group, reflecting changes in societal attitudes and the increasing visibility of multiracial individuals and communities.
The principle of self-identification is central to racial data collection in the Census. This approach respects individual agency and acknowledges the subjective nature of racial identity. It differs markedly from historical approaches where race was often ascribed by observers based on physical appearance or other arbitrary criteria.
Understanding what race represents in the Census is crucial. It is a social, not a biological, concept. The categories are designed to capture the diversity of the U.S. population as it is socially recognized. They are used for various purposes, including enforcing civil rights legislation, creating and implementing public policy, and allocating resources. For example, racial data are essential in areas like redistricting, affirmative action, and health research.
The Census Bureau’s role in collecting this data is not just administrative but also a significant aspect of shaping how the United States understands and responds to its demographic diversity. The Census Bureau, by providing these categories and allowing self-identification, is enabling a more nuanced understanding of the American populace, which is essential for effective policy-making and representation.
Finally, it's important to recognize that while these categories are necessary for practical and policy purposes, they can sometimes oversimplify the rich and complex realities of racial and ethnic identity. As a demographer, it's crucial to approach these data with an understanding of their limitations as well as their utility.
