Consider These Questions

How do census categories create identities for individuals?

Do the census categories match what you feel your racial/ethnic identity is?

What is the difference between an ethnic group and a race?

What is the difference between a biological and a cultural identity? How do you determine which is which? Is one more powerful/important than the other?

"...an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control was analyzing infant deaths, infants born from 1983 through 1985, and he found that many infants had a different race on their death certificate than they had on their birth certificate.... So researchers in epidemiology and health statistics were saying, 'We can't use these categories if people don't know how to use them in any kind of coherent and consistent way, if you're a different race when you're born than when you die.' "
— Evelynn Hammonds

  Primary Sources: Documents

(Click here for information on using primary source documents)

Office of Management and Budget Directive No. 15

This OMB document standardizes the collection of racial and ethnic information among federal agencies as required by Congress.

American Anthropological Association Response to Office of Management and Budget Directive 15

The professional organization of anthropologists responds to OMB Directive 15 and makes recommendations for changes to the 2010 Census.

American Anthropological Association Statement on "Race"

The AAA Executive Board gives an official statement of its position on "race."

Census Form from 1830

Census Form from 1890: Original Document | Printer-Friendly Version

Census Form from 1970: Original Document | Printer-Friendly Version

Census Form from 1990: Original Document | Printer-Friendly Version

Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 00-02

This bulletin establishes guidance for agencies that collect or use aggregate data on race.

Census 2000: "Race, Hispanic Origin, and Ancestry"

This document is an explanatory piece that accompanied the 2000 Census form.