Should I be offended by the 'negro' option on the 2010 Census form?

[Liberal_in_LA]

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Isn't the option Black/African American/Negro?

[damntexdem]

11. It's a little surprising; but the issue is to get responses.

If some African Americans prefer the term 'Negro,' then they should be encouraged to respond to the category by using the term they prefer.

[yellowcanine]

2. I thought that was put back on the Census form because of complaints from older African Americans

who wanted that option? I could be wrong but I think that is what happened.

[Richardo]

3. Be offended by anything you want, if that's what makes you happy.

Why do you need our permission?

[el_bryanto]

4. Perhaps he or she is looking for a reason not to be offended

seeking wisdom from otheres - not an unreasonable thing to do.

Bryant

[Richardo]

9. Either you are or you are not.

Others can explain the rationale behind the 'offense' and the offendee can decide if this makes a difference in their reaction.

Which would mean a question more like: "The word 'Negro' on the Census offends me. Why did they use that outdated term in this day and age?"

It just seems to me that too many people these days are LOOKING for reasons to take offense at something.

[prolesunited]

12. Hahaha

So many people here are perpetually offended. Think of the thread jams it would cause if they all felt they needed permission.

[enlightenment]

5. No, unless you really feel like being offended - it is added for a reason.

A few years ago, my household was 'selected' to do a year-long census related thing (tracking usage of goods, etc. Rather interesting). A census worker called/visited every month. In the first interview and application, we asked about the usage of terms that seemed very out-dated and she explained that the government includes them because there are still people who use those terms to describe themselves - as shocking as that may seem to some.

That said, I don't think it's particularly necessary to add it - even an older person who may still self-identify as 'negro' is aware of the more modern terminology.

[99 Percent Sure]

6. No. I'm black and I'm not offended. "People of color" and "colored"

are much more offensive, IMO.

[NeedleCast]

7. If you're looking for a reason to be offended

I'm sure you'll find one.

[branders seine]

8. only if you're a Polack.

[Turbineguy]

10. Not any more than I should be over

the "Cracker" designation.

Oh, wait....

[prolesunited]

13. Census forms undergo extensive testing

to get the most accurate results. They try to use words and descriptions that people are comfortable and familiar with. As was pointed out up thread, negro is a word older generations use.

[flamin lib]

14. Two cents worth from someone who studied linguistics and

semantics at the graduate level. Linguistics is the study of how words develop and semantics is the study of how words are used and understood.

In the 17th century the races were "scientifically" categorized as:
Caucasoid
Mongoloid
Ethiopian
American Indian
Malayan

In the 18th century Ethiopian gave way to Negroid.

The 19th century got really complicated when facial characteristics and behavioral patterns were added to skin color to micro categorize populations.

Currently the recognized terms for the three largest racial groupings is:
Caucasoid (Caucasian)
Mongoloid (Mongol, most far eastern races and native Americans)
Negroid (Negro)

Hispanic is a subset of Caucasian; technically Caucasian but an ethnic variation counted separately because of a unique shared heritage. Asian is a subset of Mongoloid counted separately for the same reason.

In the context of the Census these are simply descriptors with no additional meaning. That's Linguistic. In the context of every day conversation it depends on who uses the word and the inflection with which it is spoken. That's semantic; how words are used and how we react to them.

As a sidenote when I was a youngster in the '50s I knew an older woman who epitomized the southern belle. She would not use the word "nigger" as it was deemed crude but couldn't use the word negro because it might confer too much. The accepted term in "polite circles" was Nigra. That is linguistics AND semantics; the evolution of words in spelling, pronunciation, usage and in this case, thankfully, extinction.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. Interesting...thanks for the background

[flamin lib]

17. I was a bit afraid I'd take some flames for the language and

the "apology" for what some may see at offensive language.

Not all the way to only content of character yet, but getting farther away from only color of skin and what a long strange trip it's been.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Not only that but when people get offended by the word

I like to point out to the "I have a Dream" speech.

It was in widespread use until the black power movement took over from the Civil Rights movement, oh about 1968, right after (soon after) King's death.

Oh and I forgot, it was a term of pride too

[REP]

16. In the 50s

My mother saw a teacher beat a child for calling a black woman a lady.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. No, they gave a very good reason for it being there

mostly really older African Americans who still self identify as Negro, and did not answer the census ten years ago.

They hope to be able to get rid of the term by 2020