Census, Racial Classifications, and Policy

SOC Final Exam

Why does the U.S. Census collect racial and ethnic data?

To reflect social definitions of race (not biological ones) and to inform public policy, civil rights enforcement, and resource allocation

How did early U.S. Census categories classify race?

Early censuses (e.g., 1890) used fractional classifications like mulatto, quadroon, and octoroon, reinforcing the one-drop rule—a concept mostly applied to Black Americans.

How has racial classification in the Census evolved in the modern era?

The modern Census allows individuals to self-identify across multiple racial categories and treats Hispanic/Latino origin as separate from race

What did the 1923 Supreme Court case U.S. v. Bhagat Singh Thind determine about race and citizenship?

Even though Thind was scientifically considered Caucasian, the Court denied him citizenship based on public perception of whiteness, showing the social—not scientific—basis of racial categories.

Why did organizations like LULAC advocate for Mexicans to be legally considered white in the early 20th century?

To obtain legal protections and avoid discriminatory laws by aligning with a racial category that had more legal rights.

What policy areas are directly impacted by racial classification in Census data?

• Voting rights enforcement

• Education equity and funding

• Housing discrimination laws

• Healthcare access

• Civil rights protections

How do courts determine if a group needs legal protection based on race?

By looking at real-world evidence of discrimination (e.g., school segregation, business practices), as seen in O’Flaherty’s account of anti-Mexican bias in Texas.

What were key demographic shifts revealed by the 2010 Census?

• Hispanic/Latino population reached 16.3%, with over half identifying as white and 36.7% as "some other race"

• Asian American population grew by 46%, the fastest among all racial groups

• 13% of U.S. residents were foreign-born, including a wide range of legal statuses

What are some specific uses of Census data in public policy?

• Health: targeting services like insurance and elder care

• Housing: determining public housing needs and fair access

• Education: allocating school funds and language supports

• Civil rights: monitoring discrimination and enforcing protections

• Social support programs: ensuring equitable access to programs like Social Security and Medicare