US Census considers removing ‘Negro’ on questionnaire

Source: US Census

The U.S. Census Bureau is considering removing the term Negro from its form by 2020.

The Census Bureau has been considering within the last few years changing some minor aspects of the census in regards to racial classification, as more advocacy groups pushed for more updated racial categories to reflect current cultural trends. 

The term ‘Negro’ is listed as one of the racial categories on the questionnaire alongside black and African-American.

Many in the African-American community were shocked to learn that the term was going to be included in the 2010 Census form. 

The Census Bureau said the reason for keeping ‘Negro’ on the form for so long was due to a 2000 study which indicated a large portion of people chose to write ‘Negro’ as their race, which prompted the Bureau to keep the category.