The United States Census is mandated by the United States Constitution and it has been issued every ten years to each U.S. household since 1790. The census allows the United States Census Bureau to compile and publish demographic, economic and social data about the people currently residing in United States of America. The Census Bureau then uses the published information to make plans for the residents of the U.S. From 1790-1810 the census only required the name of each head of household and in 1810 the census began requiring the head of household along with a list of property which included the number of slaves. In 1850 and 1860 the United States Census Bureau required slave owners to list their names along with the number of slaves by gender, age and race (black or mulatto). In 1870, the American Negro made its official debut on the census and those that could read and write were able to list their names.
Over the last 140 years the United States Census Bureau has used several racial terms to identify the American Negro. In the 1870 and 1880 census the term colored was used to identify the American Negro. In a report published after the 1950 census, the United States Census Bureau clearly defined the term color, "the term "color" refers to the division of population into two groups, white and nonwhite,"(1950 U.S. Census publication). One could assume that the "division" of population defined by the United States Census Bureau simply separates the population the U.S. serves (whites) and the population the U.S. has to specifically make plans for (nonwhites). In 1890 and 1900 the term color included all non-whites and the American Negro was specifically identified by the term Negro. Beginning with 1910, the 13th – 19th United States Censuses (1910-1970) would simply identify the American Negro as Negro on their questionnaire. Long after the civil rights movement and subsequently after the height of the black power movement the United States Census Bureau eliminated the term Negro from the questionnaire and replaced it with black, the new racial identifier for the American Negro. The term black would remain an identifying term for the American Negro until the premier of the politically correct term, African American at the turn of the 21st century on the 2000 United States Census.
2010 will mark the 14th time that the American Negro has legitimately counted by the United States Census. The 2010 Census will be the first time in the history of that the United States President is an African American. To some, the election of an African American president represents the post-racial society that Americans live in today. This post-racial society is a place where every American has equal rights and opportunity. For the upcoming 2010 Census, this post-racial society also represents a place for African Americans to count once more on the United States Census and they have refurbished an old term. In the past, some American Negroes have failed to identify themselves correctly and in order better serve United States residents and to accurately appropriate funds to serve its residents the United States Census Bureau simply wants you to check Negro please!
