2010 Census : Race=Deaf?
What is “Race”?
There are several noun definition for the word race. You have race meaning a contest of speed or action of running, and so on.
The race I am referring to in this post applies to human breeds.
Let’s look at the definition as per Merriam-Webster, alright?
Race (noun)
1 a breeding stock of animals
2 a : a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock b : a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics
3 a : an actually or potentially interbreeding group within a species; also : a taxonomic category (as a subspecies) representing such a group b : breed c : a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits
4 obsolete : inherited temperament or disposition
5 : distinctive flavor, taste, or strength
The race I’m more alluding to are subsection of number 2 and number 3.
A family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock and a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits. This, I am positive that the Census Bureau was thinking of when the question of ‘race’ was decided to be used on the Census form. We’re either white, black, brown, yellow or red. hmm, I suppose there’s complications right there, heh.
Nah, I guess not necessarily so…
Since I am going to be now referring to the 2010 Census’s definition of ‘race’, we should be intelligent enough to understand that when it comes to government, they have definition for every word they purposely use. So, let’s try to think like the Feds here, huh?
More specifically, as smart Americans we should be referring to the 2010 Census Questionnaire Reference Book.
ya, duh, yah!
Ok, here goes….drum roll…ta da! Definition of ‘Race’ is…
…collapsed into the five minimum race groups identified by the OMB, and the Census Bureau’s “Some other race” category.
Furthermore!
The racial categories included in the following text generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country, and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically or genetically.
There ya go, it does not mean we can write in ‘deaf’ in that area. I hope this clears things up.
Be sure to read the PDF, go to page 27 that explains it and if any of y’all deaf people decide to write in ‘deaf’, you’re sure gonna look stupid for not following definition and then all this crap about deaf people having a fourth grade level of reading is gonna crop up again. Ya don’t want that do you? Nah, you don’t. Read up and complete the census the right way, alright?!
Comment section here will be open for a short time (for the next 24 hours) since I’m flying out to Rio and will be unable to respond. At the end of this 24 hour period, the comment section will be closed. Until that happens, you may comment until the deadline (3/21/2010 @ 2100) at which time you can open up discussions at your own blog or forum or prior to, whichever rocks your boat. I strongly suggest that this content be enlightened among your deaf and hard of hearing friends so that they are aware of the implications their census answers would reflect among their kind.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNSPG2oTCJY]
Your post is not much help because it came too late for me.
I returned the Census form just yesterday. I declared to be of the “Homosapian” race, subgroup “Caucasian-Negroid-Mongoloid” and of the sub-subgroup “Blue-Eyed”. You think that I covered it so that I will be counted? Of course you are not expecting me to tell that I am an extraterrestrial who has been breeding with humans.
I double checked the questionnaire reference on page 27 and determined that you may have filled it out correctly. I’m going to presume that “some other race” would most definitely include races such as yours which I find extremely, intriguingly fascinating!
It is possible that you are an extraterrestrial who has been breeding with humans. But, I won’t tell. I promise. Besides, the Census Bureau stated that Federal Law protects your answers and it’s confidential and will not be revealed for another 72 years.
Some other race category was meant for people like YOU! (I think) But, unfortunately they’re not meant for someone that just happen to be deaf and non white, non black, non African American, non negro, non American Indian, non Alaska Native, non Asian Indian, non Chinese, non Filipino, non other Asian, non Japanese, non Korean, non Vietnamese, non Native Hawaiian, non Guamanian or Chomorro, non Samoan, nor non other Pacific Islanders, or a combination of one or more of the aforementioned race.
If you’re not white nor black, you’re VERY important to the government of the US of A.
Lol, you’ve been reading Shel’s blog. The d/Deaf in Canada are disability and racial groups both, according to a Deaf Expert in Canada. I can understand disability group, which is NOT in the USA census, but not racial group, as Shel proclaims. This is PC taken too far, IMO.
Ann_C, lol, no, actually I viewed one of Ridor’s older vlog over at youtube which was aired sometimes last week or so. He mentioned that he had just completed his 2010 Census and pondered if he should put down ‘deaf’ in the “some other race” category. I was like, huh? deaf as in race? I had to fill mine out today before I go down to Rio, so I looked it up further.
This must be some kind of deafhood dogma or something or the other?
I didn’t bother to read all of Shel’s post because it is regarding Canadians view. Their laws are different. Now that you mentioned what her post was about, hmm. That explains it, perhaps. And is probably why deaf Americans shouldn’t read into Canadian’s posts too much.
I sent the form off a week ago, so I’m not sure about this. But, I believe there was a question about the PRIMARY LANGUAGE used in your household. If that is ASL, you can put that down to be counted as Deaf in the Census.
Interesting ! Now if someone can explain to officialdom what a deaf person actually IS….. oops that might take another 10 years….:)
Ken Rose, Well, I have not seen the census form yet, but overall there are two primary language in the USA — Spanish and English.
It does not have to be put down an ASL in the form if you are an interpreter, Ken. If you are *NOT* chinese, but you speak and write in Chinese language, you are not required to put down the census form (in the race area).
I, too, saw Ridor’s vlog in few weeks ago, I find it unbelievable. I’d say, “whoa!” If I have an amputee in the leg, do I have to put it into the census down?
Candy, if you go to Rio, Brazil, please find out about their census form. You lucky dog.
I’m curious. Why are you going to Rio? Sounds exciting.
I’ll be going overseas soon, as well, to Honduras.
I had no idea that there was someone out there considering putting down deaf as a race. How bizarre.
(e
Ken Rose, it did not say ‘Language’. Did you click on that PDF above? Whether there were two or more versions of the 2010 Census, I am not sure. Looking at the reference guide again, I do not see anything about ‘language’, it specifically states ‘Race’.
Elizabeth, yes..bizarre at best! Rio for business and pleasure.
MM,
White Ghost, I will inquire.
You should have already gotten the Census in the mail.
As expected, I always knew that my enemies or people that I sneer would watch my vlogs!
After I made that vlog, I was contacted by someone who works in Census Bureau and that person told me that what I did was correct. Basically, “Some other race” applies to people that FEELS they belong to, regardless the color of the skin!
So Candy, your attempts to define the word by retrieving from a dictionary is lame, ’nuff said. Not only that, by not mentioning our disability on your census form, how is this going to *help* you in the next 10 years? The gov’t needs *all* the information from all peoples all over the country in order to build their statistics so that they can figure out the future budgets for different groups, races, disabilities and so on.
I find your entry to be a great deal of disservice to all.
R-
R, I am not your enemy. And, I don’t consider you as such.
I still stand by my belief that ‘deaf’ does not belong in the “some other race” category.
Did you read the instructions?
You said: “After I made that vlog, I was contacted by someone who works in Census Bureau and that person told me that what I did was correct.”
I think you’re just saying that. Show me.
I’m wondering if anyone actually click on that link (above) to the Census’ 2010 Reference Book? It pretty much explains it clearly. Please click on the link and read PG 27 before commenting.
I don’t have to “show you” anything at all, dear. I have no interest nor time to do such things to dispute with people like you and your pals, that’s for sure. Enjoy your quarrels with whoever you want.
If you look at #2 and race falls under “tribe” – it is safe to consider that Deaf people are part of our own tribe also known as Deaf Communities, like it or not.
Otherwise, this is a waste of my (and others) time.
R-
R, you don’t seem to understand my post. At first I was going to go by the definition in Merriam but then decided that, it was NOT what Census was using. I referred to the Census’s official Questionnaire Reference that specifically points out what can be used in the race area. You’re not reading my post right. Forget the definition. The only way you can use tribe per Census Bureau’s Questionnaire Reference is if you’re an Indian, you need to put in specific tribe or Pacific Islander, etc. Refer to Page 27 in the link above. Don’t bother with the definition.
I didn’t make you come here. If I wasted my time on something, it’s my problem not anyone else. So, if you feel like it’s a waste of your time, it is your own doing.
Ok, I’m putting comments in moderation. I’m not sure if I’ll have internet connection where I’m going.
Again if anyone has anything to cite that clears up this matter, please do share it with me.
I still do not think the Census wanted to know what disability we have. To be honest, I’m quite surprised that the word was used by Ridor. Not that there is anything wrong with the word disabled. There isn’t.
Have a great week!
Candy
R~
Nobody has to “spy” on you, what ridiculousness. Anybody, friends and foes alike, can watch your vlogs as long as you post to YouTube, aslvlogs.com, facebook, etc. Those are very public, social forums.
“People I sneer [at]” speaks volumes about your paranoia.
“I have no interest nor time to do such things to dispute with people like you and your pals, that’s for sure.” Then why are you here in the first place?
Hmmm.
Candy have a great trip to Rio. I’m envious. I thought this an interesting post on race. As race is basically a man made concept, it is always evolving. I suppose anything goes. I expect many census counters will be stumped by a bunch of Deaf people writing in Deaf, but perhaps they will change the census to include Deaf culture for 2020? Or maybe not.
Deaf as a ‘race’ is a strange concept to all but the Deaf. Most everyone else considers deafness a disability, and therein lies the conflict with early cochlear implantation. If you are black and Deaf, are you Black or Deaf? At one time the census required you to mark the Black box if you were more than 1/8 Black. Now it’s up to the individual. I suspect this is because many people lied about their race anyway.
I will be checking the boring White box.
Hey, I know it’s a bit late for me to leave a comment. I have been busy getting settled in Rochester, NY.
Interesting blog… Yes, I did notice the chatter about Deaf as a race.
Have a great trip to Rio… cool!
I have limited connection. But, was able to approve comments.
Am busy…so much to see and do. But, I did want to touch on something Kim said. If Census really wanted to know how many deaf/hard of hearing people there are in the USA, they would have specifically ask for that information. In past Census, there have been question(s) about disabilities. I do remember seeing that when doing genealogy research.
The prob I see with allowing ‘Deaf’ as a race on the census is that the disability groups will demand why doesn’t the census include a question regarding disabled/ able.
There are some Deaf ppl who don’t regard themselves as disabled, but do regard themselves as members of a culture. Even though they don’t consider themselves disabled, many do depend on accommodations to facilitate communication in a situations involving hearing ppl.
Then there other d/Deaf who regard themselves as both members of a culture and also have a disability other than deafness, such as deaf-blind, for example.
Then there are early-CI implantees who as adults regard themselves as disabled, or not.
And so it goes.
This use of ‘Deaf’ as a race can skew the numbers considerably, when it comes to federal dollars going to ethnic minorities and to the disability groups. I wonder if some d/Deaf realize that by calling themselves a “race” rather than “disabled” that they would end up having federal funds taken away from badly-needed accommodations to maintain their independence and autonomy as a culture?
Some people have said that the US immigration office is going to trace census respondents, find out if they are in this country legally, then locate and deport them if they are not. It’s part of a crackdown on undocumented workers — SO wrong!
R. Paranoia is not an attractive quality. The definition of a cultural deaf person is by no means clarified either, I’ve read deaf issues for 30 years and haven’t yet seen it, is it sign ? school ? lifestyle ? I am acquired deaf and know others who have done all 3 but do not see themselves as cultural. Deaf do not need to worry about mainstream isolating them, they do a damn fine job by themselves. You Americans sometimes amaze me with your obsessions with terms/words, is it a hobby or something ? It doesn’t appear to have advanced the ‘deaf way’ an iota expect you have more to argue over.
I’m back…good to be home.
Ann_C, I agree.
Annie, I don’t think so. USA has many opportunity to deport illegals, and they don’t. SSA looks the other way, IRS looks the other way, etc etc etc.
MM, I agree paranoia isn’t attractive. (let’s hope R is reading this). I smiled at the rest of what you said. Couldn’t agree more. Yup, we Americans are obsessed with words and terms, well…most of us anyway. Is that why we have the greatest writers?
Deaf like a tribe?? Deaf race?
0.o
Sounds a wee desperate, no?
Wee? More like, extremely desperate. Look at how upset they are with this AB 2027 for one. And there’s more…. popping up every day. Mind boggling.