Changing Categorization of Races: Impact of Science, Politics, and Public Attitudes

The categorization of people based on race, social constructs, gender, and ethnicity have changed over time due to the need to promote unity and national cohesion in the United States of America (Campbell, Bratter, & Roth, 2016). The changes in the names of different races have been impacted by current sciences, politics, and public attitudes. Civilization has also contributed to the changes in the categorization of people based on their racial and ethnic groups. The population of the United States comprises different racial groups and social constructs. The differences in social classes have also influenced the categorization of people in the United States of America. This paper provides comprehensive information about racial, ethnic, gender, and social constructs from the American census.

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What the Census Might Have Called Me

People were categorized differently in the 1790 census as compared to that conducted in 2010 (Pew Research Center, 2015). Over the years, the Census Bureau of the United States has been collecting data on ethnicity, gender and race (Pew Research Center, 2015). The approaches used in categorizing people based on the racial and ethnic groups reflected the changes in social activities. Also, the differences in the categorization of people have changed due to political, economic, and social factors. Emancipation, civil rights, and immigration have also influenced how the Census Bureau of the United States categorizes people. I would have been categorized during the 1790 census as either slave or free person (Pew Research Center, 2015).

Race and gender were the main components in the categorization. For example, I would be categorized as a white male, white female, slave, or any other free person. The black people were taken as slaves because of racial discrimination in the United States of America during the revolution period. In the 2010 census, I would have been categorized as either Asian, White, or African American based on racial groups (Pew Research Center, 2015). The existing ethnic groups included in the 2010 census are Hispanic, Hindu, and Mexican.

There are a lot of differences in the categorization of people between 1790 and 2010 censuses (Pew Research Center, 2015). First, during the 1790 census, people were categorized into three distinct groups that included free whites, slaves, and all other free people (Pew Research Center, 2015). On the other hand, the 2010 census categorized people into many racial and ethnic groups like Whites, African Americans and other races that included Japanese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, and Samoan (Pew Research Center, 2015).

Secondly, the 1790 census did not categorize people based on their social constructs and ethnicity (Pew Research Center, 2015). 2010 included different ethnic groups like Hispanic, Hindu, and Mexican. The main similarity between 1790 and 2010 censuses are the categorization of people based on their social classes (Pew Research Center, 2015). For example, the 1790 election comprised of two different social classes. The upper social class consisted of Whites and other free people. The lower social level comprised the slaves working in the plantations owned by the Whites.

Social Constructs

Race, gender, and ethnicity are the primary social constructs in the American census activities. Racial and ethnic groups are primarily social constructs that help in the analysis of census data and the formulation of appropriate policies (Campbell et al., 2016). Local and social leaders can use data collected through various ethnic and racial groups to create effective strategies. The data collected through racial, gender, and ethnic groups are also crucial in reducing social disparities in the United States of America.

The categorization of the diverse population is complex and requires a comprehensive analysis of social constructs like race, ethnicity, and gender (Glaser, 2018). The differences in racial and ethnic groups in the United States of America contribute to the emergence of social classes. Also, race, gender, and ethnicity determine the interaction among the American people; therefore, contributing to the construction of social components.

Better Future Census Categories

The categorization of population-based on race and ethnicity will consider the origins of the people. For example, the Asian or Pacific Islanders (API) will be categorized into different regions and specific countries of origin. The racial groups to be included in the 2020 and 2030 census are Whites, Black American, American Indian, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, Samoan, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other groups (Strmic-Pawl, Jackson, & Garner, 2018). The racial and ethnic groups for categorizing people during the American census have changed according to the social and economic factors.

The title 'Blacks' will be dropped in the 2020 census and completely replaced by African American group (Strmic-Pawl et al., 2018). The Asian Indians, Black Americans, and Hispanics are vulnerable to discrimination in the United States of America. All the Pacific Islanders like Japanese, Indian Asians, Chinese, and Vietnamese are vulnerable to discriminations based on racial and ethnic disparities. The inclusion of African American, Whites, and other races provides an appropriate education on differences in racial and ethnic groups in the United States of America (Sasson, 2016).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the categorization of the U.S population has changed due to economic, social, and political factors. Race, gender, and ethnicity are primarily social constructs that determine the categorization of people during census programs. The 1790 census consisted of three racial and ethnic groups that included free whites, slaves and other free persons. The free whites were then categorized into males and females. Appropriate categorization of populations is significant in eliminating discriminations based on gender, race, and ethnicity.

References

Campbell, M. E., Bratter, J. L., & Roth, W. D. (2016). Measuring the Diverging Components of Race: An Introduction. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0002764215613381

Glaser, L. B. (2018). Sociology Department Launches Active Learning Initiative Project. Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved from: http://new.cornell.edu/stories/2018/05/sociology-department-launches-active-learning-initiative-project

Sasson, I. (2016). Trends in Life expectancy and Lifespan Variation by Educational Attainment: the United States, 1990-2010. Demography, 53(2), 269-293. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13524-015-0453-7

Pew Research Center. (2015). What Census Calls Us: A Historical Timeline. Retrieved from: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/interactives/multiracial-timeline/

Strmic-Pawl, H. V., Jackson, B. A., & Garner, S. (2018). Race Counts: Racial and Ethnic Data on the US Census and the Implications for Tracking Inequality. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 4(1), 1-13. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2332649217742869