{"id":278,"date":"2010-03-18T02:50:26","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T02:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/?p=278"},"modified":"2010-03-18T02:50:26","modified_gmt":"2010-03-18T02:50:26","slug":"census-let-them-know-you-are-basque","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/2010\/03\/18\/census-let-them-know-you-are-basque\/","title":{"rendered":"Census-Let them know you are Basque!"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Joe Guerricabeitia of Seattle Euskal Etxea — I thought it worth sharing:<\/em><\/p>\n

Kaixo danori (Hello everyone),<\/p>\n

This email is being sent to you to serve as reminder to remember your heritage as you sit down to fill out your 2010 US Census. As in censuses past, this year’s census asks both about 1) Ethnicity and 2) Race. As has been the case in the past the US government convolutes “Spaniards” with “Hispanics” even though any History, Chicano Studies, or Spanish student (like myself) would tell you is technically incorrect. That being the case the ethnicity question specifically asks if one considers themself Hispanic but then allows for a selection of “Hispanic, other” <\/em>which is a broad category that includes “Spaniards” and allows for a fill-in-the-blank where “Basque” can be written. Even for our brothers and sisters from across the border in France this seems like the best way to articulate being Basque (certainly not a perfect system). In fact this seems to be the only way. Race then refers to ones “social and cultural characteristics” which by the US census definition describes Basque ancestry as “White” (see below).<\/p>\n

It is important to fill out the Census accurately and completely because it is the most database of information for demographics of age, sex, ethnicity, race etc that is drawn from every time in the next year that any US federal, state or local agency requires such data as well as many non-governmental agencies. As one Professor put it, “…an accurate count of the U.S. population forms the basis for many important but often overlooked political, economic, and social decisions that are made that end up affecting our daily lives.” <\/em><\/strong>— C.N. Le, Professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst-from http:\/\/2010.census.gov\/2010census\/why\/index.php<\/a><\/em> Accessed 03\/18\/10<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information on the 2010 Census check out: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The US Census Bureau<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/2010.census.gov\/2010census\/how\/interactive-form.php<\/a><\/p>\n

and for more information on definitions and the Census in general check out the Wiki page at:<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n