By Erica Shaffer - bio | email
Posted by Lisa Strawbridge - email
TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Some African-Americans who have been contacted by social networking sites to fill out the census form say they were shocked to see the term "Negro" on the form. They say they don't understand how the Census Bureau can embrace new technology while using outdated terminology.
"To hear that, it's almost like a slap in the face, to think that we are moving backwards instead of forwards," said Nikyle Fitzgerald.
Derrick Parker said, "It's degrading, and I think it's ancient."
Owens African-American Culture professor Dr. Imelda Hunt says the term "Negro" rubs some people the wrong way because they associate it with negativity. "There is a lot of consciousness in the younger generation and the consciousness is not embracing that whole idea," she said.
The U.S. Census Bureau said in an e-mail there are two reasons the term is kept on the form. First, the Office of Management and Budget stipulated that "terms such as 'Haitian' or 'Negro' can be used in addition to 'Black' or 'African-American'." Second, some African-Americans identify themselves as "Negro." The Bureau said in the 2000 census, thousands of African-Americans wrote in "Negro" even though it was already listed in the Black/African-American checkbox.
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