With the information sent to the United States Government regarding Race and Ethnicity standards the OMB replied with “ FEDERAL INTERAGENCY TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON RACE AND ETHNICITY STANDARDS ”
“ Some comments supported the use of the term “indigenous,” either in place of, or in combination with “American Indian or Alaska Native,” and there were some suggestions to add “original peoples of North, South, and Central Americas” to be inclusive of indigenous respondents from outside the U.S. to the definition. There was also a request to clarify that identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native is not the same as citizenship or membership in a Tribal Nation. Alternatively, some comments stated that “Native American” is fundamentally a legal designation, not a race/ethnicity.”
The current minimum categories are termed: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. Do you have suggestions for different terms for any of these categories?
Some comments discussed the minimum category terms. There were no prominent themes for specific changes. Some of the more common suggestions, some of which conflict with each other, included adding “Caribbean” and “Sub-Saharan African” categories, separate from “African American;” retire the term “African American;” remove “color” words (i.e., “Black” and “White”) and replace with regional terms similar to the other categories; create “South Asian” and “Southeast Asian” categories, separate from “Asian;” and add categories related to mixed-Hispanic heritage, such as “Mestizo,” “Afro-Latino,” or “Trigueño.” A few commenters suggested broadening the classification for the “American Indian or Alaska Native” category to ensure that all indigenous people of the Americas felt comfortable answering, not just respondents who are native to the U.S. while others suggested removing “American Indian or Alaska Native” as a racial category:
First, courts have long held that Native American is a political identity, not a racial identity. Since the early days of the Republic tribes have been viewed as separate sovereigns, and in Morton v. Mancari and subsequent decisions the Supreme Court made clear that tribes and tribal citizens are political and governmental—i.e., not racial—communities…Second, the Native American identity hinges entirely on a person’s relationship with a federally recognized tribe. Citizens of federally-recognized tribes are Native American—those who are not citizens of federally recognized tribes are not Native American…OMB should not include “American Indian or Alaska Native” as an answer to the question “What is your race,” as once again, Native American is not a racial identity. Furthermore, if OMB wants an accurate look at the Native American population in the United States, it must limit the definition of “American Indian and Alaska Native” to citizens of federally-recognized tribes. A broader definition furthers misrepresentation by those men and women who falsely claim to be Native American. (Excerpt from letter by a representative of the Cherokee Nation) How can Federal surveys or forms collect data related to descent from enslaved peoples originally from the African continent? For example, when collecting and coding responses, what term best describes this population group (e.g., is the preferred term ‘‘American Descendants of Slavery,’’ ‘‘American Freedmen,’’ or something else)? How should this group be defined? Should it be collected as a detailed group within the ‘‘Black or African American’’ minimum category, or through a separate question or other approach?
Nearly all comments on this topic expressed support for adding a category or question to collect data from descendants of enslaved people. There were multiple suggestions for which terms should be used to collect data on this population, including “Foundational Black American (FBA),” “American Descendant of Slavery (ADOS),” “American Freedman or Freedman,” “Black American, African American, and Negro or American Negro.” There was no consensus on which term to use. Many of the comments advocated for a preferred term, and specifically stated that they absolutely did not want to identify with the other terms being suggested. Some comments on this topic opposed the collection of data for descendants of enslaved people or against changing the current terminology/category, and some stated that the category is not needed. It was mentioned that this category is not inclusive since Black Americans were not the only historically enslaved people. Other commenters were concerned with how to verify that identification as a member of this group is accurate, and some were concerned that the addition of the category will cause confusion and make the Black community harder to count. For example, one comment on this topic said:
While there is a push to gather data or create a new category for American descendants of enslaved people from the African continent based on the premise of reparation, there is a grave concern that this untested proposal will harm the full and accurate count of Black people, particularly Black immigrants. There are no in-depth research and engagement with the diverse Black community on terminology, definition, and data collection and coding protocol, and implication on the counts of other Black diasporic populations (e.g., Black immigrants). Thus, we urge the Census Bureau and OMB to listen to and engage with trusted and reputable Black organizations on this issue. (Excerpt from letter by the National Urban League and the Coalition on Black Civic Participation)
The letter from National Urban League and the Coalition on Black Civic Participation reveals how they sold out the Reparations Groups to defend Black immigrants, ADOS, FBA, Freedmen ect. Never challenged the organizations who are responsible for them not getting recognition yet those same groups blamed American Indians who never interfered with them being rejected
“ Many presenters recommended establishing a new ethnic designation that “allows persons who are slave descendants to reclaim their racial and ethnic identity” and that “OMB should consider adding a new ethnic designation for Black Americans/African Americans.” However, there was not agreement across the various presenters on this topic as to the terminology that should be used or how the group should be defined.”
Collecting Detailed Race and Ethnicity Data Over half of the presenters who discussed this topic focused on whether there was a need for increased nuance and/or additional detail for the Black population. Specifically, presenters felt that SPD 15 should allow for a distinction between Black persons born in America from Black persons born elsewhere. Some presenters felt that broad terms such as “Black or African American” were historically used to describe Black Americans, while foreign African descendants should be identified by their country or continent of origin (e.g., Nigerian-American, Caribbean American, Jamaican-American, Brazilian-American, or Latino/Latina-American). Despite the strong desire for more detailed data to disaggregate the Black or African American category, there was no consensus on the preferred terminology to refer to those who were descendants of slavery.
Town Halls
“ A large number of presenters discussed the collection of disaggregated data for Black Americans who descended from slavery. Presenters discussed various terminology on disaggregating and classifying Black or African Americans as “American Freedman,” “American Descendants of Slavery” (ADOS), “American Negro,” “Foundational Black American," or “Black American.” There was no consensus on the preferred terminology. Many commenters advocated for adding “American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS)” while sentiments were split on the use of the term “Freedman” or “American Freedman.” However, some presenters were not in favor of either ADOS or “Freedman,” but still wanted some distinction for Black “immigrants” who were not descendants of American chattel slavery. There was also some support for continuing to include the term “Negro.”
Please Sign the Petition : Remedy for the Misclassified People of North America TODAY https://www.change.org/p/remedy-for-the-misclassified-people-of-north-america
FIRST TRIBE
Greetings and happy Thursday! I AM autochtonous to Turtle Island. I say we be recognized as the true Americans. Because we are! AmErican, American is me! My bloodline has always been here, and my allegiance is to America! Peace and love be with you!