Census Director Groves Apologizes for ‘Negro’ Option: Did You Return Form and Were You Offended?

The option on the 2010 Census form that inflamed many African Ameri … or are we black … well, at any rate, the choice of Negro on the form that set many people of color off may not be included the next time around.  It was first explained that the choice to include the term was to get a better response from a generation that may still identify with the dated and largely offensive term, but in view of all the criticism, it’s being viewed as a bad move by the organization.  

On C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” show, Census Bureau Director Robert Groves was confronted with the issue. A caller challenged him on the subject, prompting an unusual apology and a prediction that the word will be erased in the next census in 2020.

“I am black. I did not appreciate the black, the African American, and Negro,” the caller said. “It really hurt my feelings … that, to me, is racist.”

Groves offered an apology. “First of all, let me apologize to you on behalf of all my colleagues.” He then explained, “The intent of every word on the race and ethnicity questions is to be as inclusive as possible so that all of us could see a word here that rings a bell for us … it was not to be offensive, and again, I apologize on that. My speculation is that in 2020 that word will disappear and there are gonna be other words that are gonna change.”

I personally can see the logic in tossing in the term, though it may conjure up negative imagery for some, but I’m just one voice. First, did you return the form (the deadline is Thursday, April 1)? And second, how did seeing the term make you feel feel? Leave your comments. –gerald radford