Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the
United States Census Bureau and the Federal
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are
self-identification data items in which residents choose the
race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin (ethnicity).
[1][2]The racial categories represent a social-political construct designed for the race or races that respondents consider themselves to be and "generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country."[3] The OMB defines the concept of race as outlined for the US Census as not "scientific or anthropological" and takes into account "social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry" using "appropriate scientific methodologies" but not "primarily biological or genetic in reference."[4]
Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct identities, with Hispanic or Latino origin asked as a separate question. Thus, in addition to their race or races, all respondents are categorized by membership in one of two ethnicities Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino. In 1997, OMB issued a Federal Register Notice which provided revised racial and ethnic definitions.[5]
Race was asked differently in the Census 2000 in several ways than previously. Most significantly, respondents were given the option of selecting one or more race categories to indicate their racial identities. Data show that nearly seven million Americans identified themselves as members of two or more races. Because of these changes, the Census 2000 data on race are not directly comparable with data from the 1990 census or earlier censuses. Caution must be used when interpreting changes in the racial composition of the US population over time.
