This blog focuses the 2020 Census but looks at the census process across time to examine challenges related to accurately counting African Americans and people of color. Recent reports have suggested significant undercounts of African Americans and people of color. Look at the information presented here to gain deeper understanding of this issue and its implications. Also, you can see the challenges related to accurately counting African Americans and people of color and what can be done to remedy this situation in the future.
NOTE: This blog (with the exception of the layout, photos and write-up) was compiled by and reprinted with permission from Abdul Akalimat, PhD
https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/race/MREAD_1790_2010.html https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2015/11/measuring-race-and-ethnicity-across-the-decades-1790-2010.html https://www.amacad.org/publication/racial-classification-america
2020
Census Report https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/coverage-measurement/pes/national-census-coverage-estimates-by-demographic-characteristics.pdf https://www.npr.org/2021/11/02/1044761456/2020-census-results-by-race-undercount-populations-black-latino-hispanic-urban
2010
Census Report https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb12-95.html
Amsterdam News https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2020/07/23/2010-census-omitted-37-million-blacksnearly-five-t/
1990
Census Report https://www.census.gov/data/tables/1990/dec/undercounts.html
New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/12/us/2-million-blacks-not-counted-head-of-census-panel-asserts.html
1980
Black Scholar http://alkalimat.org/327%20mcworter%201980%20racism%20and%20the%20numbers%20game%20black%20people%20and%201980%20census.pdf
1840 Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/10/17/1840-census-slavery-insanity/