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This can't be the case in 2010, as we must find our voices loud and clear on the government's latest census effort. The census plays an incredibly important role in determining how funds are allocated throughout the nation. Communities with the greatest population get the most money to fund their endeavors. The Census is also critical in American politics, since district population matters when Congressional representation is determined.
The census count also represents an opportunity to obtain jobs, since the Census Bureau brings billions in funding for census workers. The black community should be a part of this process, and we should be collecting our share of the dough. My father and grandmother both worked for the Census Bureau when I was a child, so I have seen the financial impact first hand.
So, when the Census Bureau representative knocks on your door, make sure you answer. Spread the word to your friends, neighbors and associates, to ensure that they are part of our nation's count. Civic responsibility is not just something you're doing for others; it's also something you're doing for yourself. Get counted.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (8)
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By: ray on 2/15/2010 2:22PM
i agree 100 percent!
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By: lam on 2/15/2010 6:12PM
If they don't mail it ---- they won't get my count! I will not let any stranger in my house ---I don't care how much ID they show --- we are living in a cruel world and crooks know how to copy an ID.
Lam
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By: toyna on 2/15/2010 8:13PM
I agree with you 100%, I was talking to some people in the area, None have ever been visit by a worker or mailed a census form? You would think that everyone in Brookville would be counted? If its the census that we count to determine the percentages of races ''then'' they are so off count.
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By: Kalynn on 2/15/2010 10:34PM
It's only 10 questions, the shortest census ever...you don't have to let them in, just answer the questions at the door! They will probably NOT want to come in homes anyway, like you said, just not safe.
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By: VeeJay on 2/15/2010 11:20PM
My first thought too. Provide your responses through a closed/locked door but be counted. I also agree, safety is a concern for both the pollee and the poller.
I couldn't recollect the format of the last census but it's helpful to be reminded it just a handful of questions.
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By: VeeJay on 2/15/2010 11:00PM
I agree and you're not alone in your thinking. We should all be apprehensive when it comes to strangers knocking at our door asking for anything. I'm hopeful that the Census Bureau is mindful of these societal concerns and has in place a means to still be counted should we not receive a census in the mail or due to fear, unwilling to participate through a stranger who knocks at the door. Time will tell.
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By: Michael Lofton on 2/16/2010 7:03PM
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/02/15/black-people-and-the-census/
"Black People and the Census: Some Issues to Consider"
"African Americans tend to be one of the most under-represented groups in the U.S. census......" by Dr. Boyce Watkins
Revised to reflect reality.....
"African Americans tend to be one of the most under-represented, mis-represented, denied competent representation, betrayed by their own elected leaders.....
......at the local, county, state, and federal levels, bar none" by Michael Lofton
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/02/16/treasonous_congresswoman_diane_watson_wont_be_missed!__just_ask_betty_andrews.thtml
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, 2nd District Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, President Barack Obama, and/or others are just as disgraceful because all of these individuals have lost touch with the people.
As a better than 20 year property taxpaying resident of the Los Angeles County 2nd District, and the 33rd Congressional District, Congresswoman Diane Watson and/or other no good sellout elected Black leaders, affiliated with the Democratic Party, won’t be missed.
Sincerely,
Michael Lofton
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By: Watcher Watchmen on 2/18/2010 11:43PM
Good point on the census request, as we agree 100%
There a lot of GOOD reasons why blacks should consider getting COUNTED as accurately as possible on the census.
Funding, Grants and more, can also have their provisions tied to the census.
But here’s few of the many reasons why it’s important, although in this case as it relates to crimes by race reports.
1. If blacks aren’t accurately accounted for until there’s a crime committed, it may wrongfully appear that blacks have the highest crime rate when comparing black crimes to the number of blacks inaccurately “COUNTED” within the census report.
2. Many black immigrants turned US citizens, aren’t identifying themselves as “black” when surveyed by the census, which effectively lowers the number of blacks that are physically present, to the number of crimes committed by those “IDENTIFIED” as black, whether foreign of domestic.
3. Bi-Racial blacks, (Being technical with this term), may identify themselves as something “OTHER THAN” Black on the census, but are recorded AS BLACK when booked for a crime committed. This causes an imbalance on how one is identified on the census vs that same person being identified differently by and on the crime by race data report.
At least these few reasons are being wrongfully used as tools by certain opportunist groups.
But then we must ask, how effective would the census truly be, to start with, if the blacks who are surveyed aren’t identifying themselves AS black?
And for that matter, when is Black BLACK?
For generations, all it took was a "ONE DROP RULE" to be called and identified as black
But more recently it seems like this "ONE DROP RULE" has been Ruled-out as well as the “COLOR LINE” that was “put in place” has since been redefined or repositioned.
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