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It's funny how black folk all too often wait for government agencies to solve problems we could solve ourselves (i.e. reducing preventable illnesses, sending our kids to school, decreasing crime), but when Uncle Sam actually offers us services that would help us (i.e. voting, FEMA funds, the Census count) we run away like it's kryptonite.
Maybe it's our mistrust of government that dates back to things like COINTELPRO, the Tuskegee Experiment and J. Edgar Hoover that makes us skittish about voluntarily putting our name on any form that is stamped with a government seal. Other times, we don't realize how valuable it is for everyone in the community to stand up and be counted.
But rest assured, my ebonically oriented brothers and sisters, it is.
WIthin the past two weeks, you should have received your U.S. Census form in the mail. It's an easy read, takes about 10 minutes or less to fill out and "Negro" controversy aside, if you fill it out that means your area will benefit from the government troth. It wasn't enough to just vote for President Barack Obama; he's got to know that you exist and he won't if you don't tell him.
Hey, I'm here to put your mind at ease. Really. So let's dispel the common myths that we keep hearing about the census:
Myth 1: The census isn't really that important, so I can throw the form away when I get it. WRONG
The U.S. Code stipulates that you must fill the form out and return it. If you do not, census workers will contact you to assist in filling out the form.
Myth 2: The real purpose of the census is so that the government will be able to spy on me and know what I'm doing in my house. WRONG
Data shown in the census is used to distribute Congressional seats between states. While the U.S. Senate has 100 members (two for each state), the House of Representatives has a number that reflects the population. The number of representative districts derive directly from how many people are known to populate an area. Right now, there are 435 representatives in the House. If you do not have a representative in Congress, then your interests cannot be presented to the national legislature.
Myth 3. The census is only for U.S. citizens. WRONG
By constitutional mandate, the U.S. census is a count of every person living in the United States, be they a citizen or noncitizen.
Myth 4. Census information will go to immigration agents, or maybe even my landlord. WRONG
The census is kept for statistical data only. By law, the census bureau cannot glean immigration status, get your personal information for 72 years, violate your privacy or give your information to any company or landlord.
Myth 5. The census is way too long and it pries in to my personal life too much. WRONG
The census does not take more than 10 minutes to fill out and only asks basic questions about age, gender, race, ethnicity and number of people living in your household.
Myth 6. It costs a lot of money to be part of the census. WRONG.
The form is free, it costs zero to fill it out and the postage is paid for already. You won't pay a dime.
Myth 7. Even if I do fill the form out and send it back, nothing's really going to change. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
If you don't sign your census, things will change -- for the worse. Without the statistical information that a community provides through the census, federal, state and municipal governments will not know who needs what services. They won't know, for example, if a new county hospital is needed to serve people in need. A densely populated area may need a new school, but if local agencies don't know how many children are in the area, they won't know if a school is really needed and the legislative reps use census data to lobby for funds.
Let's face it, you've heard the complaints about how black folks don't have any real power. How "the man" is always holding us back. Well, here's your chance! Take some power for yourselves! The wealthy suburbanites make damn sure they get every dime of government funding they've got coming to them, and it results in everything from better schools to cleaner air. Why should they be the only ones to benefit?
Look, fill out the form. Send it back. Get more information from the U.S. Census Bureau website. You don't have to take my word for it. The proof is out there. If you don't believe me, then at least listen to Ludacris.
Comments: (9)
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By: rosemary harrell on 4/01/2010 8:24PM
u r a stupid uncle tom! the majority of a.a. don't think that way.
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By: GERI on 4/02/2010 11:52AM
I filled out my census and mailed it back on time, but I recieved a second census the day AFTER the deadline...and the same thing happened with my parents...they filled theirs out on time but recieved a second one later....I'm wondering if the WHITE mail carrier even delivered it....because we have the same mail carrier....It's amazing how white folk will cut off their own nose to keep their foot on a Black persons neck!
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By: dnigreus on 4/03/2010 9:58PM
You are a moron. They sent me a second one too. I guess my BLACK mailman is holding his foot on whiteys neck.
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By: GERI on 4/02/2010 11:23AM
Amendment: I recieved a second census the day of the deadline...4/1/10...and my parents recieved their second one 3/30/10....maybe this was a postal error....but given how crazy white folks are acting...I personally wouldn't put ANYTHING past them...
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By: Cecil Jones on 4/03/2010 4:09AM
The Census is a huge waste of time. Why? The government demonstrates it has your information by mailing the form to your address. Obviously, they don't have enough information so they are digging for something more sinister. Just getting the form let me know they know all they need. The Census should provide a number for us to call to confirm and answer their questions. We can say "No" and tell them how offensive some are.
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By: Michael Lofton on 4/09/2010 5:41PM
If roughly 10 million illegal/undocumented immigrants are also included in the U.S. Census records, and following census data, given amnesty and rights to programs designed for law abiding U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, this will be both un-American and devastating for the very individuals who play by the rules and who respect the law!
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/03/31/barack-obama-gets-tough/2#c26818419
"Mr. Peabody, I beg your pardon. I don't know where you live, but in America the President's the peoples man, not just for a chosen or select group. Whether you acknowledge it or not, that's the deal..accept it and move on...the sooner the better." by Barry
.....President Obama is the worst in what it means to be a representative or advocate of the American People, law abiding U.S. citizens, legal immigrant advocates, free enterprize, business interests, etc., etc., etc.
President Obama is deceitful, a liar, a hypocrite, a despot, sleazy, cut-throat, you name it! Why U.S. born Black people are head over heals for Obama, when his track record betrays all law abiding U.S. citizens, U.S. born Black men, women, and/or their siblings being inclusive!
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/03/as_usual_no_good_president_obama_and_the_congressional_black_caucus_promote_amnesty_for_illegalundocumented_immigrants_at_the_expense_of_black_america!.thtml
As usual no good President Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus Promote Amnesty for Illegal/Undocumented Immigrants at the Expense of Black America!
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http://calvert.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=4580
Illegal Immigration
The U.S. immigration system is broken. There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S. It is vital that Congress take action to secure our borders and stop illegal immigration. The status quo is unacceptable and I share many of your frustrations with this issue.
First, I am wholeheartedly against amnesty. I believe it is inherently unfair to give legal status to those whose first actions were to break our laws. Below are some of the initiatives I support to deter illegal immigration, increase interior enforcement and keep our border secure:
• Public Law 109-367 – The Secure Fence Act. Mandates the Department of Homeland Security to build 700 miles of fence on the southern border.
• Citizenship Reform. Denies citizenship to an individual born in the U.S. if both parents are illegal immigrants or do not reside in the U.S legally.
• English Only. Declares English the official language of the United States.
• No Credit Cards for Illegals. Requires the federal government and financial institutions to accept only secure forms of identification.
• No Social Security for illegal immigrants.
• No drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants.
"I have always supported the legal immigration process but during tough economic times and scarce resources my priority is to U.S. citizens and legal residents," Calvert said in a statement. "I will continue to support an enforcement-first approach to illegal immigration that ensures jobs and benefits go to Americans and legal residents."
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“Chief among the concerns of black lawmakers is the president's failure to address a black unemployment rate that far exceeds that of the general population. Sixteen percent of black workers are unemployed, and among black teens, a staggering 44.9 percent are out of work.”
“Many of the jobs filled by illegal aliens could be filled by black Americans, especially the huge cohort of black youth who are neither in school nor part of the labor force.”
“Rather than press the president to fulfill his responsibilities to American workers and resume meaningful enforcement against companies that employ illegal aliens, removing those workers from the country, the CBC marches in lockstep with the interests that promote illegal immigration. Since taking office last year, Mr. Obama has all but halted immigration enforcement in the workplace - a policy that enjoys the support of the CBC”
Legal immigration trumps illegal immigration. Any Black elected official(s) or elected representative(s) supporting or promoting illegal immigration and/or amnesty for illegal/undocumented immigrants should be voted out of office by the responsible Black electorate.
The Black community has been overrun by illegal immigrants from Haiti, Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cuba, China, Korea, Vietnam, Latin America, etc., etc., at the expense of the lawful rights, lawful right to be gainfully employed of U.S. born law abiding Black men, women, and/or their siblings.
Constitutional protections and mandates are reserved for law abiding U.S. citizens, and legal immigrants, first and foremost.
Illegal immigration is just that, criminal.
Amnesty for illegal/undocumented immigrants is unfair to the many individuals who enter the U.S. legally, who play by the rules and who follow the legal path to become legal immigrants, and/or future naturalized citizens.
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"Amiri Baraka Calls Michael Steele a 'Public Coon'" by Jeff Mays, Black Voices/Black Spin
".....Are you scared???? what is the real problem, people wanna get on hispanics saying they are slow and less than but they are just passing us by. atleast they have enough sense to come together and support what they believe in" by Ms. Lankford
.....Indeed Ms. Lankford. In addition to what you state, unlike our own game playing deceitful self-serving elitist treasonous stealing from the Black community supporting illegal immigration no good elected Black leaders, be it Democratic Party affiliated or otherwise, who bend over backwards to serve any other community but the Black community, specifically as it concerns law abiding U.S. born Black men, women, and/or their siblings....
.....in contrast Hispanic elected leaders and/or organizations, be it in behalf of illegal/undocumented Hispanic immigrants, legal Hispanic immigrants, and/or U.S. born Hispanic men, women, and/or their siblings......
Hispanic elected leaders and/or organizations, such as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, MALDEF, LA RAZA, Hispanic American Business Association, etc., etc., etc., these individuals truly serve their primary constituency, to protect their Constitutional rights, to expand employment opportunity for Hispanics, etc., etc., etc.
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By: GERI on 4/04/2010 8:42AM
@dnigreus
YOUR MAMMY IS A MORON FIRST OF ALL!!!....and to answer your question...IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME...YOU PRICK!
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By: lj on 4/16/2010 12:38PM
while im surprised at the harsh language used to have simple discourse amongst Black folks, i simply wanted to comment on a discrepancy in the article...
Myth 4 is incorrect as suggested when based in the law. However, it is important to know our nation's history. And the fact is that Japanese folks were rounded up and put in internment camps using information they filled out on the census. The government knew exactly where they lived, used the information unlawfully, came to their houses, and inhumanely imprisoned countless law-abiding citizens. So while I do believe it is important to fill out the census, it is also important to know that the government can do whatever the hell it wants, as it has proven to us many times...
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By: Mara on 4/17/2010 2:55PM
Recently, I found the 2010 Census form hanging on my door. As I began filling it out, I came across a dilemma. The U.S. government wants to know if my children are adopted or not and it wants to know what our races are. Being adopted myself, I had to put “Other” and “Don’t Know Adopted” for my race and “Other” and “Don’t Know” for my kids’ races.
Can you imagine not knowing your ethnicity, your race? Now imagine walking into a vital records office and asking the clerk for your original birth certificate only to be told “No, you can’t have it, it’s sealed.”
How about being presented with a “family history form” to fill out at every single doctor’s office visit and having to put “N/A Adopted” where life saving information should be?
Imagine being asked what your nationality is and having to respond with “I don’t know”.
It is time that the archaic practice of sealing and altering birth certificates of adopted persons stops.
Adoption is a 5 billion dollar, unregulated industry that profits from the sale and redistribution of children. It turns children into chattel who are re-labeled and sold as “blank slates”.
Genealogy, a modern-day fascination, cannot be enjoyed by adopted persons with sealed identities. Family trees are exclusive to the non-adopted persons in our society.
If adoption is truly to return to what is best for a child, then the rights of children to their biological identities should NEVER be violated. Every single judge that finalizes an adoption and orders a child’s birth certificate to be sealed should be ashamed of him/herself.
I challenge all readers: Ask the adopted persons that you know if their original birth certificates are sealed.
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