Guesnerth Josué Perea recounted his experience with the latest United States census in 2020, where he identified as Colombian and Black, classifying himself as an Afro-Latino of Colombian origin. However, he believes the government did not accurately count Afro-Latinos like himself, instead categorizing them as multirracial. This misclassification has led to a significant undercounting of Afro-Latinos in the country, with estimates suggesting there are around 6 million, far more than the official census figure of 1.2 million.
The Census Bureau recently announced a change in how Hispanic/Latino identity will be recorded, consolidating the race and ethnicity questions into one. While this move has been welcomed by some, Afro-Latino advocates express concerns about the potential erasure of Afro-Latino identity in the new format. The lack of clarity between race and ethnicity in the questionnaire has led to confusion and misrepresentation of racial diversity within the Latino community.
The shift to a single question format risks diminishing the visibility and acknowledgment of Afro-Latino individuals. The change overlooks the nuances of racial identity within the Latino population, perpetuating misconceptions and inaccuracies in census data. Despite this, advocacy groups are committed to educating the community about the importance of accurate self-identification and representation in future surveys.
It is essential to address the complexities of race and ethnicity in census data collection to ensure proper recognition and protection of civil rights for all groups. Safeguarding the accurate representation of Afro-Latinos requires a nuanced approach that includes clear distinctions between race and ethnicity in survey questions to capture the full spectrum of diversity within the Latino community.
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