How does the Census define race

The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically.Participants can select more than one.In 1850, the census introduced the terms black and mulatto. though this reflects a growing number of multiracial americans, it also shows the dominant stereotypes of the era.People may choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as american indian and white.An individual can report as white, black or african american, asian, american indian and alaska native,

In 2010, 2.9% of all americans (9 million) chose more than one racial category to describe themselves.In addition, it is recognized that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups.For census purposes, the term ''black'' (b) includes all persons who are evidently full blooded negroes, while the term ''mulatto'' (mu) includes all other persons having some proportion or perceptible trace of negro blood. in 1920, there were no changes.It's an incredibly difficult, if not quixotic, task, due in no small part to the census' historical ambiguity on the issue.The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race.

These categories, however real they may seem, are actually the product of a long process.Ethnicity became a category distinct from race in the 1980 census because hispanic people can be of any race.The population of the united states was recorded as 3,929,214 as of census day, august 2, 1790, as mandated by article i, section 2 of the united states constitution and applicable laws.