1999 - 2000 Broadcast Season
Broadcast Program Transcripts
Episode #1513
2000 Census 1/21/00

Holloway: It's the first census count of the millennium. How do you intend to be counted? How will the final count affect you? We'll talk about the next census, 2000, on Black Issues Forum next. You stay tuned.

Voiceover: This program is made possible in part by contributions from UNC-TV viewers like you.

Holloway: Good evening everyone. And welcome to this edition of Black Issues Forum. I'm your host, Jay Holloway. Our topic tonight: US Census 2000. There are a number of issues to consider. The importance and the impact of the final count. The racial categories. Sampling. The confidentiality of the reports. And to help us answer some of these questions, we have with us Valerie Starks. She's a Partnership Specialist with the US Census Bureau. Also Dr. Isaac Robinson, Director of the Department of Social Work at North Carolina Central University. And Keith Sutton, Partnership Team Leader with the US Census Bureau. Thank you all for being with us this evening on Black Issues Forum.

All: Thank you.

Holloway: One of the big issue for the 1990 census was the perception and perhaps the fact that many blacks or minorities were undercounted. What steps are in place this time that we won't see that happen again? And was that true? Valerie or Keith, you want to start with that?

Sutton: Well, it was very true, there were, the undercount for African Americans in the '90 census was 4.4 percent. So there were several million African Americans missed in several parts of the country. Let me just talk about a couple of things.

Holloway: So that, you actually come up with actual facts. How do you know you missed those people though?

Sutton: The census bureau has what we call an accuracy coverage and evaluation operation. That essentially serves as a quality control method, if you will, which basically uses sampling to determine where individuals are missed, in what areas and that kind of thing. And so we have an official count, and then also an adjusted count that takes into account what was missing. That's basically done again by a survey.

Holloway: And Valerie, you all are not going to use sampling this time. And I think there's been a decision not to sample in 2000?

Starks: Jay, yes, there's been a decision not to use sampling. The Census Bureau is committed to a complete and accurate and a fair count of all United States residents. What we're doing is trying to make sure that we increase the mail-back response rate for all of our regions. We're trying to make sure that we do not have the undercounts that you spoke about. And most importantly, we are trying to communicate how important the census is to all of us.

Holloway: Dr. Robinson, this is important. How are the educators and social science folks looking at this undercount? And you've had a chance to review an example of the latest form. Do you think that African Americans, or blacks, Negroes, will take advantage of this and we'll get a more accurate count this time?

Robinson: Yes, I think that the census perhaps is not well understood by members of the general population. There is perhaps the general feelings that the census is a very objective process in which we attempt to count the population, probably for statistical reasons, to know who we are and what are our major characteristics. But starting from the very beginning, the first census in 1790 was done in the context of the dispute about how we would apportion representatives in the House of Representatives with the big states and the little states. So it started right off being a very political process and..

Holloway: It's still political today, even in our state with these new districts being drawn.

Robinson: It still is a very political process in that the census is used for many purposes other than statistical reasons, like apportionment and realignment of local and national districts. And perhaps more importantly, the $180 billion or so that's allocated from the federal government to localities for all kinds of purposes from Medicare and Medicaid to transportation to schools, special problems for special-needs populations.

Holloway: Let me ask each of you about the whole issue of the Hispanic and Latino population. There's such an influx coming into this county and this state. It is projected that they will outnumber African Americans very shortly. Probably before the next census even comes out. And maybe this is an unfair question to you all. But I would imagine, we're talking about the political process, that's going to impact quite a bit on our country and the politics. And is there any anticipation so far of the count for the Hispanic population as well? Because they seem to be undercounted quite a bit too.

Sutton: I think there's definitely going to be tremendous increase. I think you'll see in terms of the numbers of the Hispanic population in North Carolina. The Hispanic community felt that they were grossly undercounted in the 1990 census. And there are several steps taking place at this time to help ensure that the Hispanic community is counted, within the Hispanic community as well as through the Census Bureau. Particularly through the partnership program, as it is our job to look for opportunities to partner with those community organizations with those segments of the community that are traditionally undercounted for various reasons.

Holloway: What about, oh go ahead Valerie.

Starks: Well I just wanted to add that it's important to note that not only were Hispanics undercounted, but the African American populations and generally minority groups are historically undercounted for a number of reasons. Many do not fill out the form. We just don't see the importance of it. And I think that we don't really see that we do have a personal stake in what comes out of the census. Most individuals have to feel like, "What is it, what's in it for me?"

Holloway: Well what is in it? Let's talk about that.

Starks: Well, let's talk about that. A couple of things. The first thing is for children. As we talked earlier about children being largely undercounted, many parents are not aware that if their child receives free breakfast, free lunch programs, that that very much is dependent on census data. Another thing that people don't consider is that when you see overcrowded schools, when you see children who are put in those trailers or in other nontraditional methods of learning areas, there was no planning. There was no planning because we didn't know that they existed. Perhaps in 1990 those children were not identified on those census questionnaires. So we know that there were a number missed, just in terms of the federal funding that is affected on every level for people that aren't counted, whether they be children, whether they be African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Vietnamese. And as Keith mentioned earlier, a point that I wanted to point out with the partnership program is that we are anticipating seeing an increase, hopefully with all of our efforts, seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people that complete the questionnaires, but also in the number of ethnic groups to have better numbers. And through partnership and working with areas of the Hispanic Community, those people that can target the communities that are generally undercounted, we're working with them so that they can help promote the census in the same manner that we do.

Holloway: Go ahead, yeah.

Robinson: Getting back to your question about the Hispanic population? That will become a very, very important issue, from now through the next decade. It's being projected that by 2005, before the next census, that the Hispanic population will grow to be larger than the African American population, and that Hispanics will indeed be the largest minority group in America. That has tremendous implications. Particularly in terms of the African American community because, particularly since the Civil Rights era, there have been certain amenities that have come to the African American community because of minority status. Minority set-aside programs, Affirmative Action programs. The idea of sharing the perks of minority status will be interested in terms of how that will play out politically between the African American population and the Hispanic population. We'll be experiencing exponential growth within the Hispanic population. I think that the '90 census was a tremendous undercount. I think in most places it had at below 5%. In this area we are probably looking at a count of 15 percent or perhaps higher with the 2000 census.

Holloway: What about the multiple racial aspect now? We have a copy of the census here. We don't have one in graphics to show our viewers. But there's a short form and a long form. Can we talk about this form? But first, what is the deadline that people should expect to have this back in and when should they expect to see it in the mail?

Starks: April ..

Sutton: April 1^st, 2000 is census day. Census questionnaires will be delivered in early to mid March of this year. And everything we're doing is geared towards having households fill out that form and send it back on or before April 1, 2000.

Holloway: So March you'll get it and have it back in two or three weeks.

Sutton: Right.

Starks: Right. Hopefully. One of the other things is that households will actually be hit three times in March. They will receive an advance letter the first of March that will basically alert them that their census questionnaire is on its way. On around the second or third week, as Keith mentioned, the form itself will arrive. And by the end of the month they should receive a letter thanking them for completing the form or reminding them if you have not yet completed it, please do so and mail it back on or before April 1^st. So we actually have three times that households will have some message sent to them from the census bureau.

Holloway: Let's talk about, you identify your race on the form and the implications on that. Last, during, the 1990 was different than what it is now. Explain those differences.

Sutton: Well, in 1990 you were asked to check specific categories with regard to race or you could check 'other' and add in any specific ethnic backgrounds or other types of diversity. Unlike previous censuses through this year, when people of multiple racial backgrounds needed to check 'other' and then can write in responses. The 2000 census will collect information on those specific backgrounds and different ethnic diversities in this particular census, while in the 1990 census, while we just took, again, the racial categories, we did not take into account the specific Native American tribes or the specific origins of Hispanic ancestry and that type of thing. So on this, in the 2000 census, all of those different categories will be taken into consideration.

Holloway: And how many or how are they identified, Valerie, the racial categories on there? Do you, you have the form there right?

Starks: Yeah, generally speaking the categories in terms of a person's race, of course African American, Asian, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, Native Hawaiian, Samoan, or other Pacific islander, those are just some of the categories. Or some other race. None of those might apply to some people. So they have the opportunity to identify how they choose to be counted.

Holloway: People of multiple racial backgrounds, how will they identify themselves on the form?

Starks: Well I think that is a question for the individual to decide. If you have a parent who is African American and perhaps another parent who is Caucasian, again it is the individual's choice. The Census Bureau is not confining an individual to any specific race. I think you have to make the ultimate decision in its totality of how you want to be identified.

Holloway: There was a lot of attention when Tiger Woods was on Oprah Winfrey and he called himself, now what would somebody like him put down?

Sutton: Well the census is self-enumerating. So, again, you can check, and it differs, in the '90 census you had to check one category. In the 2000 census he can check as many as he wants.

Holloway: So he can check 3 or 4 or 5..

Sutton: So he can check 3, 4, 5, as many as he wants.

Starks: He can check as many as he desires _____.

Holloway: Politically how is that going to come out, Dr. Robinson, you know, to affect politics, programs and economics, as a result when someone does that?

Robinson: Yes, Jay. I think the, one of the most important issues centering around the census is the political aspect. And I think that employees of the Census Bureau probably do not get involved with that end of it. But if you look at the big controversy that has brewed for the last five years or so about whether or not we should have a 'same' for enumeration or a head count. If you look at the people in Washington and around the country who were pushing for the sample, and look at the group who were pushing for the head count, the 'same' was usually democrat liberals, the head count more conservative republicans. The sample based on statistical theory and technique is purported to be better in including populations who have traditionally been undercounted. Urban people, minorities, low income people, children. With the actual head count as an enumeration technique, those are the populations who had been, had the higher probability of being excluded from the census count. That results in resources and power swinging toward either liberal or conservative political entities. So it's interesting that that is the underneath argument about how the census will be taken, whether or not the actual sample, one that we should sample-should we take the 100 ____ and head count?-but it boils down into power and resource allocation. But when you really look at the thing that articulates the census, as was pointed out, you know things all the way from whether or not a state would lose a member of the House of Representatives or whether or not you had adequate space in the school, the school lunch programs, the number of police that you would have on the beat. Whether or not that money goes to North Carolina or Virginia. All of those are very important political decision issues that are very related to the census, and that really is the hidden agenda that articulates the whole political discussion.

Holloway: Well, it brings to mind another thing in this information age with the internet and information being so available, two questions. How can people use, or when we move the tax filing to the internet, is the census going to be online? And then, what about the confidentiality? So two questions for each of you.

Sutton: There will be forms available on the internet during this particular census. And I think you'll probably see an even bigger push as we go towards a technologically-driven society. And then by the time, in 2010 I think, it would probably be somewhat unfair to perhaps have the census only on the internet or computer until we see where computers are more prevalent in every household. But it's certainly available on the census, I mean on the internet, at this point.

Holloway: Confidentiality, Valerie.

Starks: Yes, confidentiality. Many people don't know that Census Bureaus, we are sworn to secrecy. Literally we are sworn to secrecy, information that we have access to that could potentially breach any person's personal data. We have five years imprisonment and also a $5000 fine. Now I don't know about anybody else but that is not anything that I would want to put my job or personal image on the line for. So we are very, very conscious about the confidentiality, and we make every effort to ensure that from the questionnaires when they are mailed back, again Keith indicated how information is transcribed. Modern-day technology has afforded us to be able to identify various types of marks so that we can make sure that we are as accurate as possible in the final count, which is what it boils down to, a complete and accurate count. One of the things I wanted to point out with regard to the internet as Keith mentioned, is that we encourage people to take the time to fill out the questionnaire that is sent to them by mail. The reason being, in completing on the internet one of the things that you will also have to have is there is a household number that comes on each of the forms, because otherwise we could have people filling out 10 and 12 questionnaires on the internet. So we have to make sure that that particular person that is filling out that form is from that household and has that number, household number designated. The form doesn't come addressed to Jane Doe, it comes resident, you know, ABC Green Street or whatever their address is. So I just want to point that out.

The other thing is in making every effort to make the questionnaire user-friendly, it will be available in a number of languages. Of course it will be sent to each household in English. However, the five languages that it is available in upon request are also Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Spanish. So once you get that questionnaire, you can also call a number to request an additional questionnaire in a different language and, plus we will have language guides that will cover more than 40 languages. So we're really trying to make efforts to make sure that we are reaching all aspects of the population and addressing not only literacy issues, but language issues as well.

Holloway: Let me just ask this question for the record too. What about other governmental agencies, and even private businesses having access to the information that people fill out? Even the IRS?

Starks: No, no connection. There's no connection. Confidentiality has not been breached in the history, I repeat, in the history of the census, it's never been breached. Individual data is kept confidential for 72 years. So as a matter of fact, genealogist, who love this type of stuff, they only have access to information from 72 years ago. But there's no connection, people have to understand the census bureau is a government entity but by law again, as I said earlier, we cannot share the information. If the President of the United States wanted personal information about you, Jay, he could not get that from the Census Bureau. Or the IRS. Or Social Security Administration. Or FBI. Or ABC agency. We just cannot by law.

Holloway: Good. In the last few minutes, let's talk about the benefits of filling this out accurately and on time to those people watching right now. And we just have less than a minute for each of you to kind of summarize on that. Why should people take this thing seriously, fill it out, and get it back in on time? What is the benefit to them? We talked about it earlier but I want to kind of conclude on that. Do you want to start, briefly?

Robinson: Well I think, the major concern that I have is the undercount, particularly among minorities, and how that will impact upon resource allocation that will go to the most needed segments of the population, ranging all the way from political representation to local amenities such as schools and Medicare and those kinds of things. So it's very, very important that particularly minority and low-income urban populations really take the 2000 census very seriously as having a big impact upon the quality of their lives.

Holloway: Okay, very quickly, Valerie?

Starks: I think another thing North Carolinians should be conscious of, in the 1990 census over 129,000 North Carolina residents were not counted. That made us the 7^th largest state that was undercounted. That's something to take very seriously, particularly when we lost out on $68 million dollars. So I think we should be concerned about that. On top of it, having a 10-year impact. So every aspect of our lives will be affected over 10 years. So if you complain about that traffic congestion, you need new roads and bridges, this is your opportunity to make your voice count.

Holloway: Keith, last word.

Sutton: I think we have to look at again the purposes of the census. I think particularly with regard to representation and also the allocation of resources. African Americans, because of the inaccuracy in the 1990 census, African Americans were denied an equal voice in their government. Also federal spending based on, or that used census figures in the distribution formulas for schools, crime prevention, healthcare, transportation. Those funds are misdirected because of the inaccuracy of the count. So again, looking at representation and resources. But also respect and renewal at the same time too. Respect for our race, our individual races, but also renewal of our communities, because again, that is how those figures are used.

Holloway: Thank you so much. We've run completely out of time. I want to thank our guests for participating from the US Census Bureau and from North Carolina Central University. Thank you all for participating. And thank you for watching. If you have further questions or comments regarding the US census on tonight's program on Black Issues Forum, please contact us here at UNC-TV. The number we'll have on the screen. It's 549-7167. For a transcript of today's program, you can visit our website. The address is there, email as well on your screen. We'll return next week at 11 p.m. with a profile of the new President of St. Augustine's College. Until then you have a blessed evening and a good night.

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