The Importance of the Ancestry Question

Census 2000 Education Kit

The Importance of the Ancestry Question

Working Group on ANCESTRY in the U.S. Census

As the countdown to the 2000 Census continues, debate over funding and methodology tends to dominate the local and national press. In fact, the collection of data on ancestry of the full U.S. population is essential to understanding the demographics of our nation and forms a crucial part of the Census debate. This is why the Working Group on Ancestry calls for the continuation of the long form in the 2000 Census, including the question on ancestry based on the data's broad range of practical and effective uses. As you work to support a fair and accurate Census, remember how much we all depend on reliable ethnic data.

Political and Civic Leaders

Ancestry data constitutes an invaluable asset for politicians and civic leaders who need to target ethnic constituencies on numerous occasions to solicit their feedback on policy issues and government initiatives of concern. Conversely, grassroots organizations depend wholly on ancestry data to identify, locate and mobilize their constituencies in order to make their voice loud and clear to government. America's image of an all-inclusive democracy would demand such information be available.

Business, Journalists and Social Scientists

People in the business world from corporations to manufacturers and retailers depend on accurate and reliable ethnic data for market research and economic expansion. Furthermore, researchers would rely on ancestry data to study individual population groups, demographic trends, specific patterns of acculturation, economic and educational mobility and citizenship. Clearly, the benefits would far outweigh the costs of ethnic data.

Civil Rights Organizations, Health and Social Service Agencies

Local and state agencies which deal with health care, social service and civil rights issues would depend on ancestry data for outreach and needs assessments of population groups in the community. In addition, data on national origin is a prerequisite for monitoring ethnic constituencies and issues which arise dealing with discrimination, entitlement and affirmative action. It is essential that these people need to rally around the cause of accurate ancestry and ethnic data.

Unless action is taken to ensure that the long form of the Census questionnaire is part of the 2000 Census, vital data regarding our nation's diverse mix of ethnic constituencies will be misrepresented, under-represented or not represented at all. Virtually every agency, business, institution relies on ethnic data to some extent. The only concern is that the cost of the long form may become an issue during appropriation deliberations. While the cost of the long form, which is mailed to twenty million households, is estimated to be $300 million, there is no way to place a value on the information it will reap. The long form with inclusion of the ancestry question is an investment in the public good for the future and should be strongly supported by all Americans.

Arab American Institute Foundation
918 Sixteenth Street, NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20006
202.429.9210 ,202.429.9214 fax; hsamhan@arab-aai.org

National Italian American Foundation
1860 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009
202.387.0600, 202.387.0833 fax; elizabeth@niaf.org