I was trained as a census taker back in the day. We were instructed that “race and ethnicity” was explicitly ‘self identified/defined’ not based on any physical, cultural, or geographical origin. If a respondent wanted to write “Minnesotan” or “dog” in that box we were to accept it at face value.

Exactly. I am Caucasian with European ethnic origins, but I was raised in the Middle East and have a thick accent. I would never call myself "white".

This should be a grass roots movement. Stop filling out your “correct race and ethnicity”. If it doesn’t matter then it doesn’t matter right?

I think there’s a lot of potential in this idea.

Sure, but the history of the term matters in this context & maybe should be taught a little more. Like when we grow up these days, we sorta get the idea that White or Black are these inherent traits that people naturally have and have always had.

We rarely get the chance to see that the idea of whiteness comes from a need of protecting an in-group from exploitation, while excusing and justifying the exploitation of outsiders to that group.

The census is an interesting example because for the first 70 years or so, starting in 1790 the US census had just 3 "race/ethnicity" categories. You could be "Free white male/Free white female", "All other free person" or "Slave". Which is part of the reason for creating the category of whiteness. There's also some really gross stuff right through the 1800s where the census was tracking people with various percentages of "black blood".

https://www.pewresearch.org/interactives/what-census-calls-u...

I suppose I'm just saying that the census, as part of the machinery used to implement and maintain white supremacy, is not necessarily the best authority on race.

dang: there are several informative polite posts on this sub thread voted down to oblivion, perhaps brigaded? These are legitimate ideas, important to the conversation.

Also the whole post got flagged and it's title changed this morning. Atleast we were allowed to have discussion for the day. Similar threads on HN were flagged early on within an hour and died silently.

I'd love to hear from you newmnhn please email me through my profile. Specifically want to talk Scene On Radio "Seeing White".

these academics also use the term "white fragility", that not only shows that white is known to be a race but it also sanctions anti-white sentiment. these offensive statements are a feature, not a bug, and it's very telling how with a little sunlight they abandon their training materials.