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Race definitions
changed with Census 2000.
Census 2000 marked a significant change in how Americans were able
to answer the question of race. Instead of choosing between one
of the four major categories (White, Black, American Indian, Asian
or Pacific Islander) and a fifth multiracial "Other race"
category provided in the 1990 Census, Americans in 2000 were allowed
to specify one or more races. Therefore, data are presented in terms
of people who answered they are "one race alone: which race"
or "two or more races: which races." This method more
accurately reflects the complex nature of race in the United States,
but it does contribute to the complexity of interpreting and reporting
results. For example, one must be conscious of this definition change
when comparing race results from 1990 to those from 2000. It is
also important to note that when reporting all people who report
a race (i.e., those that are "all" one race as well as
those who are "part" one race) that the people who report
more than one race are then represented in at least two different
categories; therefore, one cannot simply add the totals from each
race to reach the total population.
Race is separate from Hispanic/Latino origin.
Another factor when interpreting race and Hispanic/Latino origin
data is to recognize that Hispanic/Latino origin is a separate designation
from race. Therefore, a person who is of Hispanic/Latino origin
may be of any race. In order to get a complete picture of racial
and ethnic diversity in the United States (or at any level of geography),
one must first look at the race statistics and then separately at
Hispanic/Latino origin statistics.
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