Think of a time when you had to specify your race or ethnicity. Do you think twice about it? What are your thoughts about the ways in which people are asked/forced to reveal their race or ethnicity?

Think of a time when you had to specify your race or ethnicity. Do you think twice about it? What are your thoughts about the ways in which people are asked/forced to reveal their race or ethnicity?

It has seemed to me that this has become more frequent in the last few years. I have often wondered why it mattered if I was white or black or hispanic on my forms that I have filled out. I usually do answer truthfully but I think about the “prefer not to answer” choice. I do recognize that there are reasons for racial identity on some forms, such as, medical records that might identify a genetic link to some diseases. But, there are many forms on which I see it as inconsequential. After reading this book, I suspect there may sometimes be a more ulterior motive.

As a research assistant in the 90' doing surveys for my post grad courses, I was aware of how often this question came up in surveys. I knew it to be added so that all classes/races of people could be included in the research. But since reading 1619, I wondered if the was an ulterior motive for asking this question. Much of the research we did was financed by government agencies. Maybe this was included for their benefit. I frequently answer surveys, (as a former researcher I feel it is important to be involved), but I often leave that question blank or prefer not to answer.

I actually never have thought twice about it. I've always thought demographics were in some way important to the questions being asked, just like age & sex. But after reading the book, it does make me wonder if the indication of race is being used against non-whites. Plus, race is becoming less and less clear; many people are members of more than one race, so I think the question might be challenging for some to even answer.

I've never had to do that, being a white woman.
But reading or hearing about the ways others, not only Black, but Hispanic, Asian, and bi-racial people have been discriminated against, insulted, or physically harmed because of their identity is wrong, wrong, wrong! There is no excuse for treating other human beings as less than equal.
The world is changing all the time. We white people are or will be a minority in many nations. Perhaps one day humans will all be multi-racial and able to care about each other better than we do now.

With more multi-racial individuals in our society, the question is becoming more difficult to answer and less relevant. I understand its application to research -- the need to include subjects from across the racial spectrum -- and, probably because I'm not a member of a group that has suffered racial discrimination, never minded answering. But I do see how the information can be misused.

I have never liked answering that question, but recognized the validity of including it in surveys. I believe it is easy to look back and think about ulterior motives years after the origination of the inclusive question. We cannot keep asking ourselves about the past, rather we must look at things in the present. What difference has it made in today's world? We can only correct errors by recognizing the effects of past decisions.

My answer to this question has changed as I’ve grown older. When I was young and conscious of fixing racism and sexism- I believed tracking would help prove prejudice. Now that I am older and both still exist and the answer is more complicated than a mere box- I wonder about its relevance for any thing. Alsó. I see now how it is and has been used for racist purposes. Yet, i am not comfortable completely eliminating the questions.., without these statistics how does one prove a racist organization. It’s complicated. It must be discussed more before eliminating and unintentionally increasing racism because no one is watching.

As an African American woman who grew up in the 50's and 60's I have never had a problem specifying my race. Remember as a young adult "I was Black and I was Proud"! :) On a more serious note: I do think it's important to include the perspectives of all ethnicities in legitimate surveys and questionnaires. Otherwise I may not be able to go to a local store and find products that are specifically for me, among other reasons. However I agree that it's getting harder for some people to identify a "box" to check.
On a different note, I think a data point that is currently misused is a person's given name. Many names are attributed to certain ethnicities which are used for subtle discrimination.

I completed an employment application yesterday that asked this question. I don't mind answering. Why would I? I have been discriminated against by mere virtue of having a French surname, or the fact that I did not attend college - even though I may know more than many college graduates today who cannot even spell. Yesterday, I was asked for my birth date on the same employment application, which likely disqualifies me due to my age, also against the law. Is it really possible to completely eradicate all prejudice and, if so, how can we presume what is or what is not pertinent to any given application? Maybe, if you say "rather not answer" one would be tagged as ineligible due to being "suspicious."

I have filled out many forms requiring this. I do think there are pros and cons for asking about race and ethnicity, as others stated. It has bothered me in recent years, that usually I only have the choice of "white" - I feel I am more than a color. I am European American. Just as the Irish or English aspect of my ethnicity mattered more in the past, I agree with those that say that race is becoming more irrelevant with more mixing of races now.

Thank you, ssh - such a good point. I too feel that "white" does not completely capture the essence of my ethnicity. I am French Canadian, more than I am white and that says more about me than the fact that I am "white." The more I think about it, the more I think the question should be removed. There was an earlier question about what a "free" American society would look like. Perhaps then, the answer to the "ethnicity" or "race" question would no longer be needed - or even matter?

I think it's time to get rid of the race question.

I think that as our society becomes more diverse with more and more people of two or multiple races that it will be eliminated on many forms and surveys.

As a white senior citizen, I have really never thought twice when asked my race on forms, no matter what type. I now realize that was because my race never impacted my life and how I choose to or am allowed to live it. As a retired health care professional in the field for 42 years, there is definitely a need to know race and ethnicity in order to accurately diagnose and treat patients. There are many conditions that relate to race and/or ethnicity. Sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease, and diabetes quickly come to mind. There is also a narrow need to know for identification purposes such as on drivers licenses as those are the most common form of id used in the USA. Other than that I am hard pressed for the need to know race. What difference does race make on financial forms such as loan applications, social club applications, employment applications, etc.? To me, none.