Multi-race students asked to choose 1

[rice cracker]

Beth Bearbower’s son is a “beautiful mix” of his white, black and Japanese heritage.

The eighth-grader at Williams Intermediate School in Davenport is listed as biracial on school forms.

But for state and federal records, he will be listed as black, Bearbower decided.

Bearbower, along with hundreds of others, was asked to decide by today which single race to mark for her child. While the Davenport School District uses six designations for race, including a category for biracial children, the state and federal governments use only five, not including a slot for children of more than one race, officials said.

Iowa is home to approximately 20,000 children who are more than one race, according to the U.S Census, which gave 63 options for race on its 2000 form. Every school district in the state will be required to report by the five single races.

“He’s a beautiful mix. He’s a handsome boy,” said Bearbower, a fourth-grade teacher at Davenport’s Madison Elementary School. “Saying one or the other is lying because you’re denying the other two. We’re supposed to be proud of who we are.”

The district sent 812 letters to parents of multirace children or children with an unknown race last week, requesting they choose one race for their child. The new choices are White, Black, Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic or American Indian.

Davenport offers six categories: Native American, African American, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian and Biracial.

The school district, officials explained in the letter, will not be removing the biracial designation in its student records, pending clarification from state and federal officials. But to be in compliance with the reporting system, only five ethnicities will be reported to state and federal education officials.

The state’s data collection is in response to the federal requirement for five categories, said Kathi Slaughter, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of education. Data is collected by race in order to identify achievement gaps.

There has been talk of adding a category for children who are more than one race, she said.

For a district that boasts about its diversity, the request is an uncomfortable one.

“People have already told us what they want,” Superintendent Jim Blanche said, adding that he feels as if the request is badgering parents. “It’s a very personal decision. The state has put us in a position to delve into something we would rather not.”

Several parents have chosen not to respond, Blanche said.

“People have been nice about it, but firm, saying we are not interested in being in this position,” he said.

Parent Lewis Sandborne will not be checking any of the five choices given to him. His son, Thomas, is a third-grader at Eisenhower Elementary School. He is white, black and Indian (the subcontinent).

Sandborne, vice president of enrollment at St. Ambrose University, said he chooses biracial as his son’s race if given that option. If not, he leaves race blank.

Sandborne would prefer “multirace” as an option.

“If asked to determine which ethnicity best describes my child, I can only determine none of the above,” he wrote to the school district. “It is unfortunate that in an age when ethnicities are becoming increasingly difficult to describe, the state has decided to shrink the list of options.”

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

__________________________________________________ _______


Interestingly, this article is the first I've heard of there even being a biracial option for race.

[amietron]

I know half-Japanese/half whites, who, when told to make just one, mark both Asian and white, just because it's who they are. How do you decide which to pick?

[rice cracker]

Exactly. It's rather annoying to have your hand forced like that. But I think by checking both when one is specified, whoever enters the choices into the government tracking system has to pick one for themselves, so you're still left being one or the other.

[thaite]

I vote they mail back the letter with a photocopy of my finger.

hey, ricecracker, what's the source for the article?

[rice cracker]

I vote they mail back the letter with a photocopy of my finger.

hey, ricecracker, what's the source for the article?

Oh, my bad: http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1028168&t=Local+News&c=2,1028168

[TB4000]

This reminds me of that ep. of the Sopranos when Meadow was dating that dude that was half jewish and half black. Then Tony confronts him about his race and asks when he signed up for his college application, what box did he check, and made a crack that he probably didn't pick jewish because he could get some affirmative action help by choosing the other one.

[rice cracker]

I have decided I like the word "multirace."

[yoMAMA]

the wonderful world of "one drop rule"

[SynRG]

I know half-Japanese/half whites, who, when told to make just one, mark both Asian and white, just because it's who they are. How do you decide which to pick?

That's what I did on my college entrance application, I just checked both boxes. I don't see why they can't just have "multirace" as an option, like I don't see how anyone would be opposed to it. If not, then they can at the very least have "check all that apply."

[Kuchana]

This reminds me of that ep. of the Sopranos when Meadow was dating that dude that was half jewish and half black. Then Tony confronts him about his race and asks when he signed up for his college application, what box did he check, and made a crack that he probably didn't pick jewish because he could get some affirmative action help by choosing the other one.

oh that's so wrong! :mad: what a cheap shot.

[SynRG]

oh that's so wrong! :mad: what a cheap shot.

Hmm... that's a good example.

Would it right or wrong for a college to deny Meadow's bf affirmative action priveledges because he is only half black? What if he "looks" really black and is treated by the dominant majority as black and therefore experiences the same prejudices and discrimination as full blacks? Would it make any difference if the college's entry app only let him check one box and there was no option for "multiracial?" (NOTE: This question assumes you support affirmative action in higher education, if you don't then the answer is a no-brainer).

[BeTheReds]

I'm opposed to multi race, as it puts half black/half white in teh same category as half asian/half native american or many other combos that aren't a legitimate community.

I'd be all for having "check all that apply" or just choosing one.

[amietron]

I'd be all for having "check all that apply" or just choosing one.
if you could only choose one, which would you choose?

[SynRG]

if you could only choose one, which would you choose?

He'd choose "Overseas Korean with American Citizenship."


...


Sorry BTR I just had to! :wink:

[rice cracker]

I'm opposed to multi race, as it puts half black/half white in teh same category as half asian/half native american or many other combos that aren't a legitimate community.

I'd be all for having "check all that apply" or just choosing one.

What's so wrong about being in the same catagory? It's better than denying half of what you are.

[Mr.Lum]

I never saw what was annoying about "picking one". I mean, its not like it changes you.

[holybull101]

Longer the form, the more ineficient. If they really needed to know their whole makeup, they'd put it on the form.

[Hiroshi2]

Hmm... that's a good example.

Would it right or wrong for a college to deny Meadow's bf affirmative action priveledges because he is only half black? What if he "looks" really black and is treated by the dominant majority as black and therefore experiences the same prejudices and discrimination as full blacks? Would it make any difference if the college's entry app only let him check one box and there was no option for "multiracial?" (NOTE: This question assumes you support affirmative action in higher education, if you don't then the answer is a no-brainer).



Then you pimp the system.



I support affirmative action, cause hell if I can get a free ride, then I'll take it. It's just that I'll have to prove that I'm capable and worthy of the position once I get it, whether it be for a college, job, whatever.


If I knew that checking multiracial would cut me out from AA, then I'll check black. But then again, I'm a mix of two minorities, so it doesn't really make a difference anyway, ha ha.


On those boxes, if they don't offer multiracial or "check all that apply", then I'll check whatever the hell I want. On one day, I may check black, on others I may check asian. On other days, I may check two boxes anyway. Those punk bitches can't tell me who I am.

[rice cracker]

I never saw what was annoying about "picking one". I mean, its not like it changes you.

It doesn't change you, or how you identify, but it does send out an unclear message about who is filling out the form. Misinformation is dangerous.

[Hiroshi2]

No it doesn't. As long as you're filling out the same name and SS number every time, there should be no doubt that it's the same person.


Race is weird in that it is a part of who you are, but then again, it really isn't.

[rice cracker]

No it doesn't. As long as you're filling out the same name and SS number every time, there should be no doubt that it's the same person.


Um, I meant about one's race. You know, for government tracking.

[Hiroshi2]

Read that last line of my last post again.

[rice cracker]

Read that last line of my last post again.

Still not clear. They know exactly who you are, but with the wrong race information? That kind of nullifies the "exactly" part. Also, the last line has nothing to do with government tracking.

[Hiroshi2]

Still not clear. They know exactly who you are, but with the wrong race information? That kind of nullifies the "exactly" part. Also, the last line has nothing to do with government tracking.





When the government asks you for your race, they're essentially asking you "what are you"? They don't care about what culture you are, they just want to know what your race is so they can identify you by physical features like skin color, hair color, eye color, etc.


Your name is you and who you are. I guess it goes back to the whole race vs culture thing. It's kinda complicated and I admit it's kinda hard for me to explain exactly what I mean, but yeah.

[rice cracker]

When the government asks you for your race, they're essentially asking you "what are you"? They don't care about what culture you are, they just want to know what your race is so they can identify you by physical features like skin color, hair color, eye color, etc.


Your name is you and who you are. I guess it goes back to the whole race vs culture thing. It's kinda complicated and I admit it's kinda hard for me to explain exactly what I mean, but yeah.

Well, culturally speaking, if they were interested one would put down "American." Race and culture are two different things. Asking "what are you" race wise and giving limited options for race is wrong. I shouldn't have to choose one over the other.

Also, I don't think you understand what government tracking entails. For instance, in my business, our forms ask for race so the government can track who of what race is getting a home loan. So if I were to get a mortgage, the choice becomes do I apply as a white person or as an Asian person? Because I can't put down both or whoever takes the information from the form will choose one or the other anyway. Recently I did an over the phone application and when I asked for the woman's race she said, "Technically Caucasian, but I'm Asian as well." When I told her I could check only one box she replied, "Oh, well, put down Asian so they get the credit."

[nonamerasian]

When the government asks you for your race, they're essentially asking you "what are you"? They don't care about what culture you are, they just want to know what your race is so they can identify you by physical features like skin color, hair color, eye color, etc.


Your name is you and who you are. I guess it goes back to the whole race vs culture thing. It's kinda complicated and I admit it's kinda hard for me to explain exactly what I mean, but yeah.

I kinda agree.

I wouldn't bring culture into the argument, but when papers ask race, I don't take it as them wanting to know exactly what a person is racially, but moreso physically or how society defines the person racially (which is usually physically), rather than what they really are.

I'm not explaining myself well, either. *humph*

[BeTheReds]

If anything, neve check other, because everyone who checks other won't see any of the credit. Other just gets divided proportionately according to what the other statistics are.

For example,

If it happens to be that in a given pool of 100 people they identified as such:

20 Asians
20 Whites
20 Blacks
20 Hispanics
20 Others

Then really it means:

25 Asians
25 Whites
25 Blacks
25 Hispanics

Even if all of the "other" demographic is 1/2 White and 1/2 Black, the stats will be counted as such.

Other is shitty, and I'd rather be forced to pick one than choose other.

[thaite]

I understand what BTR is saying. What I'm saying, is to not let forms force you into picking one or the other. Pick all that apply, and if the person behind the form doesn't like it, tell 'em you'll be happy to help them stick the form up their ass.

[BeTheReds]

I understand what BTR is saying. What I'm saying, is to not let forms force you into picking one or the other. Pick all that apply, and if the person behind the form doesn't like it, tell 'em you'll be happy to help them stick the form up their ass.


Most forms have check all that apply now anyway.

[Hiroshi2]

Most forms have check all that apply now anyway.





Most. I'd say almost half of the time I still run into forms that don't say that, or even some that specifically say "Check one box only". But then again, I live in the Deep South.

[BeTheReds]

Most. I'd say almost half of the time I still run into forms that don't say that, or even some that specifically say "Check one box only". But then again, I live in the Deep South.


The federal government uses "check all that apply" or are moving towards that trend if I am not mistaken.

[AngryABCGirl]

[moved from another thread by BeTheReds]

Hmm, I don't know how this is relevant, but I found out a friend of mine's father (white father, asian mother) purposely bubbled in White only for her on her forms and applications and stuff, and for some reason that just really disturbed me. I guess it kind of expalins what she thinks of herself more as White even though a lot of Asian feelings tend to come out once in awhile, but she kind of conceals them. I always just attributed it to the fact that she is more White-looking and isn't East Asian, so she doesn't have the stereotypical Hapa look, so other Asians haven't been that welcoming, but I don't know, this kind of bothers me, but I really don't have any right to judge from my near hyper-asian-sino-centric activist perspective.

[BeTheReds]

[moved from another thread by BeTheReds]

Hmm, I don't know how this is relevant, but I found out a friend of mine's father (white father, asian mother) purposely bubbled in White only for her on her forms and applications and stuff, and for some reason that just really disturbed me. I guess it kind of expalins what she thinks of herself more as White even though a lot of Asian feelings tend to come out once in awhile, but she kind of conceals them. I always just attributed it to the fact that she is more White-looking and isn't East Asian,

What do you mean, like she's South Asian or West Asian? Or did you mean she isn't East Asian looking? Just trying to clarify.

so she doesn't have the stereotypical Hapa look, so other Asians haven't been that welcoming, but I don't know, this kind of bothers me, but I really don't have any right to judge from my near hyper-asian-sino-centric activist perspective.


What if she had only checked Asian? Would that bother you?

[AngryABCGirl]

What do you mean, like she's South Asian or West Asian? Or did you mean she isn't East Asian looking? Just trying to clarify.




What if she had only checked Asian? Would that bother you?

I just meant she isn't East Asian looking, she's Filipino. I mentioned it because I have the impression most people expect Hapas to look like that. It would probably bother me too if she only checked White, but admittingly not as much. But she didn't pick what boxes she got to pick.

[BeTheReds]

I just meant she isn't East Asian looking, she's Filipino. I mentioned it because I have the impression most people expect Hapas to look like that. It would probably bother me too if she only checked White, but admittingly not as much. But she didn't pick what boxes she got to pick.


Was she given the option to check all that apply and still only checked White?

[AngryABCGirl]

Was she given the option to check all that apply and still only checked White?

I'm infering sometimes she could and sometimes she couldn't, but she still didn't to pick in either case.

[BeTheReds]

Interesting.

I usually choose Asian tho, so we balance each other out. Oh wait! I'm already being balanced out with my younger bro!

[AngryABCGirl]

Interesting.

I usually choose Asian tho, so we balance each other out. Oh wait! I'm already being balanced out with my younger bro!

Her white father choose for her.

[BeTheReds]

Her white father choose for her.


What do you mean? Her father forces her to choose White?

[AngryABCGirl]

What do you mean? Her father forces her to choose White?

Pretty much, or even bubbled in the form in himself. It kind of disturbs me. That's why I posted in the first place.

[BeTheReds]

Pretty much, or even bubbled in the form in himself. It kind of disturbs me. That's why I posted in the first place.


Well her father should let her decide for herself. That IS disturbing!

[AngryABCGirl]

Well her father should let her decide for herself. That IS disturbing!

Should I talk to her about it? Actually, how the fuck am I suppose to talk about it? I really have no merit in telling her what to do, and a conversation like that can cut too close.

[AliBabaIncorporated]

It doesn't change you, or how you identify, but it does send out an unclear message about who is filling out the form. Misinformation is dangerous.
Am I the only one who prefers that the government have as much conflicting misinformation about me in as many different databases as possible? I make a principle out of lying about everything I can on government forms.

[rice cracker]

^ Why?

[AliBabaIncorporated]

Mainly because providing any consistency among multiple forms means I'm locked into an answer for the future. Government bureaucrats, and private agencies with access to government data, don't like it when you give answers which differ from their records, unless you can make them doubt the accuracy of their records. If I'm listed in 3 different databases as being 3 different races, that's good enough to convince people that some lazy civil service union clerk entered the data wrong, so they'll accept whatever answer I put in front of them.

Also, nothing to do with the topic, because the information is being demanded, I'm automatically disinclined to provide it. Recently, I went back to the US. To pass through immigration and enter my own damn country, I had to fill out a form telling the government my name, destination address, and phone number, and purpose of visit. I don't even have to do that in many foreign countries. So of course I told them I was going to a Holiday Inn in Iowa. Then I promptly went and got on a plane to Boston.

[rice cracker]

You don't want to be locked into an answer about what race(s) you are? Why?

[AliBabaIncorporated]

Mostly cuz I don't think it's the business of government or other large institutions what continents my parents came from. My bigger aim is to completely confound any policies they'd like to have based on race, but that only works if a bunch of people lie about their race on forums.

[rice cracker]

Mostly cuz I don't think it's the business of government or other large institutions what continents my parents came from. My bigger aim is to completely confound any policies they'd like to have based on race, but that only works if a bunch of people lie about their race on forums.

Well, good luck with that.

[basenow]

With all these confusions and generalisations over race i think we should launch a campaign.

AntiRace - dont state a race, we should not recognise race! The only reason i can see for recognising race is so that governments and pollstars can analyse the differences between different races primarily for political gains. I dont think this is a valid reason.

This campaign wont work, but i just want to say that i think we should do this. Next time do not fill in your race, leave it blank. Race should not be a thing, we are all the same one race: human.

Idealy in the future of course race will not matter, race will become a distinction as hair colour is. It will not matter in any serious sense as it does now.

[asvenus]

With all these confusions and generalisations over race i think we should launch a campaign.

AntiRace - dont state a race, we should not recognise race! The only reason i can see for recognising race is so that governments and pollstars can analyse the differences between different races primarily for political gains. I dont think this is a valid reason.

This campaign wont work, but i just want to say that i think we should do this. Next time do not fill in your race, leave it blank. Race should not be a thing, we are all the same one race: human.

Idealy in the future of course race will not matter, race will become a distinction as hair colour is. It will not matter in any serious sense as it does now.

sorry basenow but youre living in a dream land...

look guys the facts of it are no one gives a shit what you put on your form, the info we put down is misused and misrepresented, i know for damn sure that if you tick black and any other ethnicity youre immediately classified as black anyway...until they decide to dredge up the real facts as an exercise in how mixed and happy we are all becoming...its all a big joke anyway...i would never describe myself as bi/multi/woteva racial anyway so it really doesnt bother me...i usually tick whatever the hell i want fully aware that they will interpret this as black :rolleyes:

sometimes i manipulate my identity to make it work for me, if i sound cynical its because i am and no amount of politicaly correct forms will change that...i dont trust statistics and how they are used so i try not to take it too seriously...and whether we like it or not, our 'race' is chosen for us everyday we walk down the road anyway so its not a unique or isolated experience

[My Name Is...]

I thought it was law for Blacks (no matter how 'diluted') to report that they are black?

[Smush]

I thought it was law for Blacks (no matter how 'diluted') to report that they are black?

Nope, though if you are even 1/4 black, many times you'll be included as African American.

[MacJulius]

Nope, though if you are even 1/4 black, many times you'll be included as African American.

Actually, you DO have to report being black. The law still stipulates that a person with ANY known African ancestry is black.

If you don't report black you wont get in trouble for it, but still.

[BeTheReds]

To my knowledge, you can fill out whatever bubble you want to. There isn't any law that says who is black or dictates how people must identify themselves.

[My Name Is...]

To my knowledge, you can fill out whatever bubble you want to. There isn't any law that says who is black or dictates how people must identify themselves.
loophole!

[YuheiCarreau]

To my knowledge, you can fill out whatever bubble you want to. There isn't any law that says who is black or dictates how people must identify themselves.

When I applied to NC State, I didn't check anything. Then I got a call from them saying that, because they were a state school, they had to report something for race - but that the computer wouldn't accept two categories. I think I told them to put down White... Anyways, they didn't let me in.

[BeTheReds]

either way, you still get some kind of choice as to what you want to fill in.

[Lolita]

This is so weird. Before I found out that I am way more Chinese than black, I simply checked both Asian and Black at this clinic. They saw black and put that on all my other papers. So now I am finding through tracking of my family tree that I am like 3% black and the rest is mostly Javanese and Chinese and the stupid clinic thinks I'm a full black.

[sweetmilk]

I never saw what was annoying about "picking one". I mean, its not like it changes you.

I don't know, just the idea that teachers will see what I'm marked as and assume that's all I am, although I don't get why that bothers me so much.

I'm white, Native American, Arab and Asian, all of which are only one quarter. My mom is phenotypically and culturally white, and my dad hasn't lived with me since I was 10 months old, and was deported when I was seven, but I definitely don't feel "white".

I have no idea what to pick. >_<

[professorfrink]

Pick nothing.

Love,
GM

[kimkyok]

I'm being forced to be black by my mostly siberian grandmother. She is indenial that she has any reminance of siberian in her. She tells me that you are black and cant get over that. But I told her that I'm both and she needs to stop lying to herself.