Diversity on a Personal Level: A First Look at Multiple Race Population

Posted in Articles, Census/Demographics, Media Archive, United States on 2010-09-02 05:09Z by Steven

Diversity on a Personal Level: A First Look at Multiple Race Population

Indiana Business Review
Summer 2001
pages 6-7

John Besl, Research Demographer
Indiana Business Research Center, Kelley School of Business
Indiana University

For many decades, census data have provided a look at racial diversity in our nation’s communities. But Census 2000 offers a truly innovative look at racial diversity, with counts of persons claiming a heritage of two or more races. Census 2000 race tabulations include six different categories of one race “alone,” and 57 different combinations of these six discrete races. Adding to the mountain of data, the 63 race categories are also cross-tabulated by two origin categories (Hispanic or Not Hispanic). The unprecedented detail afforded by 126 race-origin combinations was made possible (necessary?) by the new “check all that apply” option for identifying race on the Census 2000 questionnaire. Former Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt, the man in charge of the 2000 national headcount, recently expressed his opinion that the most significant historical development from the 2000 census will be the introduction of the multiple race option…

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HapaSC: A Place Multiracial Call Home

Posted in Articles, Asian Diaspora, Campus Life, New Media, United States on 2010-09-02 04:27Z by Steven

HapaSC: A Place Multiracial Call Home

Campus Circle News
Los Angeles, California
2010-08-16

Stephanie Forshee

Multiracial students at USC [University of Southern California] like Lauren Perez are devoting time to create a place where you can express every part of yourself. HapaSC is an organization of about 30 USC students that raises awareness for “mixed” students on campus and allows them an opportunity to embrace world change.

The phrase “hapa haole” means “half.” The term was originally used to describe people who were half Asian/Pacific Islander and half Caucasian. It has now been shortened to just “hapa.” HapaSC’s purpose is to create awareness for the rapid expansion of multiracial people. 

“We understand that identity is something you can choose and it’s always developing, so we don’t put people in a box,” says Perez, last school year’s public relations officer…

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