When the 2020 census results were released, a significant rise in the number of individuals identified as multiracial in the United States was reported, marking a 276% increase from 2010. However, new research suggests this surge may primarily stem from changes in classification methods rather than genuine shifts in racial or ethnic identity.
Research by Princeton sociologists indicates that the Census Bureau’s decision to allow respondents to specify their family origins led to this dramatic increase. For the first time, respondents could write in their ethnic backgrounds, which influenced how the Census Bureau categorized individuals. Between 2010 and 2020, those identifying as two or more races grew from 2.9% to 10.2% of the population, with the increase especially noticeable among Hispanic individuals.
The researchers claim that many individuals who marked a single race but detailed their Latin American or African origins were reclassified as multiracial by a computerized algorithm. This shift raised concerns among some commentators about perceived changes in demographic power dynamics, particularly regarding the white population, which decreased from 72.4% to 61.6%.
The Census Bureau defended the changes made in the 2020 census, asserting that the new methodology better reflects the complexities of racial and ethnic identities in contemporary society. Yet, they also admitted that the drastic rise in multiracial identification could be partly attributed to these classification adjustments.
The implications of these figures are significant, affecting political districting, civil rights enforcement, and federal funding allocations. The visibility of multiracial identity has been amplified in recent years, notably with prominent figures like the Vice President exemplifying diverse backgrounds.
Critics, including the Princeton researchers, argue that the Census Bureau conflated ancestry with identity and national origin with race, recommending a reevaluation of how origins are used in classification. The 2020 census faced various distractions, including political controversies and the COVID-19 pandemic, complicating its execution and resulting in an undercount of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian populations.
Since 2021, researchers have urged the Census Bureau to analyze the data using methods from previous censuses for a clearer comparison, but no response has been provided, leaving many questioning the accuracy of these findings. The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of measuring America’s evolving demographic landscape, especially as government classifications continue to evolve.
As the methods of recording and classifying racial and ethnic identities undergo further changes, including the introduction of new categories, experts remain divided on the extent of the impact this has on understanding the nation’s demographics accurately.
