Census 2000 Briefs and Special Reports SeriesHow are the race categories used in Census 2000 defined?
“White” refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples
of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who
indicated their race or races as “White” or wrote in entries such as
Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.
“Black or African American” refers to people having origins in any of the
Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicated their race
or races as “Black, African Am., or Negro,” or wrote in entries such as
African American, Afro American, Nigerian, or Haitian.
“American Indian and Alaska Native” refers to people having origins in
any of the original peoples of North and South America (including
Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.
It includes people who indicated their race or races by marking
this category or writing in their principal or enrolled tribe, such as
Rosebud Sioux, Chippewa, or Navajo.
“Asian” refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of
the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. It includes
people who indicated their race or races as “Asian Indian,” “Chinese,”
“Filipino,” “Korean,” “Japanese,” “Vietnamese,” or “Other Asian,” or wrote
in entries such as Burmese, Hmong, Pakistani, or Thai.
“Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” refers to people having
origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or
other Pacific Islands. It includes people who indicated their race or
races as “Native Hawaiian,” “Guamanian or Chamorro,” “Samoan,” or
“Other Pacific Islander,” or wrote in entries such as Tahitian, Mariana
Islander, or Chuukese.
“Some other race” was included in Census 2000 for respondents
who were unable to identify with the five Office of Management and
Budget race categories. Respondents who provided write-in entries
such as Moroccan, South African, Belizean, or a Hispanic origin (for
example, Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) are included in the Some
other race category.
