People with multiracial backgrounds will have more choices than “other” in identifying themselves in the Census 2000.

Census forms in the past contained only four basic categories of race: white; black, African American or Negro; American Indian or Alaska Native; and the “other” category.

This year’s official census form has 12 different race options, plus the opportunity to write in another race not listed as a choice.

The revised form encourages respondents to check off “one or more races” rather than declaring just one race.

This is the first time the multiracial option has been available since the census began in 1790.

“Race is self-identifying,” said Sandra Charvat Burke, assistant scientist with Census Services in the ISU sociology department. “Since the 1990 census, the typical categories did not seem appropriate for how people see themselves.”

She said blended families are becoming more common in the United States.

“In the old system, parents would have to choose the ‘other’ category to describe their children’s race,” Burke said. “Now they can check both the black and white category and are able to chose a category that better fits them.”

Creighton Gaynor, adviser for the Richardson Court Association’s Multicultural Action Group, said the new option is a positive change.

“There was a need for multiracial options for some people,” Gaynor said. “People appreciate the fact that they can represent both their mother and father’s race.”

After the 1990 census, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized an increase in the “other” category because many race boxes were left blank. Organizers decided a changed was needed.

“With the increase in multiracial families, the bureau felt the four divisions were not fitting,” Burke said. “Some had concerns about the categories and felt there was a need for expansion. They needed some type of multiracial divisions.”

Joseph Hraba, professor of sociology, who teaches a course titled Ethnic and Race Relations, said the mixed answer option is a good alternative.

“It’s our reality that there is a growing number of people of mixed ethnicity. Before, the groups were just generally classified. Now the government wants to be more specific,” Hraba said.

The Census Bureau held discussions with various interest groups “to try to determine a way to improve the system,”Burke said.

She said the new form is a result of two years of discussion with various agencies and national minority organizations.

“It was a long process of consulting with all interested to get their recommendation on which categories they felt were more appropriate,” she said.

Zewde Demissie, president of Students for Social Justice, said the new multi-box system allows people to embrace all the different aspects of their heritage.

“For people who are multiracial, they can be torn between different races. But this allows them to celebrate both sides of their heritage and not choose just one,” said Demissie, junior in genetics and psychology.

Even though improvements have been made in the form, some groups still aren’t satisfied.

The Census 2000 form includes changes in the way Asian and Pacific Islander designations are arranged. However, there is still no box for Arab Americans.

“There is a section about origins where a person can write in additional information to help categorize them,” Burke said. She encouraged Arab Americans to fill in this section.

Hraba said it would be impossible to list every race on the form.

“There are 40,000 different ethnic groups in America. They had to compromise on what options to give groups,” Hraba said.

Burke said she is not sure how different minority groups will react to the census.

“We’ll have to wait and see how respondents deal with it,” Burke said.

Gaynor said he thinks the census will serve its purpose for the government, but it really won’t affect how different groups view themselves.

“People will check a box, but it won’t make a difference in the way they live their life,” Gaynor said. “At least they won’t have to check the ‘other’ box. That seems a little derogatory.”

When all the forms are collected, the bureau will have to organize all the data, including information about multiracial groups.

“It will be more of a challenge to present data in charts and publications because there will be more racial categories than in the pervious census,” Burke said.

Hraba said he hopes people realize that with this new system, the government with be counting minorities in a new way.

“It will reclassify the mix,” Hraba said. “The promise is that minorities will not be undercounted.”

Some minority groups are worried the new system will divide them and they’ll lose some government funding.

“That’s a very selfish way to look at things,” Demissie said. “The reality is that some people are parts of many different groups, and they should be able to choose.”