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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 14 March 2023

US. government ponders the meaning of race and ethnicity

By MIKE SCHNEIDER “This is certainly a singular
Associated Press moment and opportunity
Nyhiem Way is weary of to greatly improve and en-
people conflating Afri- hance the accuracy and
can American and Black. completeness of the data,”
Shalini Parekh wants a way Mario Beovides, director of
for South Asian people to policy and legislative affairs
identify themselves differ- for the NALEO Educational
ently than East Asians with Fund, said during a recent
roots in places like China or forum.
Japan. And Byron Haskins The proposed changes
wants the U.S. to toss racial would create a new cat-
and ethnic labels altogeth- egory for people of Middle
er. Eastern and North African
“When you set up catego- descent, also known by the
ries that are used to place acronym MENA, who are
people in boxes, sometime now classified as white but
you miss the truth of them,” say they have been rou-
said Haskins, who describes tinely undercounted.
himself as African Ameri- The process also would
can. combine the race and
Way, Parekh and Haskins’ ethnic origin questions into
voices are among more a single query, because
than 4,600 comments Nyhiem Way, of Athens, Ga., poses for a portrait on Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Athens. some advocates say the
pending before the Biden Associated Press current method of asking
administration as it con- about race and separately
templates updating the The idea of revising cate- of Management and Bud- ing sub-national identities, about ethnic origin often
nation’s racial and ethnic gories for ethnic and racial get is set to decide on new the government further confuses Hispanic respon-
categories for the first time identities, both in the cen- classifications next year contributes to the decline dents. With the revisions,
since 1997. sus and in gathering de- and is hosting three virtual of one national American the government would try
There’s a lot to consider. mographic information be- town halls on the subject identity,” wrote Mike Gon- to get more detailed an-
Some Black Americans tween head counts, have this week. zalez, a senior fellow at The swers on race and ethnicity
want their ancestors’ en- fueled editorials and think- Some conservatives ques- Heritage Foundation, in his by asking about country of
slavement recognized in tank essays as well as thou- tion the process itself, say- personal comment posted origin.
how they are identified. sands of written comments ing the overarching prem- on the OMB web page Another proposal recom-
Some Jewish people be- by individuals in what is al- ise that Americans need seeking public input. mends striking from fed-
lieve their identity should most a Rorschach test for more ethnic categories will That view contrasts sharply eral government forms the
be seen as its own ethnic how Americans identify only accelerate Balkaniza- with those who say previ- words “Negro” and “Far
category and not only a themselves. tion. ous categories have over- East,” now widely regarded
religion. The White House’s Office “By creating and deepen- looked nuances. as pejorative. q

Vice President Harris to visit Africa in latest U.S. outreach

By CHRIS MEGERIAN to travel to Africa later this dents of each of the three
Associated Press year. However, Harris will be countries she’s visiting, Har-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice closely watched as the first ris plans to talk with “young
President Kamala Harris will Black vice president in U.S. leaders, business represen-
spend a week in Africa at history and the first woman tatives, entrepreneurs, and
the end of March as the to hold the position. members of the African Di-
United States deepens its She plans to be in Ghana aspora,” Allen said.
outreach to the continent from March 26 to 29, then in The White House’s con-
amid global competition, Tanzania from March 29 to certed outreach to the
notably with China. 31. Her final stop is Zambia, continent began with the
“The trip will strengthen on March 31 and April 1. U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit,
the United States’ partner- Harris has a personal con- which it hosted in Decem-
ships throughout Africa nection to the third country ber. China has invested
and advance our shared on her itinerary. Her ma- heavily in Africa, but Wash-
efforts on security and eco- ternal grandfather worked ington is pitching itself as a
nomic prosperity,” said a in Zambia years ago, and better partner than Beijing.
statement from the vice she visited him there as a “Our administration will be Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the African Diaspora
president’s spokesperson, young girl. guided not by what we can Young Leaders Forum, Dec. 13, 2022, at the Smithsonian National
Kirsten Allen. Harris’ plans Allen said the vice presi- do for Africa but what we Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington.
follow visits by first lady Jill dent’s agenda will include can do with Africa,” Harris Associated Press
Biden and Treasury Secre- promoting democracy, said during the summit.
tary Janet Yellen. Secretary climate adaptation, wom- Although competition be- policy, the Democratic ad- tinent don’t feel as though
of State Antony Blinken is en’s economic empower- tween the U.S. and China ministration is trying to cali- they’re being caught in the
going this week, and Presi- ment and food security. has been the backdrop brate its approach to Af- middle of a geopolitical
dent Joe Biden is expected Besides meeting the presi- of much American foreign rica so leaders on the con- contest.q