Last week, I received the census form.
I don't believe in "race"; I think it has been scientifically demonstrated that there's no such thing. Of course there is the human race.
Question: Can I get in trouble if I write "Other - human" on my census form? Can any penalties apply?
My Own Humble View
Several years ago, I watched a fascinating documentary on PBS called .Journey of Man I thought it was brilliantly captivating. The narrator and scientist traveled the world to document genetic differences among peoples by testing their DNA. His primary goal in doing so was to demonstrate the history of humans by analyzing their blood for DNA markers. He identified and mapped the trails of generations of people and how their decendants populated the world.
However, while watching it, one fact that he offered really awestruck me. People who look very different can be closer in DNA than people who who are from the same geographic area. He ended the documentary by stating that people from the same village in Africa can have greater genetic difference from each other than to persons in the world's far reaches. Basically, at the DNA level, there is no such thing as "race."
So, lacking scientific basis, race is just made up by people, by culture. It's simply cultural. And, if race is just a human-made idea, then we have the power to un-make it.
Ah, yes, there's much to weigh on the topic. Perhaps, however, "redlining" by zip code would not be possible if the government didn't collect data on the basis of its own definitions of "race."
Like John Lennon, I "Imagine" a world where people stop labeling each other. You may say I'm a dreamer...
Is it really in the law?
Yes, I do have a law degree, but I don't know this area. So I ask, humbly, is there really something set forth in our law -- for the census only -- that sets forth what makes a person of one race over another?
Can I get in trouble if I respond "human?"
I don't know if there any penalties attach to responding to the race question on the Census form by just writing human. If anyone knows, specifically, please respond.
Thank you for reading my diary.