Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2009, page 52

Arab-American Activism

Census Impacts Arab- and Muslim- American Community

BY APRIL 1 of next year, the 2010 Census questionnaire will have been sent to every household in America. Because this may be the first time that recent Arab immigrants and non-native English speakers participate in a U.S. census, it is important for participants to understand that recorded data has a positive impact on their community, and that all information is confidential.

Since 1790, the U.S. government has conducted a census every decade in order to count the full population in the United States. The 2010 Census will mark the 23rd census of the U.S. It is a constitutional right for all U.S. residents, whether they are U.S. citizens or not, to participate in the census.

The census directly impacts every community in the U.S., including the Arabic-speaking community. It determines how $300 billion in federal funds is allocated annually to states. Areas with the highest population counts will receive the most funding. Census data guides local decision-makers on where to build schools, child-care centers, healthcare facilities, new roads, housing and other development projects.

The 2010 Census has the shortest questionnaire in history—the simple form takes just a few minutes to complete, and participants will send it back by mail. The 10 easy questions ask for such information as name, gender, age, date of birth, race, and whether respondents own or rent their home. Due to issues related to the separation of church and state, the census does not ask questions related to faith or religion. All responses are used for statistical purposes only, are strictly confidential and are not shared with anyone, including any other federal agency.

The first visible sign that census is approaching is address canvassing. Census workers knock on doors to verify every address throughout the United States. They update this information electronically, using hand-held computers. The census address list is the most comprehensive list in the U.S. and is used for the nation’s 911 operations, U.S. Postal Service, and GPS technology (e.g., MapQuest, Google Maps).

For more information about the history of the United States Census, visit <www.census.gov/history>.

—Courtesy Allied Media Corp.

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