Blacks in Panama, multi--racial in the US

One day a few years ago I was in McGruder's grocery store in Alexandria, VA with my friend, Malinda. The Ethiopian cashier asked me what my t-shirt "everyone loves a mixed girl" means.  I said it means my parents are from two different groups and that my sister bought the t-shirt for us. She slammed my change down on the counter and told me she did NOT like that. at all. She doesn't believe in that.  Everyone should stay with their own. Then, she turned to Malinda and asked "and you? are you mixed too?" Malinda shied away and said she was just black. whoa. I have no idea why she had such a violent and hostile reaction to my t -shirt, but for my own safety I decided not to ask a million questions that day. We quickly left the store.
** just to be clear, I consider both of my parents to be Black. in my universe Black does not only mean "African American". Raised in the US, I do and have recognized that my parents belong to two different government boxes. I will never diminish my family's Panamanian/Latino pride nor the pride of being African American to make classification easier for people with narrow definitions. We don't have to homogenize Blackness to achieve solidarity** off the soapbox.

Interestingly enough, as a question about African heritage makes an appearance for the first time on Panama's 2010 census, in the US this will be the 2nd census which allows people to choose more than one racial identity.

I wonder if these homogeneous groups we like to create (namely black and white) will be complicated at higher age groups, or if this change in identification will be reflected mostly in younger respondents.  This is not to say that a larger number of "mixed" people are younger, but more probable (in my opinion) that younger people are more likely to reject the racial binary and openly identify with more than one group.
And what will Hispanic/Latino look like? or Asian/Pacific Islander? as they are identifications based on geographic origins and language, not color in the way in black and white.  The Time article talks about a Brazilian lobby group, which undoubtedly is thrown in with the majority Spanish speaking Latino/Hispanic group. I am not sure what all of the choices are. If anyone who has received their packet wants to weigh in, I would be grateful. Alas, I will not be counted this year.

from the USA article and in response to those who feel the US is headed toward a post-racial (whatever the heck THAT means) age via Obama:
This month, the Census Bureau will remind Americans that racial classifications remain an integral part of the country's social and legal fabric while, at the same time, recognizing that racial lines are blurring for a growing number of people.



It will be interesting to see what comes out of both of these census maps! I feel like a qualitative demographer :-)

USA today article specifically about multiracial people and the census
TIME article about the census

Video about the 2010 Census in Panama

I did not know before arriving in Panama that this was the year for the census. I also found out, quite early in my trip, that for the first time I question about "being black" would be included. Panama is not the only country to do this; this question is being included in many countries, although the wording is not the same everywhere.

I attended a workshop on this very topic in Colon back in December with some of the people in this video (Eunice Menesses, Ricardo Weeks). And in my interviews I ask people about the census, how they feel about this question and how will they respond when they come knocking at the door in May! (will post an interesting exchange about this once I translate it)

*edit* I just received an email with the official logo as well*


this is in Spanish, but in an effort to educate about the census (may 16 2010) this video was produced. I am interested to hear thoughts about it. The question that will, for the first time, appear on the census will look like this:

LA PREGUNTA QUE SE INCLUYE EN LOS CENSOS PANAMÁ 2010 CON RESPECTO A LOS AFRODESCENDIENTES ES LA SIGUIENTE:

¿Alguna persona de este hogar se considera negro (a) o afrodescendiente?

Does anyone in this home consider himself/herself black or of African descent?

Sí _____ No ______

Si se contesta afirmativamente, entonces ésta da paso a otra interrogante específica:

If you answer yes, then this leads to another specific question:

¿Se considera usted…

Do you consider yourself...

negro (a) colonial _____________ negro (a) antillano (a) _______________

negro (a) _____________ otro_______________ ninguna_____________ antillano(a)


youtube also has related videos, and if anyone is interested this site has also has articles about the census (the question of afro descendiente) in Costa Rica, Chile, and Argentina.