America’s Churning Races: Race Response Changes between Census 2000 and Census 2010

• In Event: 466 - Regular Session. Multi-Racial Classification/Identity

Abstract

Race responses, Hispanic responses, and corresponding identities can change over time and across contexts. Are these changes widespread or rare? Which groups are affected by such changes? To answer these questions, we use internal Census Bureau data from the 2000 and 2010 censuses in which individuals’ responses have been linked across years. We find that millions of individuals (about 6 percent of people in our large sample) changed their race and/or Hispanic origin responses between 2000 and 2010. Multiple-race response groups experienced substantial churning, as did the race responses of American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. Some groups show substantial stability in race/Hispanic responses, particularly single-race non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians. Response changes are distributed throughout society, happening among males and females, youth and adults, and in all regions.

Authors

• Carolyn A. Liebler, University of Minnesota

• Sonya Rastogi, U.S. Census Bureau

• Leticia Fernandez, U.S. Census Bureau

• James Noon, U.S. Census Bureau

• Sharon R Ennis, U.S. Census Bureau