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National Campaign to
Rectify Census’ Underepresentation
of Dominicans
The Dominican American National Roundtable
(DANR) and the CUNY-Dominican Studies
Institute (DSI) have partnered in a
campaign requesting the U.S. Census Bureau
to revisit the 2000 Census numbers for Dominicans
living in the United States. Our findings
show that at least 350,000 Dominicans have
been underrepresented as resulted in inaccurate
depiction.
DANR and DSI believe that,
- A NUMERICAL UNDEREPRESENTATION HAS OCCURED
- POLICY IMPLICATIONS ARE SEVERE FOR
DOMINICAN-AMERICANS
- AN OFFICIAL RECERTIFICATION IS POSSIBLE
UNDEREPRENSENTATION
The 2000 Census reported only 764,945
Dominicans are living in the United States.
However, the Mumford Center at
the University of Albany, using US Census-Current
Population Survey (CPS 98 & 2000),
found 1.1 million Dominicans, and The
North-South Center at the University
of Miami identified 1,014,879 Dominicans
(CPS 97,98,99, & 2000). Previously,
in 1997, the CUNY-Dominican Studies
Institute, -using CPS 95, 96, &
97-, reported 832 thousand Dominicans
living in the United States.
Such discrepancies resulted from the
inappropriate wording of question #7 found
in the short form of the 2000 Census.
Consequently, 6 million out of 10 million
“other Hispanics” did not identify
their national-origins correctly. As the
largest group of “other Hispanics”
living in the U.S., Dominicans were disproportionably
affected by such underreporting.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
- PUBLIC INVISIBILITY
U.S. Media, political parties, interest
groups, grantmakers, and other organizations
at local, state and federal levels will
continue to ignore the presence and contributions
of U.S. Dominicans
- ADVOCACY PROBLEM
Without “real” numbers, Dominican
community-based organizations will not
be able to extend their efforts to increase
community service and civic participation.
- UNDERMINE THE UNDERSTANDING OF DOMINICAN-AMERICANS
Academics, business leaders, government
agencies, and policy-makers need accurate
numbers to assist in their knowledge,
service and regulation of the Dominican
community.
- DISTRUST IN THE US CENSUS BUREAU
It will be difficult for Dominican advocates
to encourage greater community participation
in future Census programs if there is
no assurance as to the credibility of
the data.
RECTIFICATION
Independent census experts have a consensus
that the U.S. Census Bureau can make the
necessary adjustments to correct this
underepresentation in the data with existing
statistical techniques.
ACTIONS
We urge you to join this critical campaign
for the future of the Dominican communities
in the United States. Therefore, we encourage
everyone to communicate the U.S. 2000
Census concerns to political representatives
and the Director of the Census Bureau.
Please keep us inform via email at census@danr.org
of your progress and findings.
1) CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
- Visit, write, call, fax or email your
representatives to express your concern
about the underepresentation of “other
Hispanic” in the 2000 Census.
- To write them electronically go to www.house.gov/writerep
for congressional representatives and
to www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
for your senators. Check a partial list
of members of the US Congress at the end
of this information.
- Ask your representative to express in
public his or her opinion on this matter.
- Your communication will have great impact
if you talk on behalf of your organization,
but we encourage you to write a personal
letter as well. Below you will find a
sample letter. Please use this letter
as a guide when drafting yours. Do not
forget to indicate your postal address
when communicating with your representatives.
- Inform us about your communications
at census@danr.org
2) CONTACT THE US CENSUS DIRECTOR
- Write or email Mr. William G Barron
Jr, Director of US Census Bureau requesting
him to revisit the 2000 Census numbers
for Dominicans living in the United States
at:
Mr. William G Barron, Jr.
Acting Director
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington DC 20233
Email: William.G.Barron.Jr@census.gov
- Inform us about your communication
at census@danr.org
3) PARTICIPATE IN OUR MEETINGS ABOUT THIS
ISSUE
“The Problem of Dominicans in the
2000 Census”
May 8th, 2002
Washington D.C.
MORE INFORMATION
February 20, 2002
Mr. William G Barron, Jr.
Acting Director
U.S. Bureau of the Census
Washington DC 20233
Dear Mr. Barron,
The Dominican American National Roundtable
would like to request the U.S. Census Bureau
revisit the 2000 Census numbers reported
for Dominicans living in the United States.
After a broad consultation with national
experts on the Dominican community in the
United States and demographers, we believe
that a numerical underepresentation of Dominicans
has occurred.
As a result of this oversight, the following
severe policy implications for Dominican
Americans will result:
1) Public Invisibility
U.S. Media, political parties, grantmakers,
interest groups, and other organizations
at local, state and federal levels will
continue to ignore the presence and contributions
of U.S. Dominicans.
2) Advocacy Problems
Without “real” numbers, Dominican
community-based organizations will not be
able to extend their efforts to increase
community service and civic participation.
3) Undermine the understanding of Dominican
Americans
Academic, business, government, and policy-makers
need accurate numbers to assist in their
knowledge, service and regulation of the
Dominican community. Thus, scholars will
be limited to using only the annual Current
Population Survey for their studies until
2011.
4) Distrust in the US Census Bureau
It will be difficult for Dominican advocates
to encourage greater community participation
in future Census programs if there is no
assurance as to the credibility of the data.
Therefore, the Dominican American National
Roundtable respectfully requests to meet
with you to discuss the Bureau’s plans
to address this numerical underepresentation
of Dominicans in the United States 2000
Census.
Sincerely,
José Ramón Bello
Executive Director
SAMPLE LETTER
(Use this letter as a guide when drafting
your letter)
TO A REPRESENTATIVE:
The Honorable
(full name)
Unites States
House of Representative
Washington,
DC 20515
Dear Representative
(Last Name) :
TO A SENATOR:
The Honorable (full
name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (Last
Name) :
I would like for you to contact the director
of the U.S. Census and request him to review
the 2000 Census number of Dominicans living
in the United States. The U.S. census reports
we are 764,945; however, as a Dominican
living in your district (if you are writing
to a Senator name your state) I believe
we are more than a million.
I am concerned that the underepresentation
of Dominicans living in the U.S will lead
to a decline of advocacy groups, public
recognition, research development, and community
involvement. It is my understanding,
that the Census numbers provide the government
with information to allocate funds to underserved
communities. Therefore, the inaccuracy of
the Census numbers can harm the advancement
of Dominican Americans in U.S. society.
I would like to know your position and
what actions you will take to resolve the
underepresentation of Dominicans in the
2000 Census.
Sincerely,
Sign your name
(Below your signature type your name,
address and zip code)
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