Asian Americans will be the most difficult group to count for the U.S. Census next year according to a report by the Census Bureau.
More than $800 billion of federal funding is allocated based on census data, supporting essential programs like education and healthcare,” said Julia Marks, Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus. “Over the next year, people will hopefully be learning about the census, reaching out to their neighbors, and making sure that everyone in their communities is fully counted.”
The 2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study (CBAMS) Survey concludes that compared to other ethnic groups, Asian Americans
- Know the least about the decennial tally,
- Are the least likely to fill fill out the form,
- Don't understand what the Census is for,
- Have the greatest distrust and believe that the data will be misused.
The survey results are troubling on several fronts.
The top concern is that Asian Americans, which number about 22 million, will be undercounted. An inaccurate tally which would cut the services directed at that community and lessen their influence with government representatives, which also would be reduced.
Evidently, outreach to the AAPI communities has been inadequate even though AAPIs are the fastest growing segment of the population. About 37% of the AAPI communities arrived in the U.S. after 2010, the last time the Census was conducted. Immigrants have not accepted the message because of a lack of trust and/or language is a barrier. According to the Census' own report, 35% of AAPI speak English “less than very well.” Most likely, the reason for the reluctance is a combination of both language and trust.
“We’re all in this learning curve, in making sure that our communities are counted,” said Sanjita Pradhan, who leads civic engagement at the nonprofit Iowa Asian Alliance.
“But I think we understand it’s very important, and we want to do everything we can,” she said to NBC.
Evidently, outreach to the AAPI communities has been inadequate even though AAPIs are the fastest growing segment of the population. About 37% of the AAPI communities arrived in the U.S. after 2010, the last time the Census was conducted. Immigrants have not accepted the message because of a lack of trust and/or language is a barrier. According to the Census' own report, 35% of AAPI speak English “less than very well.” Most likely, the reason for the reluctance is a combination of both language and trust.
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| AAPI Data |
“We’re all in this learning curve, in making sure that our communities are counted,” said Sanjita Pradhan, who leads civic engagement at the nonprofit Iowa Asian Alliance.
“But I think we understand it’s very important, and we want to do everything we can,” she said to NBC.
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