Recognize Us Right: Black American, Not African American , on the 2030 Census
Recognize Us Right: Black American, Not African American , on the 2030 Census
The Issue
To: U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Management and Budget, United States Congress, United States Commission on Civil RightsPetition
We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget to replace the term “African American” with “Black American” in the 2030 Census and all federal data collection forms. This change is necessary to accurately reflect the distinct cultural identity and historical presence of Black Americans in the United States.
The term “African American” suggests a direct connection to recent African immigration, which does not fully represent the heritage of many Black Americans. Our culture is rooted in a unique history that predates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1492. Historical evidence, including accounts of melanated peoples in the Americas before European contact, supports our presence as a distinct group with deep ties to this land. Unlike immigrant communities, many Black Americans are descendants of those who were forcibly brought to the Americas centuries ago or whose ancestors were indigenous to this region, forming a unique cultural identity that is not adequately captured by “African American.”“Black American” is a more accurate and inclusive term that honors our distinct culture, resilience, and contributions to the United States. It aligns with the Census Bureau’s history of updating racial categories to reflect societal realities, such as the removal of “Negro” in 2020 and the addition of a Middle Eastern and North African category in 2024.
We believe this change will ensure equitable representation and preserve the integrity of our identity in federal data, which informs civil rights policies, resource allocation, and historical records. Under the First Amendment, we exercise our right to petition for this redress, and under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, we seek fair and accurate recognition of our identity. We respectfully request that the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget adopt “Black American” as the standard term for our community in all federal data collection, beginning with the 2030 Census.
We call on our elected officials, civil rights organizations, and fellow citizens to support this effort to affirm the unique identity of Black Americans as a distinct, melanated people with a profound and enduring legacy in the United States.
Sincerely,
[The Undersigned]
20
The Issue
To: U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Management and Budget, United States Congress, United States Commission on Civil RightsPetition
We, the undersigned, respectfully urge the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget to replace the term “African American” with “Black American” in the 2030 Census and all federal data collection forms. This change is necessary to accurately reflect the distinct cultural identity and historical presence of Black Americans in the United States.
The term “African American” suggests a direct connection to recent African immigration, which does not fully represent the heritage of many Black Americans. Our culture is rooted in a unique history that predates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1492. Historical evidence, including accounts of melanated peoples in the Americas before European contact, supports our presence as a distinct group with deep ties to this land. Unlike immigrant communities, many Black Americans are descendants of those who were forcibly brought to the Americas centuries ago or whose ancestors were indigenous to this region, forming a unique cultural identity that is not adequately captured by “African American.”“Black American” is a more accurate and inclusive term that honors our distinct culture, resilience, and contributions to the United States. It aligns with the Census Bureau’s history of updating racial categories to reflect societal realities, such as the removal of “Negro” in 2020 and the addition of a Middle Eastern and North African category in 2024.
We believe this change will ensure equitable representation and preserve the integrity of our identity in federal data, which informs civil rights policies, resource allocation, and historical records. Under the First Amendment, we exercise our right to petition for this redress, and under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, we seek fair and accurate recognition of our identity. We respectfully request that the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget adopt “Black American” as the standard term for our community in all federal data collection, beginning with the 2030 Census.
We call on our elected officials, civil rights organizations, and fellow citizens to support this effort to affirm the unique identity of Black Americans as a distinct, melanated people with a profound and enduring legacy in the United States.
Sincerely,
[The Undersigned]
20
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on June 22, 2025