It is difficult to overstate how important the U.S. Census is in guiding how the country governs itself. The census count is a detailed enumeration and counting of the country’s population. It is conducted once every ten years and serves to allocate political representation as well as guide the fair distribution to the trillions of dollars in federal funding to cities, states and tribes. The 2020 census resultsThese were also announced last year and will play a crucial role in the Biden administration’s signature environmental justice program. It promises that at least 40% of the benefits of government spending on climate-related programs, infrastructure, clean energy, or clean energy will be directed to economically disadvantaged census tracts.
Because of the importance of the matter, even small deviations from the census count or the actual population can have significant knock-on effects. Thursday will see the U.S. Census Bureau released statistical analysisThis revealed a persistent trend: the undercounting and misrepresentation of people of colour. Black Americans, Latinos, Indigenous people living on reservation were all undercounted by approximately 3, 5, and 6 percentage, respectively. These undercounts are consistent to 2010 results, although Latinos saw a far greater undercount in 2010 than the 1.5 percent. White Americans and Asian Americans were, however, overcounted in this latest census.
Language barriers, low literacy rates, inaccessibility to the internet, and distrust of federal government may all be reasons why census undercounts occur. The Census Bureau was able pinpoint miscounts using a post-census survey that asked a sample of people where their homes were on the day of census. This information was then compared to the information from the initial effort.
The persistence of extreme residential segregation within the U.S. can lead to divestment and the diversion of much-needed funds for things like affordable housing and transportation. There could also be problems with environmental justice projects such as the replacement of lead pipes, remediation of contaminated soil, upgrading failing sewage systems, or strengthening housing stocks to withstand heat waves, storms and floods. If districts are drawn on incomplete data, it can lead to communities of colour being underrepresented in politics.
Fawn Smart, president of National Congress of American Indians issued a Statement last week saying the results “confirm our worst fears.”
Despite the challenges that the 2020 Census presents, [American Indians and Alaska Natives]She said that people who live on reservations lands should be counted and receive their fair share federal resources.
Even if there are undercounts, the latest census shows that population trends can have destabilizing consequences for environmental policymaking. For example, nine of the ten U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest Black populations have seen substantial declines in Black population since 2000. Chicago and Detroit were the two largest cities to lose Black residents in that time. Black residents are leaving major cities across the country due to concerns around violence, safe and affordable housing, as well as the health and economic issues that arise from their disproportionate exposure in polluted and toxic urban areas.
One census tract in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood was 97 percent Black in 2010. exodusThis is particularly evident. A decade ago, the corner at Normal Boulevard and 57th Street was adorned with greenery and homes. 400 homes were demolished in order to make room for a freight yard expansion. The area census tract was also updated. 1,600 Black residents were lostDespite the fact that its population fell by 1,400 overall, it was boosted by white and Latino residents.
According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the railyards expansion caused more pollution in the community than 95 percent of the country. Deborah Payne, a long-time Englewood resident, said that she had to leave because the railway was destroying the community. She said that the pollution was a major factor in the exodus.
She said that we were always affected by pollution and dust. It was noisy and dusty. They didn’t do much to maintain greenery. This affected communities because many people would get on freight trains and open them to take items.
Although environmental issues may be driving some Black people from cities, they don’t always find refuge in the suburbs where they are moving. In Chicago, thousands of Black residents have chosen to move to nearby areas to escape the environmental problems. Joliet, Illinois is a warehouse and logistics center where industry has left the city in dire straits of water. However, its Black population has increased by 2,200 since 2010.
In other words: While undercounts may compromise the tools effectiveness, the count nonetheless illuminated patterns that policymakers will want them to consider.
How could anyone not be worried? Robert Santos, Director of Census Bureau, spoke out about the deficiencies in the Bureau’s analysis last week. These findings will put some of those concerns to rest and leave others for further exploration.”