UCLA Report: U.S. Census Fails to Accurately Reflect Latino Racial Identities

Current data collection methods misrepresent the lived experiences of Latinos, particularly Afro-Latinos, impacting policy and resource allocation.

Latinos often find census racial and ethnic categories confusing and misrepresentative.
The UCLA report highlights significant gaps in how the U.S. Census collects racial and ethnic data.
Afro-Latinos face unique challenges due to the lack of appropriate categories on census forms.
Changes in 2024 aim to combine race and ethnicity questions, but concerns about accuracy remain.
Researchers suggest adding a 'street race' question to better capture perceived racial identities.