The question on Race/Origins captures both the race AND ethnic origin of an individual. In this format, the respondent will first check their race (White, Black, Asian, American Native, Pacific Islander, etc.) AND then write in their origin; that is, Portuguese, Italian, Cape Verdean, Samoan, Chinese, etc.) in the spaces under the race that they check.
As a result of meeting with officials in the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, the following has been clarified about the coding and tabulation of “Portuguese” as an ethnic group:
- “Portuguese” has now been assigned a code number as an ethnic group, something that it did not have in the 2010 Census; hence, there was no data for 2010;
- “Azores Islander” and “Madeiran” also have individual codes under “Portuguese” and will be tabulated in the total for “Portuguese”;
- “Portuguese” will be coded and tabulated (counted) when written under ANY racial option; that is, White, Black/African-American, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander or Some Other Race;
- “Portuguese” WILL NOT be categorized under “Hispanic”. Hispanic does not appear under Question 7: Race/Origins and instead stands alone with its own question;
- Respondents are encouraged to check and write in as many races and origins with which the individual identifies himself or herself;
- Respondents may write in up to six ancestries under “Origins”.