New Yorkers may soon be able to check 'multiracial' on official city forms

Updated
Racial Identity: What's Skin Color Got To Do With It?
Racial Identity: What's Skin Color Got To Do With It?


New York City has the highest multicultural population in the country.

Even its mayor, Bill de Blasio, and its first lady Chirlane McCray, have two multi-cultural children, Chiara and Dante.


Yet the current city forms that ask for ethnicity or race only allow for five options: "white, not of Hispanic origin"; "black, not of Hispanic origin"; "Hispanic"; "Asian or Pacific Islander"; and "American Indian or Alaskan Native."

Thankfully a piece of legislation has been submitted that would "amend the New York city charter, in relation to requiring city agencies to amend their official forms and databases to accommodate multiracial identification where racial identification is required."

While the U.S. Census form has allowed people to select multiple races since 2000, there are still a number of government agency forms at the federal, state, and local level that do not offer such an option.

We're glad to see the city of New York is taking steps to better represent its residents.



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