Mixed Race Studies

Emory and CNN Launch Public Dialogue Series

The Emory Wheel
2011-09-02

Amanda Serfozo

Emory University hosted an inaugural event in partnership with CNN on Wednesday evening that aims to facilitate discourse related to the results of the 2010 Census and its reflection of new population trends in America.
 
CNN Dialogues—an ongoing colloquium with panels scheduled throughout October, November and December—is organized in partnership with Emory University, the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Panelists discussed how popular culture, urban studies and sociology explores the identities behind the 2010 U.S. Census and how people live.
 
Panelists included Heidi W. Durrow, author of the novel The Girl Who Fell From the Sky; Edward James Olmos, actor and activist; Yul Kwon, the host of PBS’s “America Revealed”; Kris Marsh, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maryland at College Park; and Dana White, Goodrich C. White professor of Urban Studies at Emory University…

…Panelists discussed the U.S. Census, which the government administers each decade and is federally mandated by the Constitution.

It serves not only as a population marker used to reapportion electoral seats, but also to reassess state funding…
 
Durrow addressed the recent argument over having a one “box” limit for the race category on the Census form, to a multi-choice option for citizens with multiple ethnicities.
 
“As someone with a Danish mother and an African-American father, I struggled with my [Census form] selection,” she said. “I understand that the Census is not exactly the place for self-identification. It’s about reapportionment and money, but it’s also important to know that there’s an evolving mix occurring.”
 
Adding to Durrow’s point, Marsh acknowledged the differences in inner and outer identity in standardized Census data collection.

“I believe that there are two Americas today,” Marsh said. “There’s how we selectively self-identify—for instance, I could claim I’m a white woman all day—and then there’s how the outside world identifies us, where I would be more apt to be seen as a black woman.”…

Read the entire article here.

CNN DIALOGUES: The 2010 Census and the New America?

The Cecil B. Day Chapel of The Carter Center
 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30307
2011-08-31, 19:00-20:30 EDT (Local Time)

Moderator:
Wolf Blitzer, CNN’s Lead Political Anchor and Anchor of “The Situation Room”

Panelists:

Heidi W. Durrow, author of the debut novel The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
Edward James Olmos, actor and activist
Yul Kwon, Host of PBS’ “America Revealed”
Kris Marsh, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland at College Park
Dana F. White, Goodrich C. White Professor of Urban Studies at Emory University

If numbers don’t lie, what can the 2010 U.S. Census tell us about who we are and how we live? On August 31st, thought leaders in sociology, urban studies, and popular culture will come together in front of a live audience at The Carter Center in Atlanta to explore the implications of the 2010 census in the premiere session of CNN DIALOGUES.

This event, hosted by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, will feature Heidi Durrow, Edward James Olmos, Yul Kwon, Kris Marsh and Dana F. White.  This is the first in a series of three CNN DIALOGUES planned for 2011.

For more information, click here.