By Principe Guity
Seattle Medium Intern
The U.S. census plays a part in making decisions that will impact our neighborhoods, streets, and communities. Every ten years, the government uses the census to count how many people live in the United States and this can directly affect the areas we live in and determine the resources local communities may receive.
According to T’wina Nobles, President and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, the census is one of the major factors in determining what resources a community will receive in order for it to thrive. As it relates to African-Americans and other undercounted communities, Nobles says that it is critical for them to actively participate in the U.S. Census.
“The census is about money and about power,” says Nobles. “If we’re not accurately counted, as Black people, then we miss out on the money and miss out on the opportunity to have adequate representation, so we have a voice and the power to get our needs met.”
Because data from the census will be used to help determine how much funding will be available for the next 10 years for schools, special academic programs, head start programs, affordable housing, roads, government assistance program for seniors, kids and moderate to low-income families, advocates say that historically undercounted communities simply cannot afford to sit back and not participate in the 2020 Census. Much like voting, they say that the census is another way to express your voice.
This year marks the first time that the census will be conducted primarily online. People will also have the option of completing the census by phone or mail. However, it is the online option that is most concerning to advocates of historically undercounted communities because they feel it presents another barrier that can contribute to an undercount in this year’s census, especially when you consider the lack of internet access experienced in low-income and minority communities.
In an effort to help minimize the effect that access to the internet can have on people of color, the Urban League is working with the local business community to promote awareness. They plan on having a team that will travel with Ipads to local barber and beauty shops to help people fill out the census online.
In addition, they have established a “make black count” committee made up of Black and African-led organizations to create a series of awareness events. The partners – which include the Tacoma Urban League, Cierra Sisters, the City of Tacoma, TeamWrk, Tilford & Associates, One Vibe Africa, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders – are planning to hold events throughout the area like Mardi Gras night, a soccer tournament, and a party for pre-teens all in an effort to get as many people to participate in the census as possible. The group will also visit local churches on “Census Sunday ‘’ to help inform people about the census and to encourage their participation.
Most importantly, Nobles notes that the census only has a few questions about things like how many people live in your household and their ages, and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Between March 12 – 20, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail. If you don’t respond, census workers will begin going door-to-door to collect census information beginning in May.
For Nobles, she believes that the stakes are too high for our community to wait to be counted. Between congressional representation and meeting the daily needs of the community, The Urban League of Tacoma is encouraging everyone to standup and be counted.
“It’s always a fight for us to make sure that our needs and our voice are heard,” says Nobles. “Being well-counted and having equal representation in Congressional seats [is important] so that the experiences and oppression that African-Americans
