The Racialization of Legal Categories in the First U.S. Census. Issue 4 (1st December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jean Emigh, Rebecca; Riley, Dylan; Ahmed, Patricia
• Is Part Of: Social science history. Volume 39:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 485
• Page End: 519
• Publication Date: 2015-12-01
• Subjects: Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 300.9
• DOI: 10.1017/ssh.2015.69
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-5532

Abstract

Abstract : This paper examines the demographic categories in the first few US censuses, which are asymmetrical combinations of race and legal status not mandated by the US Constitution. State actors explicitly introduced and revised these categories; however, these state actors successfully introduced these categories into the census only when they were already widespread throughout society. Thus, more generally, the paper points to flaws in a "state-centered" view of information gathering, which stresses how state actors create census categories that, in turn, shape social conditions as they become subsequently widespread. In contrast, this paper suggests that politicians draw on widespread social categories when creating census categories, showing how state and social influences interact to create the information in censuses.