Every ten years, the Census Bureau conducts a complete accounting of every resident in the United States, no matter where they live or what language they speak. African-Americans have historically been undercounted, and as a result, we have lost considerable resources for our communities. People who answer the census help their communities obtain federal funds and valuable information for planning schools, hospitals and roads. Census information also helps identify areas where residents might need services of particular interest to African-Americans, such as screening for hypertension or diabetes.
All levels of government, as well as many public and private organizations, need racial information to implement and evaluate community programs. It is critical that African-Americans in Iowa are accurately counted in order to be fully represented when decisions are made that effect our communities. This is your future. Don’t leave it blank.