Americans are routinely asked to check off boxes about their race and ethnicity, but many say they do not see themselves reflected in the options.

July 4, 2025

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Americans are routinely asked to check off boxes about their race and ethnicity — on school and college applications, government benefits or medical forms. Many say they do not see themselves reflected in the options that they are presented with. 

The issue has come up with categories that span various races, like Hispanic, or encompass a huge range of geographies and ethnicities, like Middle East and North African, but have not had a specific option. Similarly, people with complex immigration histories may feel stumped, as highlighted in a recent article about a college application by the New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, in which he marked himself as Asian and African American.

What do you think of the categories? Have you experienced this confusion or frustration? The New York Times wants to hear from you.

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/04/us/census-racial-categories.html