Origin of Everything: Why Does the Government Care about Race?
The video 'Origin of Everything: Why Does the Government Care about Race?' explores the historical and contemporary significance of race in the U.S. Census. It delves into the intersection of census data with voter disenfranchisement, racial identity, and government resource allocation. The video reveals that the census has asked about race since the first census in 1790, originally to restrict voting rights. Over time, it evolved to measure diverse aspects of the population such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education funding. Understanding this history helps analyze gerrymandering and fair representation in elections. The discussion captures long-standing debates over the implications of capturing racial data and reflects on current challenges and objectives in using such information. This content provides insightful context within civics and political science, valuable for understanding race-related government actions and citizen representation.
Media Details
Runtime: 9 minutes 42 seconds
- Topic: Counseling and Self-Help, History, Social Science
- Subtopic: African-Americans, Elections, Government, Prejudice
- Grade/Interest Level: 9 - 12
- Release Year: 2018
- Producer/Distributor: PBS Digital Studios
- Series: Origin of Everything
- Report a Problem
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