Washington, D.C. - Many African-American inner cities throughout the U.S. have fallen victim to the dramatic shift of resources out of their communities and into more affluent neighborhoods. For the past 20 years, inner city business and industry, health institutions, and even school teachers have migrated to communities where wealth-building is more probable. This trend has resulted in a devastating economic and educational disparity between predominately Black communities and those where many whites, Asians, and Arabs reside.

Several economic leaders are hoping the upcoming census will be provide some relief.

During the ten-year calculation set for 2010, federal and state monies could likely be earmarked for more inner city causes such as youth activities, education, health issues, and business development.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently submitted to Congress the subjects it plans to address in the 2010 Census, which include gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether you own or rent your home. Estimated to take less than 10 minutes to complete, the 2010 Census would be one of the shortest and easiest to complete since the nation’s first census in 1790.

The Census Bureau also submitted its planned subjects for the American Community Survey (ACS) — a new yearly survey that eliminates the need for a decennial long-form questionnaire, while providing key socioeconomic and housing data about the nation’s rapidly changing population every year rather than once a decade.

Under law, the decennial census subjects must be submitted to Congress three years before Census Day on April 1, 2010. Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon said the subjects represent the necessary balance between the need for data and the Census Bureau’s commitment to eliminate redundant questions and reduce the time it takes to complete the form.

Every 10 years since 1940, nearly 20 percent of all households received the detailed long-form questionnaire. Answers are designed to address critical community and region needs and to base important decisions for all levels of government, community organizations and businesses.

"It is important to realize that decision-makers need ACS data to make choices that affect our daily lives, such as where to build a school, place a new road, improve public health care and provide services for the elderly," Kincannon said. "Our goal is to provide a questionnaire that is quick and easy to complete to ensure that respondents fill it out and mail it back."

Census data directly affect how more than $200 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to local, state and tribal governments. The data also are vital to other planning decisions, such as emergency preparedness and disaster recovery.

When jobs disappear, the Black family has a much more difficult time supporting itself in its native environment. Proper and adequate reporting during the census is crucial to securing the funds necessary to reverse this trend.

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