2020 census may have massively undercounted Black population, analysis shows – By Marc Ramirez (USA Today) / Oct 15 2021
The 2020 census may have undercounted the nation’s Black population by as much as 7%, or more than three times the rate of the 2010 Census, according to simulations conducted by an independent researcher.
Should they bear out, the projections could pose significant ramifications for the nation’s Black communities. Census figures chart the course for everything from political representation, health statistics and allocation of infrastructure and health care funding.
“This is unfortunate, but I’m not surprised,” said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. “The census bureau did not adequately execute the door-knocking phase of the process. All signals pointed to an undercount.”
Undercounts have previously been reported by the Census, especially in communities of color. Lower homeownership rates in these communities, as well as mistrust of government officials who don’t look like them, have been linked to underreporting in the past.
