Computing, Ethics, & Society

Assignments > Identity Journal 6

Due on Fri, 07/26 @ 11:59PM.

  1. Take some time to reflect on the following questions:
    • What do you know about race in the US?
    • What about outside the US?
    • What race do people perceive you as and how do you know that?
    • Is the race you’re perceived as the race you identify as?
    • How do you choose what race to identify as?
  2. Then, review this historical timeline of race as categorized by the U.S. Census.
  3. Revisit your answers to the questions above and reflect on the Census timeline:
    • What/Who are the constants?
    • Who appeared? Who disappeared?
    • What does it mean for a race to change or disappear?
    • How does this reflect the (hi)story of America?
    • How would you and/or your ancestors have been identified by census takers? How would you identify now?
  4. Consider how much our field relies on data collection and visualization:
    • How would/do races get collapsed for data reporting?
    • Who makes those decisions?
    • Who does it impact?
    • What does it mean to lump or group multiple groups as one?
    • Why is it important to identify how tools and data represent reality?