The
U.S. Census Data released long-awaited “official” Caribbean-American census data for Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June). According to the Census Bureau there are 2.7 million persons of living in the United States. If we add in Hispanic/Latino Caribbeans, the number is more like 11 million!
Although the data has been out there, this is the first time that I have seen it compiled in this manner by the Census Bureau. On its face doesn’t dig very deep, but its a beginning and a step in the right direction.
For the next Census, I would like to see an official box for “Caribbean American”. This is important to preventing under-counting of our population. For of Caribbean descent who didn’t write in this information on the 2010 Census form, we lost their headcount. Why does this matter you ask? It matters because this translates into Federal funding in our neighborhoods, schools, etc. Let’s start making noise now so that the 2020 Census has a box for Caribbeans! LEGGO!!
U.S. Census Bureau:
In June 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution recognizing the significance of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. In February 2006, the resolution passed the Senate. Since that time, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This month’s commemoration marks the eighth Caribbean-American Heritage Month. In celebration of this observance, the Census Bureau presents a variety of data it publishes related to people of Caribbean heritage.
How Many of Caribbean Ancestry in the United States?
2.7 million
The estimated U.S. population of West Indian ancestry. Some of the largest West Indian ancestry groups in the United States include:
–Jamaican (1.0 million)
–Haitian (908,000)
–Trinidadian and Tobagonian (196,000)
–Barbadian (62,000)
–Bahamian (53,000)
–U.S. Virgin Islander (17,000)
Note: The estimates for Barbadian and Bahamian are not significantly different from each other.
In addition, there are Hispanic or Latino origin groups in the Untied States who can trace their heritage to this part of the world:
–Puerto Rican (4.9 million)
–Cuban (1.9 million)
–Dominican (1.6 million)
Note that these populations are not mutually exclusive, as people may be of more than one ancestry or ethnic group.
Source: 1-year 2011 American Community Survey, Tables B04006 and B03001
A wide range of data on the social, economic and housing characteristics for a number of West Indian and Hispanic or Latino groups is available via the 2006-2010 American Community Survey Selected Population Tables.
–Jamaican (social) (economic) (housing)
–Haitian (social) (economic) (housing)
–Trinidadian and Tobagonian (social) (economic) (housing)
–Barbadian (social) (economic) (housing)
–Bahamian (social) (economic) (housing)
–Puerto Rican (social) (economic) (housing)
–Cuban (social) (economic) (housing)
–Dominican (social) (economic) (housing)
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov
