Counting Americans

"Counting Americans" examines the evolving racial and social categories used by the US census from 1790 to 1940, revealing how these classifications are deeply intertwined with political negotiations and societal power struggles. Drawing on archival research, the book highlights how census-taking has been a political act shaped by racial ideologies, reflecting America's history of colonization, slavery, and segregation. It offers insights into how demographic classifications have influenced and been influenced by America's complex social and racial dynamics.