I was trained as a census taker back in the day. We were instructed that “race and ethnicity” was explicitly ‘self identified/defined’ not based on any physical, cultural, or geographical origin. If a respondent wanted to write “Minnesotan” or “dog” in that box we were to accept it at face value.
>>germin+(OP)
This should be a grass roots movement. Stop filling out your “correct race and ethnicity”. If it doesn’t matter then it doesn’t matter right?
>>germin+(OP)
Exactly. I am Caucasian with European ethnic origins, but I was raised in the Middle East and have a thick accent. I would never call myself "white".