Unrecognized Ethnicities in the US Census

The US Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) define the concept of race as outlined for the census to be not 'scientific or anthropological', and takes into account 'social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry', using 'appropriate scientific methodologies' that are not 'primarily biological or genetic'. The current system includes categories such as White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. However, the lack of recognition of certain ethnicities in the census can have significant cultural and social impacts. The recognition of diverse ethnicities can have a positive impact on cultural exchange and understanding. The US Department of Education recognizes the importance of diverse ethnicities in informing policy decisions and resource allocation in education.