Census Bureau defends 'negro' addition

NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- A U.S. Census Bureau spokesman said the use of the term "negro" on the 2010 Census is intended to offer some older African-Americans a new identifier.

The New York Daily News said while some African-American residents of New York questioned the use of the term in this year's census, bureau spokesman Jack Martin called it a term of inclusion.

"Many older African-Americans identified themselves that way, and many still do," Martin said. "Those who identify themselves as Negroes need to be included."

"Negro" has appeared on previous Census forms and the term's newest inclusion was approved by the U.S. Congress a year ago, the Daily News said.

New York resident Greg Melvin, 41, admitted while the term does not offend him, there are better alternatives to use for the Census.

"They don't need it," Melvin said. "It should just be black or African-American. It's definitely unnecessary in this day and age."

"It's a bad vibe word," New York resident Kevin Bishop, 45, offered. "It doesn't agree with me, doesn't agree with my heart."