<P> The American Anthropological Association recommends the elimination of the term "race" from OMB Directive 15 during the planning for the 2010 Census . During the past 50 years, "race" has been scientifically proven to not be a real, natural phenomenon . More specific, social categories such as "ethnicity" or "ethnic group" are more salient for scientific purposes and have fewer of the negative, racist connotations for which the concept of race was developed . </P> <P> Yet the concept of race has become thoroughly--and perniciously--woven into the cultural and political fabric of the United States . It has become an essential element of both individual identity and government policy . Because so much harm has been based on "racial" distinctions over the years, correctives for such harm must also acknowledge the impact of "racial" consciousness among the U.S. populace, regardless of the fact that "race" has no scientific justification in human biology . Eventually, however, these classifications must be transcended and replaced by more non-racist and accurate ways of representing the diversity of the U.S. population . </P> <P> The recommendations of the AAA were not adopted by the Census Bureau for the 2000 or the 2010 Censuses . </P> <P> In 2001, the National Institutes of Health adopted the new language to comply with the revisions to Directive 15, as did the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the United States Department of Labor in 2007 . See Race and ethnicity (EEO). </P>

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