For the past twenty years or more, I fill in the blank for race as American and leave it at that.
My "mix" is Scottish English Welch, Swiss German, Irish and Native Indian, Whew!

I had a student whom I listed as white when we developed his special education paperwork - it was the first year for a high school program and many years ago. The next year, he identified himself as Native American and could substantiate this, too. It took a while and a lot of convincing the administration, but we were able to change the race. My feeling was that this young man could identify whatever race he felt was his.

Call me a dumb Canadian (we live in the States now), but what is this obsession Americans seem to have about forcing people to declare themselves one "race" or another? The whole notion is repugnant to me. I NEVER fill out that section of any form. Ever. The few times someone has asked me about this, I've told them quite bluntly that I want it left blank. If they write something in anyway, I ask for a new form. It's the same with forms asking about religion or gender. I do not answer this question for anyone.
For many years in Canada, it has been illegal to ask questions (this is in regards to employment in particular) about any aspect of a person's life that could be used in a prejudicial manner. Race, sex and religion are the big ones. It's like asking a lady her age or weight. You just don't do it.

Re: MessyONE...I agree with you. It's LONG past time for the US to get rid of the entire system - federal, state, and local - of keeping statistics on race. I'd say that anyone in the entire country whose job it is to collect said information automatically loses that job. Quotas are rolled back, legislation repealed, court rulings abolished. It's the only way we will put America's sordid, racially-stained past (from Wounded Knee to Jim Crow) behind us once and for all. It is absolutely key to getting people to see each other as individuals rather than members of some group. Government needs to lead by example if our leaders are serious about a "color-blind society." There is only one race that counts - human.

Hello:
For all those folks with comments about race. I have spent a life time in law enforcement. I have worked all over the U.S. I have worked with people from every country or race. There is no race that will ever get along. Only people will get along. In the U.S. we spend a great deal of time and money trying to get different race's to get along. It will never happen. Only people will get along and treat each other with respect and kindness. There are a number of civil rights laws on the books. The U.S. Government still will enforce these laws. You can not make someone like someone. Education is the key. Children must be taught to respect and treat others the same way. Good luck hopeing that we will all become friends. It will never happen. Go to any country in the world. They all have the same problems.

There is no reason to have race on any local , state, federal or private form.This is a nation of the peopple and for the people no exception. Yes if a physical description is required then you might need to say white,black american indian, or whotever but other then tat race should not be on any form

If Rwanda can get beyond ethnic labeling after its history of Tutsi/Hutu violence-- and I'm talking about thousands of people getting chopped up with machetes-- so can we. One change that Rwanda made was to abolish any official labeling of people based on ethnicity. So now, the words "Hutu" and "Tutsi" don't appear on anybody's passport, birth certificate, or official government paperwork. Everyone's Rwandan. Since then... surprise... no more machete action. Meanwhile, getting rid of the official government recognition of the label doesn't seem to have taken away anyone's cultural identity as a Hutu or family traditions as a Tutsi. We can learn from this.

In my opinion there should be no race question ever. The only reason it is there now is that race hustlers such as Jesse and Al make a living - millions of dollars I might add - on race hustling.