The 100+ Year Road: A Monumental Success Story of Sikh Americans Being Recognized in the U.S. Census

U.N. affiliated NGO, UNITED SIKHS, advances civic engagement, social responsibility and success for the next generation of Sikh Americans

Queens, New York on March 3, 2020: After 140 years of Sikh existence and perseverance in America, Sikh Americans gain recognition for their separate identity from the United States Census Bureau and the U.S. Government.  The leadership team from the Washington D.C. headquarters of the U.S. Census Bureau came to the forum hosted by UNITED SIKHS to bring in awareness within the community on filling out the forms and stressing its importance. Following a longstanding relationship and collaboration with the bureau over the past decade, the U.S. Census Director and Senior Advisor, Nicholas Jones announced that, “All Sikhs in America will be counted or enumerated separately if ‘SIKH’ is manually written on the form.”  

Director Nicholas Jones reiterated that, “Every manual write-in of ‘SIKH’ will be counted under a separate category and under Asian on the U.S. Census tabulation for the 2020 Census.  It will not be enumerated under ‘Asian Indian’ as it was in the past”. He also mentioned that the category “SIKH” will not appear on the print version of the Census forms as the forms were already printed. Roberto Ramirez, Branch Chief, Ethnicity and Ancestry Statistics Branch, Population Division, also met with the Sikh delegation as part of their preparations for the upcoming Census.

The ability to self-identify is empowering and a milestone for the Sikh American community.  “The Census Bureau has identified for the first time an ability to provide a unique code for Sikhs. However, community members must self-identify and actively take part to be accurately tabulated and counted as Sikh. Also, this data is used for only statistical purposes and by law and can’t be shared,” assured the Census officials.

Separate tabulation and accounting for Sikh Americans opens doors to resources, accountability and better governance. Educating the community on being involved and responding to the Census is the duty of the community itself. “Responding to the U.S. Census will ensure our fair share of billions of dollars in funding for schools, public housing, social services, infrastructure and public works. This effort will also assist to open doors allowing Sikhs to serve in the armed forces without any exemptions,” said Jasmit Singh, Advocacy Director, UNITED SIKHS. 

Sikh American community leaders were present from all major Gurdwaras from many parts of the country. Leadership from Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center, Sikh Cultural Society Richmond Hill, Friends of the Sikh Caucus, World Sikh Parliament and the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast which represents 86 Gurdwaras were present at the meeting. “This is a monumental and exciting time for Sikh Americans. We are being recognized for who we are and we can proudly assert our distinctness in the country we call our home – America,” stated Gurvinder Singh, International Humanitarian Aid Director, UNITED SIKHS.

“UNITED SIKHS continues to work with all major Sikh organizations and Gurdwaras to ensure that Sikhs are accurately accounted for in the United States. Conference calls have been ongoing with Sikh Gurdwaras on a national level as well as with American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee, American Sikh Caucus, Jakara, SALDEF, World Sikh Council – America Region, Sikh Coalition, SikhRI and the National Sikh Campaign to join hands in this historic journey and leave a lasting legacy for our coming generations,” exclaimed Jasmit Singh.

Harpreet Singh Toor, a community leader, also a Partnership Specialist at the Commerce Department, along with his colleague from the Census Bureau were present at the meeting.

UNITED SIKHS Legal General Counsel, Guljit Kaur Bains said, “This is a historic victory for the Sikh community. We must ensure that everyone actively takes part in Census 2020 so we can cement our legacy and create a foundation for generations to come. This is an opportunity granted and afforded to the Sikh American community after more than 100 years’ worth of contributions to this great nation.”

We must engage. We must be active. The future is in our hands.

Census 2020 – Let’s Do Our Part.

Main 2020 Census website: Click here for 2020 Census non-English language video guides.

Recruitment info for 2020 Census jobs:  

www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2018/2020-recruitment.html

FAQ on Sikh Code for 2020 Census:

https://ask.census.gov/prweb/PRServletCustom/YACFBFye-rFIz_FoGtyvDRUGg1Uzu5Mn*/!STANDARD

If you have any questions, you may reach out to us at contact@unitedsikhs.org.