The census is here. Some of us have already received our census forms in the mail. The question to ask yourself, before deciding not to participate is: Will I count? To count does not stop at a numerical value, to count also means to matter, to have value and to have what is rightfully yours.

So, while some might view the census as a government intrusion, it is necessary to note that the government has to be aware of the number of persons living in certain areas so they can provide adequate amenities to serve them.

“The U.S. Census decides important things, such as how many members of Congress Florida will have, and how much funding Washington will give to places like Lauderhill,” NAACP president Ben Jealous said.

“Communities of color have historically been undercounted in the census,” which is why the organization has launched the “Yes We Count” campaign, which has engaged people nationally to ensure that Blacks count in 2010, he added.

Jealous is just one of the many leaders from myriad organizations that are pushing the census and encouraging Blacks (and other minorities) to “stand up and be counted.”

The census, in addition to counting the population, helps to determine where and how government spends money on schools, hospitals, and senior centers.  If people fail to participate in the census, an inaccurate count will send the wrong message to the government and families will not have enough resources to sustain them in their communities.

According to State Rep. Hazelle Rogers who serves on the Statewide Census Complete Count Committee, “This is one of the most important civic duties we have.”

Additionally, a press release from her office, stated, “For the first time in the history of the census, the report from the census will be given to a president who understands the need for immigration reform and healthcare for all.  As elected officials, we will use the information gathered to set policies that will affect your lives for the next 10 years.”

This speaks directly to diversity and how America’s landscape has change racially and ethnically.

In fact, the Caribbean-American Community, in an attempt to have their numbers counted, is pushing for Caribbean nationals and people of Caribbean descent to include their individual countries or write ‘Caribbean’ in a space provided under the Question #9 (the race question), to show national origin.

“Communities of color are the ones who stand to benefit the most from the census, but historically we have been undercounted,” Jealous said.

Minorities including Blacks, Native Americans and Asians have been listed among the hard-to-count segment of the population, and as a result, communities with large minority groups end up getting less resources than they need to adequately function.

A poll released in January by the Pew Research Center showed that one in five persons say they will not participate in the census, because they are not interested and some because they do not trust the government. It also said it is more likely that younger people ages 18-29 and lower-income people will not participate.

Another concern is that illegal immigrants may not want to participate in the count because they fear that this will be used to locate and deport them. However, officials emphasize that the Census is confidential. The census mailer states that the information cannot be shared with any government agency such as the CIA, INS, FBI or ICE. Participants, it said, are protected by Title 13 of the U.S. Code and all census workers have taken an oath to maintain confidentiality, which if violated can result in jail time of up to five years and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Rogers said, “An accurate and comprehensive portrait of the new and diverse America is up to each of you and I encourage you to stand up and be counted.”