Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upLens: our readingOpen: not yet proven
Year: 1977 · Places: Africa
SUMMARY9. OMB Directive 15: "community recognition" (Washington, D.C., 1977) [Connections: Who decided who's Indian, Nov 5, 2026]
RECORDThe Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 defined "American Indian or Alaskan Native" as "A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition." "Black" was "A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa." For mixed origins: "The category which most closely reflects the individual's recognition in his community should be used."
PATTERNThe Indian category carried an extra test (tribal affiliation or community recognition); the Black definition required only "origins." Mixed people were assigned by how "the community" saw them, the same move as the 1930 census rule
LENS (WW9)Being Aboriginal required a permission slip; being Black required only a look
OPENThe 1997 OMB revision changed the AIAN definition (it added Central and South America); fetch the 1997 notice before quoting it
SOURCECDC WONDER, text of OMB Directive 15 (1977).