Kenneth Prewitt
Kenneth Prewitt: A Life of Public Service and Social Justice Advocacy
Full Name and Common Aliases
Kenneth Preiss Prewitt is a renowned American social scientist and public servant.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 9, 1938, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently active in his work, with no reported passing date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Kenneth Prewitt is an American national of African American descent. His professional career spans multiple fields: social science researcher, academic administrator, public policy expert, and government official.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Arkansas during the tumultuous period of racial segregation, Kenneth's early life was marked by exposure to the harsh realities of systemic inequality. This formative experience instilled a strong sense of social justice within him. He pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., 1960) and Yale University (Ph.D., 1967), laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his distinguished career, Kenneth Prewitt has made significant contributions to advancing public understanding and policy on issues related to social inequality and racial justice. Some notable milestones include:
Pioneering Work in Social Science Research: As a prominent researcher, he has led numerous studies on topics such as affirmative action, race and ethnicity, and the relationship between government policies and social outcomes.
Academic Leadership: Kenneth served as the President of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), where he championed research initiatives focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and the broader society.
Government Service: He held key positions within the U.S. government, including Director of the United States Census Bureau (1998-2001) and Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (1977-1981).Notable Works or Actions
Kenneth Prewitt's written works have provided valuable insights into the complexities of social inequality and the importance of addressing systemic injustices. Some notable publications include:
"Racial and Ethnic Politics in California, 1940-1999" (2005) - a comprehensive analysis of racial and ethnic politics in the Golden State.
* "What Is Your Race? The Census and Our Flawed Efforts to Classify Americans" (2013) - an examination of the challenges and limitations of categorizing individuals by race.
Impact and Legacy
Kenneth Prewitt's dedication to social justice and his commitment to advancing public understanding have left a lasting impact on the fields of social science, education, and government policy. His contributions continue to inspire new generations of scholars, policymakers, and advocates working towards creating a more equitable society.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Kenneth Prewitt is widely respected for his expertise in addressing issues related to racial and ethnic disparities. His ability to distill complex research findings into accessible language has made him a sought-after voice on topics such as affirmative action, voting rights, and the ongoing struggle for social justice.
Quotes by Kenneth Prewitt
The actual assertion that the Census Bureau could behave in such a way as to tilt things one way or the other way in the partisan sense, is, on the face of it, a silly charge. It's the same Census Bureau that's considered to be incompetent by some people, and then some of the same people are saying that this incompetent agency is so clever and so Machiavellian that it can design a census for partisan reasons.
![It's seriously unfortunate when an elected official of the federal government says she's [Michelle Bachmann] going to deliberately break the law. I don't know what kind of signal she thinks that sends, but if she believes that's a good signal, I'm sad for the country. I think that it's deeply, deeply, unfortunate that a member of Congress would, in effect, invite other people who feel that way to say, "Well, I don't have to do it either."](https://lakl0ama8n6qbptj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/quotes/quote-2226219.png)
It's seriously unfortunate when an elected official of the federal government says she's [Michelle Bachmann] going to deliberately break the law. I don't know what kind of signal she thinks that sends, but if she believes that's a good signal, I'm sad for the country. I think that it's deeply, deeply, unfortunate that a member of Congress would, in effect, invite other people who feel that way to say, "Well, I don't have to do it either."
The first presidential veto, by George Washington, was a veto of Alexander Hamilton's formula for apportioning the House, and the one that Washington preferred was one that Thomas Jefferson produced, and that was one partisan issue. The apportionment formula that Jefferson produced gave an extra seat to Virginia. Everybody knew what that game was. Look, partisan interest in the census is simply nothing new.
The census is a scientific effort. We know that a census number is an estimate. It's not the truth,
The business community won't tolerate data that is 10 years old, why should all of the other users tolerate data that is old soon after it comes out? ... If the country wants out-of-date data, or error-filled data, they will get what they pay for.
And then we have attitudinal issues. We have people who are skeptical, indifferent, apathetic, don't want to cooperate. And we have people who are outright hostile and will refuse to be counted, ... So there is no way we will get to 100 percent. Our best estimate right now is that we are going to run harder to stay in place.
It is ... a complicated, challenging task. But the alternative is to just ignore them -- is to say, 'Well, even though we didn't count them and we know they are part of the United States, since we don't know where to put them, we'll just sort of leave them off the census rolls. That strikes us as a social injustice.
Never have we been so diverse, never have we been so many and never have we been so carefully measured.