However, many sociologists and criminal justice experts feel this information is vital to society, and must be captured all the time. One expert notes, "Quarrels about the relative significance of race notwithstanding, few sociologists would disagree with the unparalleled importance of race in American society. Along with gender, age, and economic resources, few other social traits possess as much gravity in determining personal well being" (Snipp, 2003). This may be the case, but much of the flurry of data collected throughout the year does not seem to ever end up in the sociologist's charts, and so, one must wonder where the data goes, and who is really collecting and assessing it for our own "personal well being.".

             Unfortunately, there are many problems related to just how the government and other agencies collect sensitive data such as this, and thus, how it is analyzed and used. For decades, the American census simply noted race as "White, Black, or Other." This was not a viable sampling of the many races living in America, and gradually, the questions created were broader and gave a greater sampling of the racial mix that is America. Some sociologists find the government census data collected every ten years as invaluable; because it is a measurement their own smaller samplings are viable. Sociologist Snipp continues, "However, even more important is that federal surveys and especially the decennial census provide an important benchmark for checking the accuracy of smaller samples" (Snipp, 2003). While this data may help in understanding American society; where it has been and where it is headed, it is also highly controversial. That is why at least one American legislator has attempted to remove these racially motivated questions from surveys and government forms. California legislator Ward Connerly introduced a measure in California in 2002 that would remove racial questions from all forms in the state.