With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.  The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S.

Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con- artist? BBB offers the following advice:  If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.  Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

Remember, no matter what they ask, you really only need to tell them how many people live at your address. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.  The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.  Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau. And, remember, the Census Bureau has decided not to work with ACORN on gathering information.
No ACORN worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that  are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Activity Ideas for teachers and anyone interested in learning their black history. The following is provided by PBS Teachers.
Included are a few of the links and activities. Visit http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/unsung/index1.html for all online resources and activity ideas provided. Enjoy!

Who’s Not in Your Textbook?
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
Ask students to review their history/civics textbooks for information on famous African Americans.

Have them look for notable figures in politics, science, the arts, athletics, activism, and entertainment. Who do they see? In which topics are African American featured most prominently, other than slavery and the civil rights movement?

Have students research a time period or a specific topic and have them identify a notable African American they believe deserves more credit or attention. USe the online resources listed below and others for useful information.

Students could create a report, a multimedia presentation using images, video, audio and powerpoint, or write a skit or short story based on that individual’s experience and accomplishments. As part of their presentations, students should address how this person’s inspired them.

Online Resources

African American Lives:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/

African American World:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/

American Masters:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/

American Experience:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/

African American Inventors:
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkidprimer6_12aa.htm

African American Masters of Art:
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/ …

PBS Lesson Plans/Activities

American Masters – For Teachers
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/education/

The Blues Classroom:
http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom.html

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow – Black Pioneers:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/education_lesson3.html

American Experience – Jubilee Singers – Sacrifice and Glory:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/singers/tguide/index.html

The Names Behind the Famous Cases
Grade Levels: 2-5; 6-8

Have your students conduct research projects about the following cases that resulted in historic rulings affecting civil rights. Specifically, ask your students to investigate the stories behind the cases. Who were the plaintiffs and how did their names become part of legal and civil rights history? Some examples include:

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1892)
• Sipuel v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma (1948)
• Sweatt v. Painter (1950)
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Younger students can create a mural about these courageous men and women and children who helped move civil rights forward.

Online Resources

Beyond Brown – Pursuing the Promise:
http://www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/index.html

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: A National Struggle:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/struggle_court.html

The Other Women Behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12

Ask students to find information on Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith in their textbooks. Why aren’t they included in the history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott? Ask students to research these tow young women using the following resources:

• Wikipedia: Claudette Colvin:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette_Colvin
• Wikipedia: Mary Louise Smith:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Louise_Smith
• They Changed the World: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott:
  http://www.montgomeryboycott.com/frontpage.htm