In short, the racial categories in the 1790 census were included so the political spoils could be divided up. Today, says the Census Bureau, racial categories are gathered according to guidelines issued by the Office of Management and Budget because such data “is required for many federal programs.” Another way of putting it: Not much has changed.

Nor are we necessarily getting more accurate information. President Obama, for his part, chose only the African-American box on his census form. One wonders: In Martin Luther King’s dream America—a place where his children would be judged by the content of their character—must they still be counted by the color of their skin?

Fortunately, more and more Americans are willing to cross these racial categories for perhaps the most important decision in their lives: whom to love and marry. So it’s becoming a small world after all. And if you don’t know where all this leaves you when it comes to filling out your Census form, take a leaf from Miss Duffy. Tell them you’re “Irish.”