More than 3.5 million people with roots from 23 countries in the Middle East and North Africa are currently misidentified as White in US Census data, and in almost all states and school districts.
Black and Brown people hailing from MENA countries currently must check “White” on official forms, as there is no other designation for them.
Accurate data collection is essential in getting critical resources to the community, particularly in the areas of hate crime, law enforcement, and health care. “If children in our community experience a hate crime at their school, currently, there’s no way to record it. Subsequently, they will not have access to culturally appropriate mental health services who can address the trauma they have experienced,” Rachel Evans, youth programs manager at San Diego-based Somali Family Service, told Ethnic Media Services.
Students Erased
MENA students’ identities are “immediately erased” as soon as they’re enroll in the school district. They are classified as White. Of the more than 5 million children enrolled in schools throughout California, not one is identified as Middle Eastern or North African.
“It’s very challenging when the budgets are determined. There’s no data about their quantity, where they are, where they’re located, and what their needs are,” said Evans. Moreover, a lack of identity often induces multi-generational trauma, leading to depression and self-harming behaviors, she said.
Data Collection Standards Vary
Currently, MENA folks who have experienced a hate crime have difficulties in noting whether the crime is accurately reported,” said Evans, noting that agencies have varying standards for collecting data about the population. In some data collection, people of MENA origin are identified as White. In others, they are identified as Middle Eastern, she said. Critically, the FBI identifies MENA people as White in its annual Uniform Crime Reports, meaning there is no data on the recent spikes in violence against the community.
“When it comes to hate crimes, accurate data is essential to ensure that our community gets the support and resources it needs,” said Evans.
New Legislation
AB 2673, introduced in the California state Legislature this week by Assemblymember Bill Essayli, will add the MENA classification to all state intake forms. Essayli, who is Lebanese-American, also authored House Resolution 30 in 2023, in an attempt to collect MENA data at the federal level.
Approximately 740,000 people from the Middle East and North African countries reside in California, which has the largest MENA population in the nation. “Current demographic data collection in California is entirely inadequate in capturing the unique experiences that MENA communities face, from health issues to socioeconomic outcomes,” said Essayli, as he introduced the bill Feb. 26.
“AB 2763 will ensure that state agencies and legislators will have the necessary data to make informed decisions about policy priorities and resource allocation,” he said.
‘Who Am I?’
“I was born in san Diego. My father came as an immigrant from Somalia. My mother came as a refugee. I’m as American as they come. I bleed red, white, and blue,” Mustafa Sahid, director of operations at Somali Family Service, told EMS.
“But I still have that confusion of: ‘What am I considered?’ It’s something I’m still figuring out,” he said.
Amin Nash, policy and research coordinator at the Arab American Civic Council, told EMS he was 11 years old when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened, killing an estimated 2,977 people, and injuring thousands of others. “I was the only Iraqi American in my school and the only Muslim. So you can only imagine how weird it was and how strange it was for me to grow up in the school system. Everybody’s conversations were about the Iraq war. And here I am, an actual Iraqi in America, and I didn’t have a way to identify myself.”
“Honestly, the thought that came into my head when I was a kid, and I still have that thought now, is they just don’t want me to exist. It feels very purposeful that they don’t include us. And in many ways, it is a form of discrimination. It is not giving us equal protections under many different laws,” said Nash.
Federal Bill
At the federal level, The National Network of Arab American Communities, a coalition of 30 organizations, is spearheading the Health Equity and MENA Inclusion Act, which prioritizes health and data equity, and voting rights. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).
“We really want to make sure that the MENA community’s voice is being recognized and heard, and that we are being advocated for,” said Sahid.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
