New York State Lawmakers Urged to Approve Separate Racial Category for Middle Eastern and North African Residents
As the legislative session in New York state nears its end, lawmakers are facing a crucial decision on whether to approve a measure that would create a separate racial category for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) residents. Currently, these communities are classified as “white” in most government analyses, a classification that advocates argue obscures their unique experiences with bias crimes, poverty, housing, and healthcare.
The state Senate recently voted 57-0 to pass legislation that would require every state agency, board, or commission collecting demographic data to disaggregate MENA New Yorkers from the “white” demographic. This move aims to shed light on the challenges faced by these communities and improve their access to assistance programs designed for marginalized groups.
Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas of Queens, the sponsor of the bill, emphasized the importance of recognizing the MENA population separately from the white category. She stated, “Lumping MENA communities into the ‘white’ category creates intentional systemic exclusion from programs and services dedicated to communities of color. Disaggregating the white category to identify the MENA population is extremely important, as it will remove certain barriers and allow much-needed resources to reach these residents.”
This push for a separate MENA category aligns with a national movement seeking similar changes in state legislatures across the country. It comes at a time when New York is experiencing an influx of residents from MENA nations, with the state’s MENA population estimated to be over 500,000, according to advocates.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced a new response option for “Middle Eastern or North African” in addition to “Hispanic or Latino” to improve the accuracy of race and ethnicity data. This update reflects a growing recognition of the diversity within the population and aims to provide more comprehensive demographic information.
Despite the significant MENA population in New York, advocates argue that these communities remain underserved and face various challenges, including language barriers, housing insecurity, poverty, and health disparities. The bill’s supporters believe that the proposed change could help address these issues and ensure that MENA residents receive the support they need.
However, the legislation has faced opposition, with Assemblymember Andrew Goodell, a Republican from western New York, expressing concerns about the practicality and value of disaggregating data. Goodell argued that intrusive data collection on race and ethnicity may not be relevant or useful in government forms.
Critics of the bill, such as law professor Khaled Beydoun, have raised concerns about the potential consequences of adopting a separate MENA category. Beydoun warned that the data collected could be used for anti-terror surveillance and policing, further endangering the civil liberties of Arab Americans.
Despite these challenges, advocates like Rana Abdelhamid, the executive director of Malikah, a Queens-based anti-violence group, remain hopeful about the legislation’s potential impact. Abdelhamid emphasized the importance of ensuring that MENA communities are accurately represented and supported in New York state.
As the debate continues in the Assembly, the decision on whether to approve the separate racial category for MENA residents will have far-reaching implications for these communities and their access to resources and support.