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White or 'other?' With no census category for 2020, Arab-Americans debate which box to check
Businesses along Brookhurst Street in the heart of Anaheim's Little Arabia neighborhood. The area has seen an influx of refugees from countries like Syria and Iraq in recent years. But with no accurate way to count Americans of Middle Eastern and North African descent, community activists say there's no accurate way to tell just how many live in the area.
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Leslie Berestein/KPCC
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Aurora (left), Rania (center) and Marwan (right) Sbaita in their kitchen in Lake Forest, Calif. The family identifies as Americans of Palestinian and Lebanese descent. But there's a generational difference as to how they identify racially.
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Leslie Berestein Rojas/KPCC
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Community activist Rashad Al-Dabbagh in Anaheim's Little Arabia neighborhood. He's been involved in efforts to get a more accurate census count of Americans of Middle Eastern and North African descent.
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Leslie Berestein/KPCC
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White or 'other?' With no census category for 2020, Arab-Americans debate which box to check
Until about a year ago, plans were moving forward to include a category in the 2020 census referred to as MENA, for "Middle Eastern or North African." It would have allowed a more accurate count of Americans of Arabic, Persian and other Middle Eastern or North African descent, who are now counted only as "white.
Until about a year ago, plans were moving forward to include a category in the 2020 census referred to as MENA, for "Middle Eastern or North African." It would have allowed a more accurate count of Americans of Arabic, Persian and other Middle Eastern or North African descent, who are now counted only as "white."
Last year, the Trump administration nixed that idea. Community advocates plan an outreach campaign to persuade people to self-identify as Middle Eastern and North African on census forms. But not everyone in that community agrees on which box they should check.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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