As per the US Census Bureau, Arab Americans are white—but without the privilege.
There are between 2 and 4 million Arabs in the United States, hailing from 22 different countries. But, according to the US Census Bureau, they are considered to be ethnically “white.”
Stemming from an antiquated immigration provision that brought many benefits back in the day, the categorization in post-9/11 America brings none of the privilege that comes with the term “white.”
Today, many are trying to reinstate a minority status to Arab Americans, while others fear that handing over more data to the government will only result in more surveillance and profiling. Considering that data from the Census Bureau was used during World War II to round up Japanese Americans, these fears are more than just conspiratorial.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
Photo Credit: Juanmonino
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