Request:

In order for the Census Bureau to collect accurate data, Middle East – North Africa (MENA) region individuals must have an option to select their true race versus force identify as White. By signing this petition and urging US Census Bureau to collect accurate data, citizens can obtain an accurate count of demographics in their communities while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) can allocate necessary resources throughout the country.

Background:

The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 2. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person.

Current State:

According to Census.gov FAQ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/note/US/RHI625219:

[quote]The Race estimates of the population are produced for the United States, states, and counties by the Population Esimates Program and the race estimates of the population are produced for Puerto Rico, muncipios (county-equivalents for Puerto Rico), places, zona urbanas and comunidades (place-equivalents for Puerto Rico), and minor civil divisions by the American Community Survey.

The U.S. Census Bureau collects race data in accordance with guidelines provided by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and these data are based on self-identification. The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. People may choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as "American Indian" and "White." People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race.

OMB requires that race data be collectd for a minimum of five groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. OMB permits the Census Bureau to also use a sixth category - Some Other Race. Respondents may report more than one race.

Definition

White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "White" or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Arab, Moroccan, or Caucasian. [/quote] {please excuse the typos above as this is a direct copy/paste from the .gov website provided above}

Issue:

In summary, according the the US Census Bureau, race is a primary data collection of the census while a person’s data selection of race is based on self-identification. The main issue is under the definition of white, people of Middle East and North African (MENA) region do not identify as white. There are many ethnic groups within this region with the largest being Arabs, then Turks, Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Copts, Jews, Assyrians, Maronites, Circassians, Somalis, Armenians, Druze and numerous additional groups. 

Resolution:

Allow Middle East – North Africa individuals to recognize as a category that is more inclusive to their race as we don’t identify as White-Caucasian-European individuals.