Connecting people around the 2010 U.S. Census and beyond
American Arabs are concerned about the failure of the past Census to live up to the promices
American Arabs have been promised in every Census year that if they participate they will get a share of the pie. The fact is that is not true, In 1980, 1990 and 2000, I and many others volunteered to work with the Census to help push American Arabs to participate. We did it without pay.
Yet, the Census today identifies 29 specific ethnic and racial groups on the form but the Census refuses to include the word ARAB on it. Why?
Why are African Americans listed 3 times on the form? Why are Hispanics listed 5 times? Why are Asians listed a dozen times on the form? Why are American Arabs not listed on the form especially since Arabs and the middle East have dominated the focus of this country not just since Sept. 11, 2001 but even before?
The fact is in places like Chicago -- do the math folks -- American Arabs are being denied their share of the public pie. They are 8 percent of the population of Chicago (Mayor Daley says there are 250,000 out of 3 million) and yet statistics show they get less than 1 percent of any funding. Way below 1 percent.
They get no jobs, no grants -- the State of Illinois Arts Council has $19 million to distribute every year and American Arabs are at the bottom of the list with a sliver of funds that is miniscule.
It's not fair. The fact we are NOT included on the census is proof we are being cheated.
Thanks
Ray Hanania
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Evan Goldin on -
Hey Ray,
Thanks for raising this point. It's pretty valid. I'm amazed that Arab doesn't have its own entry in the race section. I'm curious — does Persian? My friend is Iranian-American and has been working on getting Persians to fill out census forms.
Hopefully by raising this point enough time, this will be changed in the next census.
© 2012 Created by Evan Goldin.
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