New Middle Eastern Census Category Is a Way to Track & Discipline Arab Americans

While some are hopeful that a new census category might offer opportunities for political mobilization, it is more likely to serve as an instrument of organizing and disciplining by the government.

by Eman Elshaikh

The U.S. government may make an important change in the upcoming census, adding a new category for those who identify as Middle Eastern or North African. The United States Census Bureau has been exploring this new ethnic category for a few years, but it is still under review and will require approval by the Office of Management and Budget