#ArabClassification #MiddleEastern #USGovernment #racialclassification
So according to the US government, Arabs, Persians, Kurdish, etc people are white. Why is this?
Have you ever wondered why the US government classifies Arabs/Middle Easterners as white? 🤔 It may seem confusing at first glance, but there are historical, sociopolitical, and legal reasons behind this classification. Let’s break it down and uncover the rationale behind it.
## Historical Context: The Census and Racial Categories
In the United States, the classification of race has a complex history rooted in colonialism, slavery, and immigration. The US Census Bureau has played a significant role in defining racial categories and determining who belongs to which group.
### The Legacy of Immigration
When immigrants from the Middle East began arriving in the US in significant numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they faced challenges in fitting into the existing racial classifications. Many Middle Eastern immigrants were categorized as “white” to distinguish them from African Americans and Native Americans.
## Legal and Social Implications
### Legal Rights and Protections
The classification of Arabs/Middle Easterners as white has legal implications, as it grants them certain rights and protections under US law. For example, individuals from these regions are considered part of the majority group and may not qualify for the same affirmative action programs as other minority groups.
### Sociocultural Identity
While the US government may classify Arabs/Middle Easterners as white, it’s essential to recognize that this classification may not accurately reflect the lived experiences of individuals from these regions. Many people of Middle Eastern descent face discrimination and prejudice based on their ethnicity, regardless of their legal classification.
## Public Perception and Interpretation
### Stereotypes and Misconceptions
The classification of Arabs/Middle Easterners as white can perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions about these communities. It reinforces the notion that people from these regions are assimilated into mainstream American society, erasing their distinct cultural identities.
### Promoting Inclusivity
As discussions around racial classification and identity continue to evolve, it’s crucial to promote inclusivity and recognize the diversity within the Arab/Middle Eastern community. Acknowledging the complexities of race and ethnicity can foster a more nuanced understanding of America’s multicultural landscape.
In conclusion, the classification of Arabs/Middle Easterners as white by the US government is a product of historical, legal, and social factors. While it may offer certain legal protections, it’s essential to approach this classification with sensitivity and an understanding of its implications for individuals’ identities. By engaging in conversations about race and ethnicity, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable society for all. 💬🌍
If you want to learn more about the intricacies of racial classification and identity, visit our website for additional resources and insights. Let’s continue the dialogue and strive for a more inclusive future together! 🌟📚
Look at Arab/Persian dude and tell us how different from Spaniards, southern Italians or Greeks are they.
Great question. There was a court case in the early 1900s that went all the way to the supreme court. At the time, there were laws discriminating against non -whites. Arabs wanted to be counted as whites and sued. They argued it was the birthplace of Jesus Christ. They won and have been legally white in America ever since.
Apparently the federal govt just added “Middle Eastern/North African” as another race option on their forms. As someone who reviews lots of google forms where we ask for race, a LOT of Arabs/Middle Easterners selected “other” and then specify “Middle Eastern” in the box. So they clearly don’t consider themselves white, and most whites don’t consider them white.
The racial system that divides people into White, Black and more is particular to the colonization of the New World.* As such, applying it outside of the context of separating european rulers from various laboring castes always runs into problems. Greece is way more like Lebanon than like Spain, where do you draw the “whiteness” line?
When Irish immigration was at it’s peak, they weren’t considered fully white. Ben Franklin wrote a letter moaning about how *German* immigration would destroy the white racial purity of the US.
Because race is a fake social construct which allows you to change and modify it to whoever’s whims.
Because their skin is quite light. Often, that’s all you need. Unless, for some reason, their eyes have epicanthic folds, you know, like Asian people often have. Really, there are all these weird rules and exceptions to the rules. There has never been one consistent and clear definition of which people count as “white” and which don’t. It’s like how there’s no clear rule deciding where the limit goes between breakfast and lunch (and that’s not even getting into the strange, elusive idea of “brunch”).
Any offical form where you can declare yourself to be either White or African-American must be quite confusing for first generation immigrants from Tunesia or Morocco.
The quick answer: our modern concept of race goes back to the work of Johann Blumenbach who classified people not based on the color of their skin but on the shape of their skull. North Africans and Middle Easterners were classified as Caucasian, along with Europeans. The name Caucasian comes from the Caucus Mountains (think Georgia and Armenia) as he saw the people from that region as the archetype of the race.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Friedrich_Blumenbach
Genetically speaking North Africans, Middle Easterners, WASPs, Celts, Chinese, Inuits and all the rest are almost interchangeable. It makes very little sense to differentiate. If you’re going to have a ‘white’ ‘race’ and try to justify it on genetics it makes no sense to disclude any ethnicities beyond the Australo-Melanesians split, and you could argue it makes no sense to disclude the Australo-Melanesians.
The caucuses are in the Middle East. I guess you could also claim Asian descent since so many of the territories conquered by Ghengis have his genes.
I cant explain. Just wanted to say i also cant explain why they would classify anyone as white at all. Or any other color.
I know my comment here isn’t helpful, but America’s obsession with race is weird. Ethnic grouping is much more accurate and even that doesn’t help cause all in all it doesn’t matter that much. It seems like the US built a few racial classifications and tried to retrofit all the groups in them so that’s why Arabs seem white when that isn’t the case in reality. I find it odd as a non-American when Americans talk about their cultural heritage and they say they’re “white” or any other race. You can’t group them all together, being part of a race completely negates the cultural nuances that create the ethnicities within that race.
This just in… US changes how it categorizes people by race and ethnicity. It’s the first revision in 27 years
https://apnews.com/article/race-ethnicity-census-bureau-hispanics-0b2c325b683efd95e8e8e24235654abd
Dated an Afghani girl and she was whiter than me. The Caucasus Mountains for which the term Cacausian is derived, are in the middle east. People think Afghanistan is full of brown skinned people but they looks like this https://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/children-63175_960_720.jpg
I believe that is changing very very soon. Already on the approving table. I personally have no idea it was this silly.
ELI5 for the rest of the world: why does the US Government need to classify ethnicity by colour?
Race/ethnicity are often at the whim of the needs/mood of the times. Mexicans were sometimes considered white, sometimes not. In 1929, they were considered white. In 1930, the US wanted to limit non-white migration, so they changed the designation…then in 1942 it went back to white, because we needed the labor during WWII.
As of 2 days ago, your question is out of date. The US government has invented a new race called MENA that includes Arabs, Persians, Israeli Jews, and north Africans.
See here for details:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/29/2024-06469/revisions-to-ombs-statistical-policy-directive-no-15-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and
IMNSHO, no public good is achieved by assigning people to race. It perpetuates racism.
Considering race has always been an arbitrary political construct to determine who is and is not a underclass it makes perfect sense that there are weird outliers.
Have you seen them? They’re pretty white
Watch this skit from Maz Jobrani explains the situation well 😂
Because being classified as black is a horrible fate. And America being a simple country, Arabs wanted to be classified as white.
Because whiteness is a social and political/legal creation. At some point it was beneficial or appropriate for these groups to be considered white.
My polysoc teacher at Miami was from Iran and he was adamant that he was white and so were all other Iranians. So it’s not just the us government.