Op-Ed: How did the MENA community become classified as “White” - OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association

Op-Ed: How did the MENA community become classified as “White” - OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association

Last December, New York State enacted a law requiring agencies that collect demographic data to create new, separate categories for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) ethnicities. This significant change addresses a longstanding issue that has adversely affected MENA communities. As we welcome these developments, it’s important to understand how these groups were originally classified as white. This classification is a fascinating story, sha