Illinois recognizes Arab Americans as race

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Illinois will be the first state in the U.S. to recognize Arab Americans as a race. This is considered a major victory for those who come from the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.

The new law was passed by the Illinois legislature and signed by Governor JB Pritzker last Friday.

The law will take effect in 2025.

It requires agencies to include the category of MENA in addition to White, Black, African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander when reporting statistical data on ethnic or racial categories by 2025.

This is a significant step forward for the Arab American community, which has struggled with discrimination and invisibility for decades.

The lack of a MENA category on government forms has made it difficult for Arab Americans to access resources and services and has prevented them from being accurately represented in government data.

The new law will help ensure that Arab Americans are counted and included in government programs and policies.

This is critical to addressing the unique challenges facing the Arab American community, such as high poverty rates, discrimination, and health disparities.

The bill was introduced by State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, a Chicago Democrat of Lebanese descent.

“This information will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the experience our communities face and will give us the tools we need to develop better policies,” he said. 

The bill was supported by a number of Arab-American organizations.

Some groups opposed the bill because it would create a new racial category not based on biological or genetic facts.