For the first time in nearly three decades, the US government has revamped its federal race and ethnicity categories, introducing a new category for MENA heritage individuals and allowing the selection of multiple identities.
The US government has announced an overhaul of its federal race and ethnicity categories for the first time in nearly three decades. These revisions are designed to more accurately represent the nation’s diverse population, including providing a new category for Americans of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) heritage, who were previously categorized as white on official documents.
Set to be implemented across federal and state agencies, the updated standards introduce the option for respondents to select multiple race and ethnicity categories from a combined question. This change aims to eliminate confusion, particularly among Hispanic individuals who have previously had to navigate separate questions for race and ethnicity. Moreover, the update includes the introduction of a MENA category, acknowledging individuals from countries like Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, and Syria, and aims to improve representation for these and similar communities.
In addition to these alterations, the terms “Negro,” “Far East,” “majority,” and “minority” are being removed from federal documentation, reflecting an effort to use language that aligns with current understanding of race and ethnicity. These changes, which have been in development for two years, are expected to influence legislative redistricting, civil rights enforcement, and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the US’s demographic composition.
The move, initially gaining momentum during the Obama administration and now being realized under President Joe Biden, has been broadly welcomed as a step towards inclusivity and accuracy in demographic data collection. However, some concerns have been voiced regarding the potential impacts on specific groups, such as Afro-Latinos, though research suggests that the new combined race and ethnicity question does not significantly affect their representation in data. This update is seen as a vital shift in how the United States addresses its evolving demographic landscape, ensuring that data collection processes remain relevant and reflective of society’s complexity.
