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Tlaib calls on federal officials to stop whitewashing Middle Eastern Americans on census form
U.S. REP. RASHIDA TLAIB is leading a push to get federal officials to include a category on the U.S. Census and other official forms for people of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent.
Racial and ethnic classifications haven’t changed in 25 years.
Without the category, Arab Americans and others are encouraged to choose the “white” category on the census form. The “white” category includes those “having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.”
In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Census Bureau, Tlaib and 17 other members of Congress, including Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, urged the officials to “end the longstanding erasure” of people of Middle Eastern and North African descent and “ensure that this vibrant American community can receive crucial federal resources and support.”
“As you are aware, federal standards for the classification of data on race and ethnicity impact far more than population totals in the decennial census. OMB standards determine how our political institutions distribute material resources, political representation, and research funding,” the letter states. “These resources are vital components of growth and development for any minority community, particularly those who experience historical barriers to meeting basic needs and accessing support.”
The decennial census is meant to provide a snapshot of the nation’s demographics. The information is used to determine congressional seats, the allotment of $1.5 trillion in federal funding, and the identity of vulnerable communities that have specific needs.
Metro Detroit has one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S.
“Federal demographic data does not reflect the realities of MENA individuals and community-based organizations, which makes it increasingly difficult for advocates, researchers, agency officials, and policymakers to communicate, understand, and address community needs,” the letter states. “As a result, federal policymaking and program implementation rarely address the lived experiences of members of the MENA community.”
In a study released in February 2022, researchers found that most people with MENA origins do not identify as white.
In a 2015 Census Bureau study, federal officials found that adding a MENA category “appears to produce more accurate data” and “worked well to identify groups that self-identify as Middle Eastern or North African.”
In 2017, the Census Bureau concluded, “The results of this research indicate that it is optimal to use a dedicated ‘Middle Eastern or North African’ response category,” and recommended that the category be added to the 2020 census.
But the Trump administration’s OMB, which is responsible for the categories on the census, decided to exclude the category.
In addition to Tlaib and Lawrence, the letter was co-signed by Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Stephen F. Lynch, Gerald E. Connolly, Jamie Raskin, Ro Khanna, Jackie Speier, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Katie Porter, Danny Davis, Peter Welch, John Sarbanes, Robin Kelly, and Eleanor Holmes Norton. —Steve Neavling
U.S. Rep. Tlaib.
WITH MICHIGAN’S COVID-19 rental assistance program about to end, Mayor Mike Duggan announced a three-pronged plan to help Detroiters facing eviction.
The state’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program expires on June 30. So far, more than $750 million has been distributed to help about 142,000 Michigan residents struggling to pay rent.
“The CERA program was a great success,” Duggan said in a statement. “More than 19,000 Detroiters were helped with back rent since March 2021, and $159 million in assistance was approved for Detroit renters to keep them in their homes.”
Now that the program is ending, Detroit is stepping up with additional assistance that includes free legal help, job placements, and emergency shelters.
“That rental assistance funding will soon be over, but the City of Detroit is here to help those whose lives are not yet back to normal,” Donald Rencher, the city’s group executive for Housing, Planning and Development, said. “If you’re facing eviction, we’ll get you a lawyer. If you are behind in your rent and need to earn more income, we’ll help get you a job quickly. And for those who lose their homes, we will connect you with resources to get you into shelter until our partners can help you find a more permanent place to call home.”
The city will provide attorneys at no cost to residents facing evictions in district court after CERA aid expires. On May 10, Detroit City Council approved an ordinance to provide free legal representation for lower-income residents facing eviction, joining cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Newark, Milwaukee, Denver, and San Francisco that have right-to-counsel ordinances.
The city’s Rapid Jobs program connects residents struggling to pay rent with employment opportunities. There are more than 12,000 vacant jobs in the city. For help finding a job, visit DetroitEvictionHelp.com or call 313-962WORK.
The city is also offering working training through its Skills for Life program. To sign up, visit DetroitatWork.com or call 313-962WORK.
For residents without a place to sleep, the city is offering access to shelters and housing resources. Those facing homelessness may call 313305-0311 or visit the Coordinated Assistance Model at 1600 Porter St. in Corktown.
It’s still not too late to apply for CERA aid. You can apply online at ceraapp.michigan.gov.
“The City of Detroit and our nonprofit partners have worked tirelessly to help Detroiters get through this crisis,” Julie Schneider, acting director of the Housing & Revitalization Department, said. “We want to make Detroiters aware that the COVID rental assistance is ending. There may be more applications than funding available, so renters need to continue or resume paying rent if they can in order to avoid losing their home.” —Steve Neavling
10th Starbucks store in Mich. votes to unionize
A STARBUCKS STORE in Ypsilanti voted overwhelmingly to form a union Friday, becoming the 10th Starbucks store in Michigan to do so.
Baristas at the 3650 Carpenter store voted 15-2 in favor of unionizing, joining a growing labor movement sweeping across the country. Since December, 160 Starbucks in 20 states have voted to unionize, according to A More Perfect Union, a nonprofit that tracks labor unions. Baristas are asking for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Michigan joined the movement in May, when Starbucks workers at 2480 Burton St. in Grand Rapids voted in favor of forming a union, 15-3.
On June 7, four Starbucks stores in Ann Arbor voted to unionize. One Ann Arbor store voted against it.
Two days later, four more Starbucks stores in Clinton Township, Lansing, Flint, and East Lansing voted to form a union. A store in Grand Blanc voted not to unionize.
The labor movement has moved beyond Starbucks. In Detroit, employees at Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. went on strike in February as part of a move to unionize. —Steve Neavling
