MENA Leaders Push for a More Nuanced View of Diversity

When it comes to representation, people of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent have long faced a particular barrier: the lack of a box to check on official forms, including the U.S. Census. Instead of a distinct category, Americans who identify as MENA are instructed to check the box for “white”—whether or not that reflects their concept of identity or personal experience of the world, and despite the systemic barriers and discrimination they often face.