New York bill ‘de-whitifys’ state by reclassifying North Africans, Middle Easterners as ‘non-white’

On Thursday, the New York State Senate unanimously passed the legislation, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas and Senator Michael Gianaris. The legislators argued that MENA individuals do not benefit from "white privilege" and face discrimination, particularly due to false associations with 9/11. They also contend that categorizing MENA individuals as white excludes them from qualifying for minority-owned business grants and other government aid.

“This bill isn’t anti-white – it’s pro-MENA,” González-Rojas told the New York Post. “Data is power. It will give elected representatives and state agencies and institutions the tools to better understand the unique and diverse needs of all New Yorkers.”

However, some lawmakers expressed concerns about the potential for increased division. Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny of Brooklyn described the initiative as an attempt at “de-whiting” New York and warned it could lead to greater separation among New Yorkers.

“I am deeply concerned that this further separation of New Yorkers into categories... may lead to more division,” Brook-Krasny said. “If the desire is inclusion, then why are we pushing a path of forcing legislation that will clearly result in separation and further division in our society?”

State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo also criticized the bill, calling it hypocritical.

“They want to fight systemic exclusion with systemic exclusion,” Pirozzolo claimed. “Instead of trying to help and uplift everyone, they are fanning the flame of racial division.”

The bill would apply to individuals of Egyptian, Moroccan, Libyan, and other North African descent, as well as those of Iranian, Palestinian, Israeli, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern descent. New York City is home to one of the largest MENA communities in the country.

The New York legislation coincides with the Biden administration's efforts to add a “Middle Eastern or North African” option on official documents, including the US Census. However, New York lawmakers say that the changes that are needed are not happening quickly enough.

“This bill would cause this… to go into effect sooner,” González-Rojas explained. “These communities have been made invisible from this decades-old erasure for too long, and each year only furthers that erasure.”