US Commerce Department to label Arab-Americans a 'disadvantaged minority'?
Silly me. I thought the influence of Arab Americans in the US was based upon their middle and upper class status. Apparently not. The US Commerce Department is now considering labeling Arab-Americans a 'disadvantaged minority' (Hat Tip: Joe L). The Commerce Department is considering naming Arab Americans a socially and economically disadvantaged minority group that is eligible for special business assistance.You have until June 27 to let the Commerce Department know how you feel about this.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) petitioned Commerce earlier this year to ask that Arab Americans be made eligible for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which helps minority entrepreneurs gain access to capital, contracts and trade opportunities.
The ADC petition cited “discrimination and prejudice in American society[,] resulting in conditions under which Arab-American individuals have been unable to compete in a business world.” The group claimed discrimination against Arab Americans increased after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
I think it's pretty hard to argue that there is significant anti-Arab discrimination, at least based on the hate crime statistics. The FBI hate crime statistics for 2010 are here. See for yourselves.
Labels: Arab Americans, discrimination
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:26 AM
4 Comments:
Obama: "I’m also mindful of the proverb, “A man is judged by his deeds, not his words.” So if you want to know where my heart lies, look no further than what I have done — to stand up for Israel."
I thought the black community was disadvantaged considering the unemployment numbers but apparently not for Barack HUSSEIN Obama.
Think of it this way, a disadvantaged minority is anybody who isn't a white male. Anybody at all.
Sparky,
The Bible Belt predominantly white are the biggest bloc of disadvantaged minority in the US.
Reverse snobbery doesn't work, here sorry.
ARab American doesn't necessarily mean Muslim, because most Arab Americans are Christian.
Second, Arab doesn't necessarily mean non white, you can have white Arabs.
As regards American Muslims, they may be wealthy and well educated, but they have no political influence yet, and they do face unfair discrimation, Islamophobia is rife. They are certainly disadvantaged.
American Muslim influence on the USA comes from outside the US.
I dread to think of what their fate would be if it were not for their external bretheren lobbying for them.
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