As census approaches, many Arab Americans feel left out

PHOENIX (AP) — The 2020 census is going to printing presses later this year, but Arab Americans are feeling left out of the process.

That’s because they don’t have a box to check in the race section of the census.

The only race options are white, black, Asian and categories for groups such as American Indian and Native Hawaiian. As a result, many Arab Americans check the white box.

Advocates say it leads to an undercount of Arab Americans and less representation and money for important research that’s based on the census.