Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Clumns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Toggle search form
  • Police Blotter
    Orland Park Police Department Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run accident
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities Events
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt breaking news
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN Blogger
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Threatening FEMA Employees and Law Enforcement Officers Crime
  • SeatGeek Stadium
    Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago Bridgeview
  • OFPD Trustee DJ Jeffers, COmmissioner Mohammed Jaber, Events and Safety Coordinator Betsy Dine and McDonalds Manager Doug Kwiatkowski join about 100 kids who participated at the Frozen with a Firefighter event Wednesday, July 9, 2025
    Frozen with an Orland Firefighter at McDonald’s Events
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Chicago dad’s court victory brought kidnapped daughter home Dads' Rights
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Leading members of State’s Gun Violence Prevention Community endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate elections
  • IAM Union Logo
    IAM Union Members at Arrow Gear Ratify Strong Contract After 9 Weeks on Strike Business
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago Chicago
  • Donna Miller
    Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Launches Congressional Campaign Chicago
  • Mohammed Jaber
    Mohammed Jaber takes Oath of Office for Orland Fire Commission Fire
  • The Orland Fire District responded at 6:51 pm to reports of  smoke coming out of the eves of a four unit townhome in the 10500 block of Illinois Court in the Eagle Ridge subdivision on Saturday August 10th, 2024. 
    Orland Fire District reports several 4th of July fires but no injuries accident
State Rep. Cyril Nichols

Arab Americans oppose “MENA” bill and urge “ARAB” be recognized as an MBE and in Census

Posted on March 25, 2023March 25, 2023 By News Editor 1 Comment on Arab Americans oppose “MENA” bill and urge “ARAB” be recognized as an MBE and in Census
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Arab Americans oppose “MENA” bill and urge “ARAB” be recognized as an MBE and in Census

Arab American leaders are pushing back against legislation that would designate the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) category for the Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and the U.S. Census arguing that the MENA Category will only help fuel more marginalization of Arab Americans.
A coalition of Arab American organizations are urging the Illinois Senate to block a proposal for MENA and reconsider legislation already introduced by State Rep. Cyril Nicholes (D-32nd) that recognizes ARAB as a MBE designation.
“MENA already includes ’North Africans’ and all Americans who originate by heritage from anywhere in Africa, including in North Africa, are already identified in the Illinois MBE category and in the U.S. Census,” said Samir Khalil, former president and founder of the Arab American Democratic Club (AADC).
“We believe the issue of discrimination specifically targets Arabs and the MENA category dilutes that. Once passed, anyone identified as Arab will continue to be victimized by marginalization and exclusion because th MENA drive does not identify Arabs.”
State Rep. Cyril Nichols
State Rep. Cyril Nichols, Democrat 32nd District
Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce agreed, said that the original bill introduced by Nichols would give MBE and Census recognition to Arabs, both Christian and Muslim, who continue to be victims of bias and exclusion.
“It is the Arab community that has been victimized by discrimination and marginalization. No one understands and knows what MENA is. It is a hodgepodge of all kinds of ethnicities and groups that range from North African all the way into Asia,” Nijem said.
“We’re not saying to discriminate against others. We are saying that our leaders need to address the real issue, that Arab Americans are the major victims of discrimination, Muslim and Christian. And failing to directly address that category will not prevent that discrimination from taking place.”
Political Columnist and former Chicago City Hall political reporter Ray Hanania said that the MENA category is being pushed in order to satisfy the concerns of the widest array of ethnic groups and that failure to push for Arab equality in Illinois will only reinforce the discrimination that we face.
“No one ever called me a ‘dirty MENA’ but they have called me a ‘Dirty Arab’ because the anger and animosity isn’t against MENA. It is against Arabs who continue to suffer as a result of historic discrimination,” Hanania said.
“The groups pushing for MENA are doing so purely for political reasons. It began with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, whom the Arab community opposed in the last election, and has now been embracedby Gov. J.B. Pritzker who has a history of anti-Arab relationships. We are just asking that something be done to confront the anger and bias that exists against Arab Americans.”
Hanania, who authored the book Arabs of Chicagoland, said that despite the low-ball Census estimates of Arab Americans, an analysis of voter data shows that the Arab community is sizable in Chicagoland and is estimated to be around 450,000 in northern Illinois.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
News Editor
News Editor
News Editor at Suburban Chicagoland
Managing Editor and News Editor for stories published in SuburbanChicagoland
News Editor
Latest posts by News Editor (see all)
  • Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Threatening FEMA Employees and Law Enforcement Officers - July 12, 2025
  • Orland Fire District reports several 4th of July fires but no injuries - July 5, 2025
  • MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Honors Duggan Sisters at Women’s History Month Celebration    - March 28, 2025
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Abdelnasser Rashid, arab, category dispute, census, Cyril Nichols, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House, Illinois Senate, MBE, MENA, Minority Business Enterprise, State Representative, US Census

Post navigation

Previous Post: The Town of Cicero Senior Center hosted the annual Hearts & Shamrocks dance
Next Post: Lightning causes fire at Orland Home; car rollover no serious injuries; chimney fire extinguished

Related Posts

  • TIF heats up Willow Springs News
  • Lynn Zeder High School District 230 school president
    High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Blogger
  • New Lenox offers Free CERT training
    New Lenox offers free Disaster Preparedness Training to residents Government
  • Lakelabnd Florida Call Center courtesy of Wikipedia
    Alorica fires Wisconsin workers and hires 9,000 workers in the Philipines Business
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Congresswoman Newman helps secure $118 million in grant funding for Chicago Transit Authority Chicago
  • Arab American Democratic Club to host online rally Chicago

More Related Articles

Bridgeview to rededicate park News
Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving. Specializing in Fathers' Rights, Family Law, Child custody, divorce proceedings Using rules of evidence to achieve court victories to be topic of CLE seminar at Leving firm Events
Easter egg hunt in Lyons News
Local Attorney Gives Back On Basketball Court, Teaches Life Lessons News
Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval. Photo courtesy of Senator Sandoval Sandoval, Schillerstrom, Gorman announce new jobs coming to Illinois Briefs
Would Chicago just stop whining already? Opinion

Comment (1) on “Arab Americans oppose “MENA” bill and urge “ARAB” be recognized as an MBE and in Census”

  1. Pingback: Arab Americans oppose "MENA" bill and urge "ARAB" be recognized as an MBE and in Census - Brightgram

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN
    July 12, 2025
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Chicago parents and other community leaders must work together to make sure this summer isn’t deadly for our children
    July 3, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    How Technology Changed the Cook County Treasurer’s Office
    June 27, 2025
  • Attorneys Jeffery Leving Arthur Kallow
    Honoring Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection
    June 13, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners
    June 13, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Two Guys on Politics Podcast on Elon Musk, Trump’s Parade, LA Riots, and Middle East ban
    June 12, 2025
  • NEWS
  • Police Blotter
    Orland Park Police Department Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run
    July 12, 2025
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities
    July 12, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule
    July 12, 2025
  • SeatGeek Stadium
    Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago
    July 12, 2025
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities
    July 12, 2025
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt
    July 12, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme