Arab Americans were classified as what race on the U.S. census between 1909 and 2014?

Arab Americans were classified as "White" on the U.S. Census between 1909 and 2014. This classification was part of a broader categorization of people from the Middle East and North Africa. The classification of Arab Americans has been a topic of discussion and debate, with many advocating for a distinct category that acknowledges their unique ethnic and cultural identity. However, the U.S. Census has historically placed Arab Americans under the broader white racial category, which some argue does not accurately reflect their diverse experiences and heritage. It wasn't until the 2020 Census that the issue of ethnic classification gained more attention, leading to discussions on how best to represent Arab Americans in future census data.