Visibility is power! But the current racial and ethnic categories used to capture demographic information render the diversity and distinct needs of New Jersey’s population invisible.

The Data Disaggregation bill would require agencies that collect demographic information to disaggregate for Middle East and North African (MENA) communities and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. With accurate data disaggregated by ethnicity or origin, can NJ ensure resources and interventions are best focused.

As an example, when comparing New Jerseyans without healthcare coverage, the overly broad category “white,” which includes the MENA population with people of European origin, shows an uninsured rate of 6.6%. When disaggregated, the uninsured rate nearly doubles for Palestinian New Jerseyans at 12.5% and jumps to an astonishing 63% for Algerian New Jerseyans.

TAKE ACTION

Back to NJAIJ Advocacy Campaigns