2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium

Winners 🏆: Malaak Elhage (public health), Caroline Cohen (psychology)

Faculty mentor: Bryan Ellis

Abstract

Analyzing the various neighborhoods in Detroit and the differing characteristics that make each one unique. Through the combination of our different topics, we hope to advance the research and recognition of Detroit's current outlook as well as the city's efforts to recover from its economic downturn due to Arab Americans being incorrectly categorized as "Caucasian" in many databases including the census, Arab Americans are overlooked and ignored in health research throughout the United States.

Over the years, we have seen various organizations including ACCESS and TAKE ON HATE, spearhead initiatives to change this narrative, challenge the persistent misconception of Arab Americans, as well as advocate for systematic policy changes (The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE). Before we can analyze the absence of Arab Americans in health data, it is crucial to understand what "Arab American" refers to. ACC Library Services defines Arab Americans as "those who immigrated from or are descendants of immigrants who came from the predominantly Arabic-speaking nations in Southwest Asia and North Africa."

With the absence of an Arab American selection choice in health databases, individuals from 22 countries with rich, unique health factors and health history are pooled in with people with different health histories from different countries. This research will delve into the absence of Arab American data in Detroit, how race and inequality are not obvious, as depicted by Palmer Woods and Midtown data, and the problems that arise when Arab Americans are labeled by a religion and are categorized as Caucasian.

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