Contemporary Status of Arab Americans

AS and A Level History

Race, Ethnic and Minority Issues

Arab Americans

Jessica Komperda

Sociology 301

Dr. Spelman

November 24, 2003

History of Arab Immigration

Arabs started to first immigrate to the United States between the years of 1880 and 1924. When the Immigration act of 1924 took effect, there was a dramatic decrease in Arab immigrants coming into the States. “Most immigrants in this first wave came from Arab regions of the Ottoman Empire, which controlled most of the Middle East until World War I(1914-1918)” (Encarta, 2002 “Arab Americans,” ¶ 9). The Ottoman Empire was a “dynastic state centered in what is now Turkey, founded in the late 13th century and dismantled in the early 20th century” (Encarta, 2002, “Ottoman Empire ¶ 1). When these immigrants came to the United States, they soon began to look for employment. Many of them found employment as mill and factory workers, door-to-door sales, and as farmers. Overall, assimilation into the “American way” was not hard for Arabs to achieve although there were struggles present. Arab immigrants mixed well because many of them were Christians just like the Americans. (Encarta, 2002, “Arab Americans”).

Even though the Immigration Act of 1924 decreased the amount of Arabs trying to immigrate to the United States significantly, it did begin to increase in the early 1950s. Unlike their early immigrant ancestors, many of them that came in the 1950’s were Muslims. Many of the these immigrants did not have menial jobs like the wave before them did. This time the ones that did immigrate to the United States were educated and highly skilled. These educated and highly skilled Arabs were mainly refugees from Palestine, who were forced out of their homeland when Israel became its own independent nation in 1948. Once again assimilation into the “American way” was not hard. They fit in well with fellow Americans all the while holding on to many of their cultural beliefs and practices. Arabic language schools were even developed in a hope of holding on to who they are and where they came from. (Encarta, 2002, “Arab Americans).

Once again, in 1965, there was another rush of Arabs trying to immigrate to the States. This was in large part due to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965(Lewis, 1995). This act dropped many of the obstacles that Arabs encountered while trying to make it over to the United States. In the 1960s and 1970s the number of Arab immigrants quickly rose. The quick increase was due mainly because of the economic and political upset that had taken place in their homeland. They simply wanted a way out. They wanted to move to a land of opportunities; the United States. (Encarta, 2002 “Arab Americans”).

As recently as the 1980s and 1990s immigration to the Unites States by Arabs was still increasing ever so much. “This latest wave of Arab immigrants has tended to identify more strongly with its Muslim heritage, resulting in a rapid increase in the number of mosques and Islamic religious schools in the United States” (Encarta, 2002, “Arab Americans” ¶ 12).

Contemporary Status of Arab Americans

While it might be hard to believe for some people, the majority of Arab Americans that actually live in America, are born in the United States. While the population keeps rising steadily, the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Contemporary Status of Arab Americans

While it might be hard to believe for some people, the majority of Arab Americans that actually live in America, are born in the United States. While the population keeps rising steadily, the first major rise came in 1875 when Arab Americans were immigrating to the “Land of Opportunity.” This immigration spurt lasted until 1920 when the United States began putting restrictions on immigration. Restrictions on immigration did not have all the promising effects that the United States once thought. The population of Arab Americans began to rise once again in the 1940’s and significantly in the 1960’s.

Arab Americans immigrate into the United States from many different countries. They come from Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Most Arab Americans populate states such as California, Michigan, and New York, while they can be found in all fifty states as well. The majority of them live in highly populated metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles County and Brooklyn.

Just like diversity in the United States, Arab Americans have numerous diversities of their own. Religion is one of the numerous aspects of their culture that many do not share. Some belong to Islam, Christianity, Druze, and Judaism. The majority of Arab Americans are Catholic, Orthodox Christians, or Muslim. According to Schaefer (2002), there are approximately 4 million Muslims in the United States; only 12 percent of them are Arab.

Language among Arab Americans is diverse. There are many different dialects that Arab Americans use today. Encyclopedia Britannica(2002) describes Arabic language as follows:

Though Arabic words and proper names are found in Aramaic inscriptions from ancient Palmyra and the Nabataean kingdom centered around Petra, abundant documentation of the language only begins with the rise of Islam. Grammarians from the 8th century uncodified it into the form known as Classical Arabic. In the 19th-20th century, expansion of Classical Arabic's stylistic range and vocabulary led to the creation of Modern Standard Arabic, which serves as a lingua franca among contemporary Arabs. Spoken Arabic has long diverged from the classical language, and the more than 200 million speakers of today use an enormous range of dialects, which at their furthest extremes are mutually unintelligible. (“Arabic Language, ¶ 1).

Years ago, the traditional Arabic language could be heard all throughout the United States. Today it is rarely heard in its true form.

Arab Americans hold numerous middle and upper class jobs. You would be surprised to know that because they are regarded as a minority many of them hold professional, executive, and office jobs. Encyclopedia Britannica (2002) says that most are likely to be self-employed and they have a median income higher than the national average.

Arab American women are often discriminated against because of what they wear. Many of the traditional women can be seen wearing garments that cover there whole face except for their eyes. The garments that cover their face and body signify religious heritage. These religious practices are based on Islamic practices. The garment that is worn over the face is called a chador and the dress-like rob they wear is an abayah or jilbab. As you have probably seen, many Arab women that reside in the United States do not were these garments. The traditional Arab dress for men is somewhat simpler. Arab men wear a hat-like garment on their head called a kafiyyeh. Unlike the garments worn by Arab women that have a religious background, the garments worn by men are worn to show pride in their Arab culture. After 9-11, people seen wearing these garments are being discriminated against everyday. Many of the people wearing these garments believe in the “American way” and are often thought of as terrorists.

According to Scheafer (2002), a national survey found that “over 40 percent of Americans view Muslims as supporting terrorism and the majority see them as suppressing women” (pg. 62). Although there have been instances in the past, the World Trace Center desrtuction has aroused these anti-Arab feelings in Americans.

Like many minorities, family ties and values are important. Arab Americans have a tremendous amount of pride in their native land as well as The United States. Because family is so important to them, the amount of Arabs living in the United States has been on the increase. Many family members living overseas often times immigrate to the United States to be together again.

The War with Iraq has not helped the Americans see positively towards Arab Americans and other closely related minorities. Arab Americans are watched very closely when in public. Many airlines have deliberately searched and questioned Arabs and other people that look suspicious. Arab women who wear the tradition outfit often times have trouble finding employment and they are even harassed walking down the street. One women state “I believe in America. I would never do any such hard to a country as wonderful as this. I don’t like being treated as a threat. It is not fair” (Bacharach, 1984).

Interview With Basma Hadad

Basma Hadad is a 37 year old Arab American women. She has lived in the United States all her life and is “…proud to be an American” (B, Hadad, personal communication, November 6, 2002). Both of her parents had immigrated into the United States during their early teenage years. She had one older brother and a younger sister. In the spring of 1988 Basma married Abbas Hadad. Together they have two young daughters.

Growing up as an Arab in the United States was not always easy for Basma and her family. When she was a younger and still living under her parents rule, she had to wear the traditional Arabic dress. She said that when she attended school, she was often times made fun of and picked on. Basma never let this sort of thing bother her though. “It was my strong family ties that helped me to get through these trying times” (B. Hadad, personal communication, November 6, 2003). As the years went on she found it easier and easier to deal with discriminative people and she encountered less discrimination as well.

Currently, Basma is a stay at home mother. She was employed for quite some time as a registered nurse at the local hospital. When her children were born she decided to take a leave of absence to raise them. Her husband is a professor of philosophy at Alma College in Alma, Michigan. While talking with Basma about her employment she had made it clear that when she first started to look for full-time employment she encountered many setbacks. Some employers took one look at her and she said “I could just tell what they are thinking; they don’t want someone like me to work for them” (B. Hadad, personal communication, November 6, 2003). She said the same of her husband. Although Basma is not currently employed, she feels that with the Recent destruction of the World Trade Center employment would be extremely hard for her to find. “If it were not for my husband having a secure and well-paying job, I don’t know how we would survive. I thank the Lord everyday for the blessing that Abbas found such a wonderful job at the right time” (B. Hadad, personal communication, November 6, 2003).

I have lived next door to the Hadad family for about six years now. In those six years I have witnessed some of the discrimination that these Arab Americans face everyday. I am in awe at how well they cope with discrimination of this type and how much they value living in America despite the cruelty of others. “Moving to the United States was the best thing my parent could have done for their family. It is by far, in my eyes, the best place to grow up, find a secure job, and to raise a family” (B. Hadad, personal communication, November 6, 2003). It really is reassuring to know that as much as American put immigrants through, they still love this land and highly worship what it has to offer.

After researching and talking with Arab Americans I am glad to know that they still think highly of the United States and Americans even after all the hardship we have put them through. It was interesting to find out the history of why Arabs want to come to the United States and how much of an influence we have on them. I am also glad to find out the since the destruction of the world trade center, Arabs are feeling more comfortable in society and that the amount of discrimination that they are encountering is slowly dwindling down. I found it really interesting that they were easily to assimilate to the American way. I thought that it would have been difficult for them to fit in because they come from such a different country than we do. Even though they are considered Arab Americans, I thought it was neat that they strongly believe in their culture and still practice it regularly. I think that it is important for them to hold on to who they are and where they came from even if they are considered Americans. Overall I am glad that they feel that the United States in a land of opportunity and that they feel so safe and welcome. It is a relief to know that with all the hatred in the world they still hold us in high regards.