ARAB AMERICAN

EXPERIENCE

OVERVIEW• Definition of an Arab American• Identify Arab American Demographics• Arab American immigration• Arab American cultural norms • Identify the five pillars of Islam• Definition of Muslim• Sources of Anti-Arab sentiment in the U.S.• Contemporary Arab American Issues

DEFINITION

ARAB AMERICAN is the term given to personswho immigrated to the United States from a group

of independent nation-states in North Africa and theMiddle East. They have a common linguistic and culturalheritage that has been shaped primarily by the religions

of Islam and Christianity.

ARAB AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS

• Population– Over 3 million, some estimate nearly 5 million

• Religious Affiliation– majority (70%) have a Christian affiliation

– Muslim/Islamic affiliation (30%)

• Geographic Distribution– the area’s where the majority have settled includes:

• New York, Los Angles, San Francisco, Detroit, Washington DC, Houston, Chicago, and Jacksonville

ARAB AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

• Early Immigration (1886-1914)

• Between World War I and World War II (1915-1945)

• The later immigration period

EARLY IMMIGRATION PERIOD (1886-1914)

• A majority of Arab immigrants came from greater Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and occasionally Iraq.

• Reasons for immigration included, a neglect for the Christian religion, the draft, a bloody war between religions, and the fact that American Christian missionaries were active among the Syrian Christians who built hospitals, schools and churches which left a favorable impression on America. Many eventually lost their Islamic Identity as time went by.

• Most of these immigrants were poor, uneducated, and looking for new opportunities. They had a big distaste for indoor factory work, many chose door to door peddling and often made sufficient money to send for family members. There were many working as slaves on plantations. Eventually many opened MOM and POP type stores.

BETWEEN WWI AND WWII (1915-1945)

• During this period, The United States Congress passed legislation that restricted immigration. These laws had an effect of slowing the movement of Arab Americans into the country

THE LATER IMMIGRATION PERIOD (1946 -)

• Most of these Arab immigrants came from Egypt, Iran, and Palestine .

• Major reason for immigration was to study in our universities and many decided to stay .

• Most of these immigrants were largely educated, professional, and of the Muslim faith. Most of this group has been able to retain more of their culture and religion unlike the earlier immigrants.

• While the earlier immigrants found it easier and desirable to fully assimilate into the American mainstream, the newer arrivals seem more prone to retain their Arab culture.

ARAB AMERICAN CULTURAL NORMS

• Values and beliefs

• Basic Arab self-perceptions

• Concept of Friendship

• Concept of Fatalism

• Men and Women

• Status of Women

• Social Class System

• Role of the Family

VALUES AND BELIEFS

• Basic Arab Values:– Dignity, Honor, and reputation are of paramount importance to an

Arab. Typically an Arab will deport himself/herself in such a way as to create a good impression.

– Loyalty to the family takes precedence over all personal needs

– Piety (devotion to religion) is one of the most admirable characteristics.

– There is no separation between church and state in many Arab Nations. Religion is taught in schools and promoted by the Government.

– Religion is a way of life in both waves of immigration

BASIC ARAB SELF-PERCEPTIONS

• Arabs are generous, humanitarian, polite, and loyal.• Have a rich cultural heritage.• Clearly defined cultural group i.e., “Arab Nation”.• Have been victimized by the West.• Arabs are misunderstood in the West.

CONCEPT OF FRIENDSHIP • Concept of “save face”, let the other party find their own way out of

a situation• You should never refuse a request from a friend• Introductions:

– social status is discussed at some length

– social connections are very important

– interested in family background and social connections before decision to become friends

• Business Relationships:– a good personal relationship is the most important single factor in doing

business with Arabs, Americans traditionally want to get right down to business. This style will not bring success

CONCEPT OF FRIENDSHIP cont...

• Criticism:– Forthright criticism is always almost taken as personal

and destructive

– It is important to avoid direct and frank criticism.

– Tact must be employed to protect the other persons public image, and avoid insult

CONCEPT OF FATALISM

• In the West we generally believe humans have the right to control their environment and their destiny.

• Arabs do not believe in this Ideology. • In fact, too much self-confidence may be interpreted

as blasphemy. • This can sometimes enable Arabs to assert when

they fail that they were not at fault - rather, it was “God’s will”

MEN AND WOMEN • Accuracy of statements concerning the relationship

between men and women will vary based on the country discussed. Saudi Arabia is the most conservative

• As a general rule women interact freely only with other women and very close male relatives. Women and men are never alone together even for a short period of time

• As a foreigner, if you are seen to be too familiar with someone of the opposite sex you will lose respect.

MEN AND WOMEN cont...

• The public display of intimacy between men and women is strictly forbidden by the Arab social code

• This code also applies to husbands and wives • The maintenance of family honor is one of the

highest values in Arab society.• In Arab cultures, misbehavior by women can do

more damage to family honor than misbehavior by men

THE STATUS OF WOMEN • Statements here vary in applicability depending on the country

involved. For instance, in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, educated women have been very active at all levels of society.

• In the Persian Gulf States, most women do not work. Those who do, work only in all-female environments such as schools and banks for women, except those in the medical profession

• Some changes in the work aspect are changing• Typically, women's focus is in the house• Traditionally-oriented men and women don’t see prevailing

customs as restrictive-rather as protection• Western women are allowed some leeway

SOCIAL CLASS SYSTEM • Four basic social classes in the Arab world:

– Upper class: Royalty and Wealthy– Middle class: Govt.. workers, military officers, teachers and merchants – Lower class: peasant farmers, urban and village poor– Nomadic Bedouins: typically admired for preserving Arab traditions,

move from place to place

• Western foreigners are usually considered upper

• Not much tension between classes due to Arabs seeing their position determines by fate (Allah)

• Upper class do not perform manual labor in public, and do not socialize with lower class

THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY

• Family loyalty and obligation take precedence over loyalty to friends or the demand of a job

• Family is seen as a persons ultimate refuge• In all cases, one must defend the honor of family

members, even if you hate them or think they are wrong

• Arab man head of the household• Wife operates behind the scenes• Children are taught profound respect for adults

THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY cont..

• Marriage– Most Arabs still prefer arranged marriages– This is done to keep dowry within the family– The family always plays a major role in the decision of any member to wed

• Polygamy– is becoming rare– can be married to more than one women, but everyone is equal, no one gets

anymore than the other

• Divorce– Is very controlled, must pay substantially to the wife, must be asked three

times in a public place w/witnesses

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

• Religious toleration– Arabs truly believe in religion

– Do not have any tolerance for atheists or agnostics

• People of the book– Mohammed is believed to be the last in a long line of

prophets sent from God which includes Jesus

– Respect other prophets as well

– Respect all faiths

RELIGION AND SOCIETY cont..

• Koran– Contains many of the same stories as the Bible

– Actual word of God given to Mohammed

• Two main sects of Islam are the Sunnis and the Shiite

• Most Muslim Arabs belong to the Sunni sect

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

• These are the five basic tenets of the Islamic faith– 1. FAITH There is only one God and Mohammed is the messenger of God– 2. PRAYER Prayer five times a day– 3. THE ZAKAT Giving charity to poor 2.5% yearly– 4. THE FAST Fasting during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth

month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, Moslems do not eat, drink, or smoke between sunrise and sunset. Purpose is to experience hunger and deprivation and to perform acts of self-discipline, humility, and faith

– 5. PILGRIMAGE to Mecca at least once during ones lifetime if it is not a financial hardship

DEFINITION OF MUSLIM • Islam is not a new religion, both a religion and a way of life• The word Islam means submission and derives from a word

meaning peace• Allah is the Arabic name for God• Islam and Christianity have the same origins , with Judaism

they go back to the prophet Abraham and their three prophets who are directly descended from his sons Mohammed from the eldest, Ishmael, Moses, and Jesus from Isaac

MUSLIM cont..

• Muslims believe in:– In one unique, incomparable God

– In the angels created by him

– In the prophets through whom his revelations were brought

– In the day of judgement and individual accountability for actions

– In Gods complete authority over human destiny and in life after death

– Gods final message to man was revealed to the prophet Mohammed through Gabriel

MUSLIM cont..

• Fatalism: belief or attitude that events are fixed in advance for all time in such a manner that human beings are powerless to change them

• May become Muslim by simply saying “there is no God apart from God, and Mohammed is the messenger of God.”

• Koran: – Record of exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the

Prophet Mohammed. Memorized by Mohammed and dictated to his companions. Not one word of its 114 chapters has been changed over the last 14 centuries

MUSLIM cont..

• The Koran is the last revealed word of God, and is the primary source of every Muslims faith and practice

• Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his second coming

• Muslims forbid the consumption of pig meat or any kind of intoxicating drink

ANTI ARAB SENTIMENT IN THE U. S.

• Political violence– Extremists perceive their actions to be part of the wider Arab-Israeli conflict

with the struggle against the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole. Actions are ideologically motivated and premeditated.

• Xenophobia– (pertaining to Arab Americans) Locally inspired hostility and violence toward

Arab Americans, Muslims, and Middle Easterners and their institutions

• Jingoistic Racism– A blend of knee jerk patriotism and home grown white racism toward non-

European, non-Christian, dark skinned peoples, which is normally premeditated

CONTEMPORARY ARAB AMERICAN ISSUES

• Targeted in airports/bombings• Arab-Israeli conflict

– Of all the issues considered, this is the most important– Perception that Arab Americans only support a Palestine homeland and do not care

about Israel

• American role in the Middle East– Most Arab Americans feel the U.S. should continue to use political influence to

resolve issues in the Middle East

• Kuwait– Arab Americans are in favor of the future democracy of the Kuwaiti Government

and for other Arab states as well

CONTEMPORARY ARAB AMERICAN ISSUES cont..

• Discrimination in the U.S.– The biggest concern of Arab Americans is the feeling, as

a whole, they are being discriminated against because of the perception that terrorists are only Arabs. They feel they are receiving the backlash of terrorism and of hostage taking

SUMMARY• Definition of an Arab American• Identify Arab American Demographics• Arab American immigration• Arab American cultural norms • Identify the five pillars of Islam• Definition of Muslim• Sources of Anti-Arab sentiment in the U.S.• Contemporary Arab American Issues