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Asian AmericansHistory

Asian Ethno-Linguistic Groups

China, Mongolia etc.

• Mongolia, inner & outer▫ Mongol

empire (see next map)

• Tibet independence movement

• Uyghur (Uighur)

• PRC and Taiwan▫ Characters▫ Politics▫ Language in

Taiwan

Mongol Empire

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China

Uyghur

TibetHan

Korea

Taiwan

MongoliaMandarinCentral Asian Dialects

Cantonese

SouthernFujianese

TibetanShanghainese

(shanghai)

Northern Fujianese

Shanghainese (Hangzhou)

Gan(Dialect of JiangXi provice)

Xiang (dialect of HuNan)

Hakka

Mongolia

Chinese Dialects

China

Turkic/Uygher

Han

Mongolian

Tibetan-Burman

Korean

Altaic family, with about 250 million speakers, includes Turkish and Mongolian. There is considerable controversy about this family. First, it is often classified with the Uralic languages (see above), which have a similar grammatic structures. Second, many linguists doubt that Korean, Japanese (125 million speakers), or Ainu should be included, or that these last three are even related to each other! Also represented here are the language isolates Gilyak and Ket.

Languages of Northern Asia

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Korean dialects

“official” Korean is the dialect of the educated people in the Seoul area (light green in the map)

Indochina

Austronesian language family

This family includes some 1000 different languages, spoken by about 250 million speakers. Malay and Indonesian (essentially the same language) account for about 140 million. Other examples include Madagascar in Africa, Tagalog in the Philippines, the aboriginal languages of Formosa (Taiwan) -- now almost displaced by Chinese -- and the many languages of the Pacific Islands, from Hawaiian in the north Pacific to Maori in New Zealand.

US Imperialism

• Guam, Wake (1899), Samoa – still US possessions whose “Pacific Islander” residents are US citizens. Small numbers, insignificant in most statistics, but present on mainland.

• (Hawaii annexed in the same year 1898)

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Pacific Islanders of US• Chamorro people. Austronesian language group. ▫ 65,000 in Guam; (US since 1898) US citizens▫ 19,000 Northern Marianas (mostly Saipan) (US

since WWII) US citizens▫ 93,000 in rest of US (mostly Hawaii & West

Coast). US citizens.• American Samoa is US colony pop 65,000; part

of larger Samoan area (mostly independent country). US nationals, not US citizens.

• Wake Island: uninhabited, near Marshall Islands• Other uninhabited islands acquired after WWII

US and the Pacific

Guam & Marianas

Philippines

Wake

American Samoa

Hawaii

Japan

Korea

Indonesia

Oceania

Philippines major language groupsEnglish & Filipino (derived from Tagalog, red) are official languages. Education is in English. Migrants to Hawaii were most often Ilocano (green).

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Philippine Islands• Racially, ethnically linguistically mixed population. Aboriginal

people; various waves of migration from China & elsewhere in Asia

• Spanish colony for ~ 400 years; fighting war of independence against Spain

• Spanish-American War 1898: Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam, Wake, become US possessions.

• Philippine wars of independence▫ Philippine-American War 1899-1902 (main capitulation of

Philippine resistance)▫ Moro Rebellion 1899-1913 (continuing guerilla war for

independence by various subgroups)• 1916 US grants “autonomy”, residents of Philippines are US

nationals• 1934 US grants pathway to independence, Filipinos no longer

citizens of US • Philippines is “Republika ng Pilipinas” in Filipino

Pilipino Migration & Exclusion• 400 years of Spanish colonialism: Filipinos a blend

of European and Asian, racially & culturally • After 1898, Philippines a US possession• Much migration to Hawaii, some migration to

mainland. Smaller numbers than Chinese or Japanese.

• On mainland, often lived and intermarried with Mexicans.

• 1934 Philippine “independence” curtails Philippine immigration; turns Filipinos in US from US nationals into foreigners

• English & Filipino are official languages

Hawaii Hawaii, part 1

• A kingdom of Polynesian people, recognized as a nation by the US.

• 1830s-1890: Anglo-American planters take over much of the land, import many Asian workers

• Population becomes predominantly Asian▫ Chinese, Japanese, Pilipino ▫ Ethnic, linguistic differences. ▫ Whites an elite minority.

• “Pidgen” spoken. Class conflict predominates.

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Hawaii, part 2

• Anglo-Americans overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii (Queen Lydia Liliuokalani) in 1893 with US naval support, establish a “republic” in 1894

• Viewed as illegal at the time (then-president Cleveland denounced it).

• In 1898, US annexes.• Annexation is a violation of international law,

remains unresolved into 20th century

Hawaii Part 3

• Statehood 1959 to resolve legal status▫ Majority of Hawaiian population voted for

statehood▫ Non-white character of the state an issue for many

congressmen• Hawaii to mainland migration: prior to 1965,

many Asian Americans had roots in Hawaii

Hawaii Census

2000% 2010%

White 24 26Black 2 2Asian 42 38(Japanese 17%, Filipino 14%, Chinese 5% in 2000)Pacific Islander 9 10

Native Hawaiian 7Two + Races* 23 23Hispanics of all races 7 10

* Mixed generally includes Asian and/or native Hawaiian, with or without white

Hawaiian Racial Climate

• Asian majority, varying ethnicities (vary by island); the dominant group

• Native Hawaiians (some discrimination)• Whites (Haoles) a minority, although relatively

well off. ▫ Portuguese not Haole, legacy of origins

• Pidgin (see slide)• Overt racial/ethnic name-calling coupled with

more racial equality than in most of the US

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Native Hawaiians• Those of native Hawaiian/Polynesian descents

(pure + mixed) about 20% today• Native Hawaiians claim discrimination. Do not

want to be classified as “Asian,” as the “Asians” are dominant

• Significant native Hawaiian legal claims on public land

• Hawaiian independence movement is active, was invigorated in 1993 by 100th anniversary of the takeover

Asians in Mainland US1848-1920Discrimination and Exclusion

Chinese Migration in 19th Century• Begins 1848s, with Gold Rush. • Fleeing economic disaster and poverty, political

turmoil. • Predominantly male, predominantly uneducated

peasants• Small as part of US total, but very high

percentages of several western states. • Built the western part of the trans-continential

railroad; not permitted to drive the last spike in 1869

Chinese Exclusion• Explicit racism, hostile attacks, race riots, forced

removal• Cartoons of era equate Asians and blacks.

“Yellow peril.”• 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: absolute

prohibition of immigration from China• Chinese here are largely isolated males, forced

into the cities by hostility and violence• Chinese laundries & tourism as survival

strategies

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Japanese Migration

• Begins 1868, Meiji Restoration (economic development & disruption), more after Chinese excluded in 1882

• Younger sons (& their wives) urged to migrate as part of development strategy; generally well-educated & skilled as farmers.

• Often quite successful in US as farmers, business owners. Vegetable farmers.

Japanese Exclusion

• 1907 Gentlemen's Agreement. No more immigration from Japan. (Japan agrees to restrict.)

• Korea a Japanese colony – Koreans often classified as Japanese by US, although politically resisting Japanese occupation

• Face violence, hostility, explicit segregation laws.

Discrimination, Segregation

• Explicit racial segregation laws applied to Chinese, Japanese.

• Asian-descent people born in US are citizens.• Asian immigrants cannot ever become citizens

because only “whites” can be naturalized citizens

Anti-Asian Laws in California• 1906 segregates Asians from whites in schools.

Modeled on “Jim Crow” laws.• 1913 denies right to own land to "persons ineligible

for citizenship." (Aimed at Japanese farmers)• 1920, 1923 amendments also prevent leasing or

farming others' land. • 1924 absolute prohibition of immigration of

"persons ineligible for citizenship." • Many forced into cities. Some hold land in

children's names.

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Asian Americans in the Early 20th Century

Civil Rights Challenges

• 1920s, 1930s: Japanese American generation, speak English, identify as Americans, seek full civil rights, prove loyalty to US.

• Many Asians, especially those from India & Arabs (who are Caucasian) file lawsuits claiming to be “white” so they can become citizens

• Supreme Court rules in 1923 that “white” does not mean “Caucasian” but “people from Europe”

World War II/ Internment• 1941-1945. World War II• Dec 7 1941 Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.• War effort distinguishes evil Japanese from good

Chinese. • Internment of Japanese on West Coast, 2/3 citizens. • Idea originated in Hawaii, but never done there: not

a minority• “Concentration camps”: similar beginnings

(rounded up, train rides to ??, popular hostility). Different endings – not murder.

• Go to slides

O1

Internment of Japanese: Experiences

• Explicit white statements: reclaim Japanese land, “this is for whites, not browns,” define as race war.

• Asked to sign loyalty oaths. Most sign, a few not. (Sent to Japan after the war),

• A few volunteer for army, most not. Then reclassified I-A. Draft resistance breaks out; some are imprisoned. Say they would be willing to fight if they were treated as citizens.

• US also interns Japanese-descent citizens of Latin American nations

Slide 35

O1 pick up here next class after 4/24/14Oliver, 4/22/2014

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After WWII: 1940s & 1950s

• Interned Japanese-Americans return home• Chinese & other Asians except Japanese finally

permitted to become naturalized citizens during WWII. (Japanese so permitted after 1952.)

• Alien land laws ruled unconstitutional after war• 1949 Chinese revolution makes Chinese the “bad

Asians,” communists

1960s & early 1970s• Vietnam War & other racial/ethnic movements raise

racial consciousness of US-born people of Asian descent

• Critique of “Oriental” as colonialist, call for “Asian” instead. “Asian American” coined.

• Some “yellow power” rhetoric, activism on campuses. Esp. Berkeley, creation of Ethnic Studies programs.

• Students strikes demand “ethnic studies” programs in California 1968-9

• The “model minority” rhetoric starts

Yuri Kochiyama

• Born Mary Nakahara 1921. Japanese-American• Father imprisoned the day of the Pearl Harbor

attack; died shortly after release in 1942• 1942 Relocated to center in Arkansas.• Moved to New York with her husband, got

involved with Malcolm X & Black nationalism, Puerto Rican radicals.

• Lifetime of activism for Japanese reparations but also in alliance with other minorities.

Immigration Law• Major change 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act)• Old law: national origins, immigration permits

in proportion of origins of US in 1820• New law: favors highly educated + relatives of

current residents. Authors thought would accomplish old purposes in less overtly racist ways

• (First quota on Latin American immigration)• Initially a trickle, but by late 1970s, major Asian

immigration.

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Late 1970s• Growing Asian immigration• Asian Americans, especially 3rd+ generation,

seek to distinguish themselves from immigrants, resent assumption they are “foreigners”

• Japanese American Citizen League works for reparations for WWII internment of citizens (finally wins in the late 1980s)

• Bureaucratic forces increasing favor “racial” organizations create pressures to distinguish Asians as a distinct group, not just “other”

Integrationist & Separatist FormsAssimilationist/ Integrationist

Separatist/ Nationalist

Accommoda-tionist

Race-blind conservatives Fraternal, cultural, mutual-benefit groups & churches

Reformist Civil rights groups (e.g. JACL)

Some community development groups

Radical/ Militant Some campus diversity groups; Yuri Kochiyama ? Yellow Power?

Yellow Power? (West Coast)

Revolutionary ? Filipino independence

1980s• Vincent Chin murder 1982. Development of Pan-

Asian identity, movements.• Race-based funding for community programs leads

to formation of “Asian” organizations to compete for funding

• Meetings to create the racial definition of Asians for the census so Asians can be counted

• Asian immigration continues, immigrants now outnumber US-born people of Asian descent

• Critiques of the “model minority”• Reparations bill passed 1988, appropriations 1989

1990s – 2010s• Conflicts in Asian American political & academic

circles around Chinese/Japanese-American dominance vs. needs of “new” immigrants

• Class issues: needs of lower income immigrants vs. professionals & affluent business people

• Only 3% of people in the “Asian American” category use it to describe themselves

• 3rd+ Asian Americans have to decide how to relate to the large number of Asian immigrants, affected by whites’ assumptions they are immigrants

• The 2000 Census breaks apart the “Asian and Pacific Islander” category in the face of all these pressures

• 2010 Latino rather than Asian immigrants seem to be in the spotlight

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Electoral Politics

• Mostly too small a group for electoral impact• California has growing number of Asian elected

officials: Alberto Torrico, Ted Lieu, Carol Liu, Fiona Ma

• Monterey Park, Asian-majority city (mostly Chinese).▫ Judy Chu, assembly person from Monterey Park,

worked on language issues in 1980s

2000 Census “Race” Question

Population by Race: 2000

74%

2%

13%

4%1%<1% 6%

White Black of African AmericanAmerican Indian and Alaska Native AsianNative Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some Other RaceTwo or More Races

• See 2010 population distribution slides• PDF of new maps• New graphics

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Population Increase: 1990-2000

13.2%

48.0%

72.0%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

U.S. Population Asian Alone Population Asian Alone or inCombination

Origins of Asian-Descent Americans (% of Asians)

1960 19902000 A 2000 AC 2010 A 2010 ACJapanese 52 12 8 10 5 8Chinese 27 23 24 24 23 23Filipino 20 19 18 20 17 20Korean 1 11 11 10 10 10Indian Subcontinent 1 12 19 18 23 22Vietnamese 8 11 10 11 10Laos (Half Hmong, Half Laotian) 3 3 3 3 3Cambodian 2 2 2 2 2All Others 3 5 6 7

A= of people who named only one group; AC= of people who named an Asian group alone or in combination with other Asian or non-Asian groups

Asians Alone or Combined with Other Races Chinese PRC

Filipino

Asian Indian

Vietnamese

Korean

Japanese

Other Asian, notspecified5Pakistani

Cambodian

Hmong

Thai

Laotian

Taiwanese4

Bangladeshi

other < 1%

ChinesePRC

Filipino

Indian

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Asians One Group AloneChinese PRCFilipinoAsian IndianVietnameseKoreanJapaneseAsian NSPakistaniCambodianHmongThaiLaotianTaiwaneseBangladeshigroups < 1%

ChinesePRC

Filipino

Indian

Updated information

• http://www.asian-nation.org/index.shtml• This site has a great collection of short reports

on demographics and also on each specific group• See graphs in spreadsheet• Left off here 4/24/14. Showed the new graphs.

[[Need to get them into the PowerPoint]]

Median Income of Employed Men, 2000

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000

Hmong

Hispanic

Laotian

Cambodian

AmerInd

Black

PacIsland

Vietnamese

Thai

Filipino

Other Asian

Korean

White NonHisp

Pakistani

All Asian

Chinese

Japanese

Indian (Asia)

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% BA+ in 2000 (People over 25)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

White, Not Hisp

Black

Hispanic

PacIsland

AmInd

Asian

Chinese

Filipino

Indian (Asia)

Vietnamese

Korean

Japanese

Cambodian

Hmong

Laotian

Pakistani

Thai

Other Asian

Median Male Income By Proportion Adults > 25 Bachelors Degree or Higher

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Japanese

White NH

Indian

Pakistani

Chinese

Thai

Oth AsianFilipino

Korean

Vietnamese

HispanicHmong

Laotian

Cambodian

Black

Pac Isl

AmInd

R2 = .74

All Asian

Poverty of Asian Groups

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Japanese-Americans• Were nearly all US born in late 1980s, but new

wave of immigration• 3rd, 4th, even 5th + generations• From 52% of all Asian Americans in 1960 to 12%

in 1990 and 8-10% in 2000 (depending on whether you count mixed)

• High rates of urbanization, education• US born have little tie to Japan, may identify as

Japanese-Americans or as Asian Americans• Face racial discrimination

Chinese-Americans - 1• In 1960, 2/3 of Chinese were US born, by 1985 2/3

immigrant. Largest Asian group now (24%)• Many US-born are 3rd, 4th, 5th generation – like

Japanese-Americans• Immigrants come from Taiwan, Hong Kong,

mainland China. Also Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam.

• Some ethnic/political differences, especially Taiwan vs. mainland, but also dialect/language differences

• Some Taiwanese don’t want to be called Chinese

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Chinese-Americans - 2

• Professionals quite well off; Monterrey Park CA is wealthy Chinese-dominant city.

• Others are low-wage workers in China towns. Trapped by lack of English. Hard to learn when have to work long hours to survive.

Pilipino (Filipino) Americans -1

• Pilipinos largely invisible. Racial diversity: “look” Mexican or Chinese. Spanish influences. Few “ethnic enclaves.”

• Second largest Asian group, about 20% of total • Predominantly immigrants, high proportion are

women• Many health care professionals, educated in

English. Especially nurses. Many are well off.

Pilipino (Filipino) Americans -2• Many men have to downgrade occupation in US.• Some obtained immigration rights by joining US

military• Philippines a very poor country, many migrants

poor. Pilipino women are maids in much of the world

• Due to currency differences, some college-educated women work in US as maids, can earn more as maids in US than as professionals in the Philippines

• Growing phenomenon of bi-local families

Korean Americans - 1• Huge increase in recent migration. Large

concentrations in NY, LA. • Initial migrants can sponsor relatives. Two initial

streams have different characteristics:▫ War brides from Korean War (1950-53). More

working class.▫ Immigration quota migrants. Wealthier, more

educated.• 70% have college degrees, often medical

professionals. Come as settlers, bring families. Bring $$. Some are prosperous professionals.

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Koreans Americans - 2• High rates of self-employment in US: $$ +

accent/language issues• Many filling urban retail niche being vacated by

white Jews, Italians, Greeks fleeing to the suburbs. greengrocers. Family labor, hard work. "The first generation must be sacrificed." Own lives bleak, educate the children.

• Others are prosperous professionals.• Korean-Americans, Korean immigrants, Korean

students, Korean adoptees: complex relations

Korean Americans - 3• Korean churches a major site of ethnic community;

significant fraction are Christian• Many North Koreans migrate through South Korea• April 1992 riot, Korean-black conflicts. ▫ March 4, 1991 Headline: “Korean store-owner Soon Ja

Du gets probation after shooting 15-year old Latasha Harlins for a $1.79 bottle of orange juice”

▫ (March 3, 1991 Rodney King Beaten. ) ▫ Arson of Korean businesses, police did not defend.

Adoptees• http://www.asian-nation.org/adopted.shtml• 110,000-150,000 Korean adoptees since 1950s (Korean

War). • Estimated Korean-American population 1.5 million, so up

to 10% of Korean American population may be adoptees• Foreign adoptees who entered on orphan visas 1989-2008

~123,000 Asian ~75,000 Eastern Europe (mostly Russia) ~34,000 Guatemala

• Asian adoptees entering on orphan visa 1989-2008 (approx)▫ China 66,500▫ S. Korea 34,000▫ India 7,000▫ Vietnam 6,000▫ Philippines 5,000▫ Cambodia 1,000

South Asians - 1• India, Pakistan• Fastest growing Asian group 1990-2000, third

largest now• Religion: Hindus (caste divisions), Muslim, Sikh,

Christian, some Buddhist• Language: Many different. ▫ Upper classes educated in English. (Legacy of British

colonialism.) ▫ Lower classes may not be English proficient.

• Do not identify as “Asian” racially, many identify as “white” (often called “black” in Britain)

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South Asians - 2

• Highest income ethnic subgroup. • Many are English-educated professionals with

advanced degrees, technical skills• Also large numbers of cab drivers, motel owners.• Politics in US sometimes around ideal of South

Asian unity, sometimes divided around the axes of religious/ethnic conflict in South Asia

Southeast Asians

• Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos• Pre 1980, Generally refugees• Generally poorer than voluntary immigrants• Immigrant generation generally much worse off

than Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians• Post-traumatic stress syndrome & depression

common• US-born children doing much better

South-east Asia

Burma Vietnamese• Refugees. First wave evacuated 1975 when Communists

won Vietnam war. Educated US-collaborators, English speakers.

• Boat people. 1980s. ▫ Most hoped to return, reclaim homeland. ▫ Youth often arrived unaccompanied, hard time surviving,

living in motels and hanging out in cafes. Many join gangs. ▫ Two decades later, people growing up, going to college,

settling in• Vietnamese businesses, often people who had businesses

in Vietnam and brought capital. • Some are ethnic Chinese; may identify as Chinese or

Vietnamese• 1990s+ voluntary immigrants, starting businesses

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Laotians

• 70,000 ethnic Lao in 1990• 10,000 Mien in 1990• 60,000 Hmong in 1990• Conflicts among these groups in Laos and here.• Immigrants are refugees, generally ill-educated,

generally concerned about Laotian politics, traumatic stress syndrome, depression

Hmong Americans -1

• Ethnic minority in Laos (most are in China) • Worked for CIA/US military in support of US

war effort. Flew planes, ground support. • Emergency evacuation at the war’s end. Many

left behind.• Hmong written language a recent development,

many older people are not literate in their own language.

• Hmong dialects, differences within the group

Hmong Americans -2• Refugees had few urban skills• Although initially scattered, congregated in California

central valley & in Minnesota & Wisconsin; establishing farms in some places

• Cultural clashes with the larger society, e.g. over marriage of young teens, large families, medical & social customs

• Strong clan system is used in the US for collective economic development.

• Younger Hmong are learning in school, going to college.▫ Strong Hmong identity but conflicts with parents over

culture▫ Debates among Hmong young people about marriage age,

schooling, etc.

Hmong Americans: Wisconsin

• Many settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin• 2004 new wave of immigrants• La Crosse Hmong New Year celebration• Marathon County, Sheboygan• Deer hunter shootings 2005, 2007• Campus politics

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Cambodians

• Escaped the Khmer Rouge. • 100,000 from refugee camps. • post traumatic stress disorder. • some educated, many country folk.• escaping horrors. think of home.• Most live in California• Disruptions in Cambodia reduce positive

identity, contribute to stress issues in US

Others (small in US but students at UW)

Indonesia• 4th largest country by population (after China, India, US)• ~17,000 islands, ~6000 inhabited. Many ethnic groups &

kingdoms thru history. Majority descend from Austronesians, also Melanesians, but many other influences thru history.

• 41% Javanese, many other ethnic groups• Dutch colony before independence. • Indonesian national language based on a longstanding lingua

franca (trade language)• Predominantly Muslim (86%) ; Christians 9%, some Hindus &

Buddhists.• Chinese minority (~4%) is relatively wealthy & controls much

of the private economy, has been subject to ethnic violence. • Repressive government for a long time, inequality.

Democratic openings, Muslim movements, etc.

Malaysia• 50% Malay Muslims, 25% Chinese, 9% Indian, 16%

Indigenous & other. • Chinese are generally wealthier, more educated,

economically dominant• Malay are politically dominant• Had ethnic violence in the past, has worked to

achieve ethnic peace; compensatory programs for ethnic Malays & indigenous

• Part of the British community of nations, so historically less tied to the US.

• More Malaysians coming to US to study in recent years both ethnic Chinese and Malaysian

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Others• Singapore, a very small former British colony,

predominantly Chinese, sees itself as cosmopolitan.• Hong Kong, now part of China, was British colony

until 1997. Urban, cosmopolitan.• Taiwan. Island to which nationalist Chinese fled

after Communist revolution. Officially, part of China; both governments claim to be “true” Chinese government. Taiwanese somewhat ethnically different from mainland Chinese who took over. There are independence sentiments.

Campus Issues

• Student support groups for various ethnic groups

• Asian American Studies• Etc?

Arab, Middle-Eastern, Muslim Americans

Muslim Populations

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Legend to religions map Arabs• Arabs speak Arabic (which has dialects)• Arabs live in 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.

• Some Arabs are Israeli citizens.• Some Arabs are Christian • There were historic Arabic-speaking Middle-Eastern

Jewish populations (most now identify more as Jewish than Arab): Mizrahim

Arab Americans• About 3 million Arab-Americans• Seen as various “races” in US – some

white/European, some African, some south Asian.

• Most Arab-Americans are US born, ancestors migrated before 1920, mostly Christians from Lebanon and Syria

• The majority of Arab Americans are Catholic or Orthodox Christian

• More recent wave are Muslims

Non-Arab Middle East Peoples• Iranians are Persian or Irani, speak Farsi, are mostly

Muslim, are not Arabs▫ Longstanding Persian Jewish population▫ Longstanding Zoroastrian population

• Turkish speak Turkish, are Muslim, but not Arabs• Kurds don’t have a state, are Muslim, speak Kurdish• Minority groups within other nations include

Assyrians, Berbers, Chaldeans, Copts▫ Chaldeans are Catholics from Iraq, significant

communities in US. ▫ Coptics are Egyptian Christians: speak Arabic but see

themselves as culturally distinct

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Middle East

Muslims• About 12 percent of Muslims worldwide are

Arabs. • There are more Muslims in Indonesia than in all

Arab countries combined. • Large populations of Muslims live in India, Iran,

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, other parts of East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

• Islam originated among Arabs, and the Quran was originally written in Arabic, so there are Arabic cultural influences in Islam.

Muslim Americans 2000American Muslim Council Figures

Percent

African American 24

South Asia 25

Middle East Arab 26

Middle East Non-Arab 10

East Asia 6

Other 12

Ethnicity of Muslim Americans

Source: Mosque Study Project, Council on American-Islamic Relations, 2001

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Muslim Americans (Pew Report)• Foreign-born Muslims

65%▫ Arab region 24▫ Pakistan 8▫ Other South Asia 10▫ Iran 8▫ Europe 5▫ Other Africa 4▫ Other 6

• Native-born Muslims 35% • Born/Convert▫ Converts to Islam 21▫ Born Muslim 14

• Race/Ethnicity▫ African American 20▫ Other 15

• Generation ▫ Second 7 ▫ Third + 28

Birthplace of Foreign-Born Muslims

• Region of Birth▫ Arab region* 37%▫ South Asia 27%▫ Iran 12%▫ Europe 8%▫ Other Africa* 6%▫ Other 10%

• Country of birth▫ Pakistan 12%▫ India 7%▫ Bangladesh 5%▫ Iran 12%▫ Lebanon 6%▫ Yemen 6%▫ Iraq 4%▫ Bosnia & Herzegovina 4%

Gallup poll (random sample of whole population, English only)

Religion, Race, Education

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Religion, Race, Income