Racial Reconciliation - Arab Americans
- Feb 6, 2006 - comment
A survey conducted in Fall 2003 by the California Employment Discrimination Center has revealed that Arab Americans are suffering from a hiring bias as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on New York. Resumes bearing typical American and Arab names were sent to 300 temporary employment agencies. The only real difference was the name at the top of the page. The ones with two Arab male names, “Abdul-Aziz Mansour” and Mohammed Ahmed,” ranked last in responses from hiring agencies. Less than 25 percent of the resumes bearing their names got a response. Employment agencies are legally required to judge an applicant on their ability and experience—not on race or gender.
Arab-Americans Suffering Hiring Bias: Survey, October 8, 2004 [Accessed October 4, 2005]
Arab Americans are afraid—afraid they will become a target of anti-Arab sentiment that was brought on by the terrorist attacks and by the continuing war in the Middle East. In one incident, vandals scrawled the words “Kill All Muslims” inside and Islamic Community Center in Florida. A man in the Seattle, Washington, area poured gasoline in the parking lot of a mosque after 9-11. Each time the national alert system is raised out of concern that another attack might be imminent, Arab Americans also go on alert-but for a different reason. The Council of American Islamic Relations reports that violence against Arab Americans has almost doubled since 9-11.
John Sharify, Arab Americans Still Feel Like Targets, September 10, 2004 [Accessed October 4, 2005]
“Ihsan Alkhatib, a Michigan lawyer who is deeply involved in civil rights issues, believes that the U.S. government’s policy of tolerance and acceptance is largely responsible for the successful integration of Arab Americans and Muslims into American society. These groups are successful economically, with above-average education and income levels—even though half were born outside the United States, Alkhatib said during an Internet chat September 7.
“Alkhatib, who is president of the Detroit chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), pointed out that anti-discrimination is U.S. government policy. The government actively encourages inclusion. While there is discrimination, it is not widespread and systemic. Discrimination goes against the civic religion of this country.
“The greater Detroit area has the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States, led by Lebanese, he said. There are also many Iraqis and Yemenis. Other cities with the large concentrations of Arab Americans include Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.
“Alkhatib sees a large contrast between the economic status of Muslims in the United States and Europe.
“In Europe the picture is bleak, he said. A significant proportion of European Arabs are Muslims, and they are worse off economically and educationally than the rest of society.”
“Muslims Integrating and Finding Acceptance in American Society,” States News Service, September 7, 2005
Further Learning
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