People identifying themselves as Muslim represent about 1% of the total population of America, or an estimated 3.45 million individuals. They live in cities and on farms, identify themselves as Black, Hispanic, and White, worship in mosques that represent the Sunni, Shiite (pronounced She-ite), and other non-specific branches of Islam, and, if immigrants to America, come from South Asia, Africa and other areas of the world in addition to the Middle East. Some hold advanced graduate degrees, some did not finish high school. Some are US born citizens, some gained citizenship during their lives here, others are non-citizens. There is a diversity within the Muslim culture, just as there is within all immigrant cultures that have contributed to the American melting pot since 1776.
In some ways, Muslims encounter the same prejudices as every other immigrant culture has when coming to America. Discrimination in the neighborhoods, in schools, in business, and when they express themselves in ways which differ from others whether it be in dress, food, worship or language. And, they are certainly not the first group to experience institutional and legal discrimination. Travel bans that focus on countries with Muslim majorities are certainly no worse than Jim Crow laws that dictated separate everything, from water fountains to toilets to schools. From this perspective, I am hopeful that, like the eventual acceptance of most of the immigrant cultures that have come before them, there will be a time when automatic prejudice will become the exception rather than the rule. That, like the blending of cultures which has given us so much variety in our music, food, hobbies, festivals, and experiences, the Muslim culture will leave its mark on America in some distant time without the negative connotation that follows it today.
Perhaps one way to move the needle forward is to understand how Muslims are the same and different from us. Demographics is an objective way, statistics without value judgments.
For instance, using data from 2017, 60% of Muslims are 39 years or younger, 86% are under 55 years of age. In other words, they are younger than many other groups, which means that the percentage of Muslims in America will most likely grow in the next few generations. Good news, in that seeing them in their full expression more often will enhance acceptance; bad news for those who only see terrorism.
In terms of generation, about one out of four Muslims are US born with US born parents. Very similar profile for many Americans, including myself and my siblings. Second generation Americans.
Another 18% are US born with immigrant parents which would describe my father along with many of the parents of people in my age group, and also includes our current president. First generation Americans.
The last group, immigrants, make up 58% of the Muslim population and is one of the origins of the animosity towards the group. It is very easy to track back in time to read and see how prejudice against new comers to America has been a virtual hobby among the "native" people, even when their parents or grandparents were the newcomers, and victims of the same prejudice. (Strangely, it was the Americans of the 19th century who reversed that trend and engaged in ethnic cleansing of the real native Americans, slaughtering them in droves, pushing them off their homelands, forcing them to educate their children in ways contrary to their own culture.)
The region of origin of Muslims is only 14% from the Middle East and North Africa, with 20% from South Asia, and 24% more from other parts of the world which means that 42% were born in the United States. This stat seems in stark contrast to the rhetoric that surrounds the Muslim community.
Ethnicity is also a bit surprising. Of those born in the US, 15% are White, 14% Black, 13% other which includes Hispanic and Asian. Of those not born in America, 26% identify as White, 24 % Asian, 6% Black. I would imagine that those among us that have developed a hatred of Muslims might be surprised to know that 41% of them are white but I guess all they see is their differences, all they hear is the hatred directed towards them.
And, since people with such strong prejudices tend to ignore actual facts, they might also be surprised to learn that 42% of Muslims are US born citizens, while another 40% have gained US citizenship despite being born in other countries, similar to the First Lady. Which means that only 18% of Muslims are not US citizens. I wonder whether, if Fox News were to flash that stat every day across the bottom of the TV screens, the breakdown of prejudice would be advanced.
As for education and income, Muslims are not much different from most groups. 62% have some college or above, about 40% have incomes over $50,000.
As I was writing this post, I continued reading the article. What strikes me most is that so many Muslims who were interviewed came to America so they could practice their religion openly, having been born in countries where religious freedom is not a government recognized right. And they are glad to be here, despite the uptick in hate crimes against them. They are active in their communities, identifying with other minority perspectives, building bridges between themselves and those other peoples, recognizing their differences but also their similarities.
At the end of the day though, religion is the elephant in the room. It seems that Muslims follow the doctrines of their religion more fervently than those who profess to be Christians or Jews. And, like the fundamentalists of all religions, they are victimized along with those who radical Islamic terrorists harm with their violence and intolerance. But, unlike the far right Christians who openly advocate the killing of abortion doctors and the rejection of laws that allow gay marriage, Muslims are too often stereotyped by the actions of the minority among them.
We see this religious prejudice at work in the obstacles that some Muslim communities face when planning to build a mosque. Currently, there are over 2000 mosques in America, but it only takes one with ties to terrorist training or language to inspire organizations to work against new mosques. Strangely, many of those groups which stand against new mosques contain the word Patriot or People or Americans in their title. Can you imagine a group called Americans Against Churches having a following? Yet, substitute church with mosque and many Americans support the sentiment.
Muslims are among us, doctors and lawyers, engineers and teachers. They serve in our military, fighting for American freedom in countries where, perhaps, they trace their ancestry. There are spiritual Muslims who work to unite people of different faiths and perspectives, evil Muslims who preach hate and violence. They are like us, and are different from us. and it is whether we choose to focus on the former or the latter that makes America great, or just another country.
The region of origin of Muslims is only 14% from the Middle East and North Africa, with 20% from South Asia, and 24% more from other parts of the world which means that 42% were born in the United States. This stat seems in stark contrast to the rhetoric that surrounds the Muslim community.
Ethnicity is also a bit surprising. Of those born in the US, 15% are White, 14% Black, 13% other which includes Hispanic and Asian. Of those not born in America, 26% identify as White, 24 % Asian, 6% Black. I would imagine that those among us that have developed a hatred of Muslims might be surprised to know that 41% of them are white but I guess all they see is their differences, all they hear is the hatred directed towards them.
And, since people with such strong prejudices tend to ignore actual facts, they might also be surprised to learn that 42% of Muslims are US born citizens, while another 40% have gained US citizenship despite being born in other countries, similar to the First Lady. Which means that only 18% of Muslims are not US citizens. I wonder whether, if Fox News were to flash that stat every day across the bottom of the TV screens, the breakdown of prejudice would be advanced.
As for education and income, Muslims are not much different from most groups. 62% have some college or above, about 40% have incomes over $50,000.
As I was writing this post, I continued reading the article. What strikes me most is that so many Muslims who were interviewed came to America so they could practice their religion openly, having been born in countries where religious freedom is not a government recognized right. And they are glad to be here, despite the uptick in hate crimes against them. They are active in their communities, identifying with other minority perspectives, building bridges between themselves and those other peoples, recognizing their differences but also their similarities.
At the end of the day though, religion is the elephant in the room. It seems that Muslims follow the doctrines of their religion more fervently than those who profess to be Christians or Jews. And, like the fundamentalists of all religions, they are victimized along with those who radical Islamic terrorists harm with their violence and intolerance. But, unlike the far right Christians who openly advocate the killing of abortion doctors and the rejection of laws that allow gay marriage, Muslims are too often stereotyped by the actions of the minority among them.
We see this religious prejudice at work in the obstacles that some Muslim communities face when planning to build a mosque. Currently, there are over 2000 mosques in America, but it only takes one with ties to terrorist training or language to inspire organizations to work against new mosques. Strangely, many of those groups which stand against new mosques contain the word Patriot or People or Americans in their title. Can you imagine a group called Americans Against Churches having a following? Yet, substitute church with mosque and many Americans support the sentiment.
Muslims are among us, doctors and lawyers, engineers and teachers. They serve in our military, fighting for American freedom in countries where, perhaps, they trace their ancestry. There are spiritual Muslims who work to unite people of different faiths and perspectives, evil Muslims who preach hate and violence. They are like us, and are different from us. and it is whether we choose to focus on the former or the latter that makes America great, or just another country.
Assalamu alaikum.
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