Growing Up Muslim: Muslim College Students in America Tell Their Life Stories

Abstract

This important collection of stories explores facets of young Muslim lives in America. In doing so, it reveals various dynamics of the American Dream from the perspective of immigrant populations. Many new immigrants initially struggle with hardships, including language and cultural differences, until finally achieving recognition through perseverance and diligence. Yet some immigrants remain disappointed with the class structure and the racial inequality that persists in American society. The stories uncover many aspects of Muslim identity, including cultural norms (parents' expectations of arranged marriage; emphasis on education), cultural sensitivities (such as homosexuality), the wider society's lack of knowledge of minority cultures (for example, henna or mehendi on women's hands), the hijab dilemma, diaspora, Muslims' awareness of American foreign policies (especially in regard to Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, and Palestine) and its impact on their freedom of speech, and the repercussions of 9/11 on young American Muslims. All of the essays are captivating, and each story shows the resilience of the participants. Three examples of such stories from the book follow.