Intra-Ethnic Diversity and Religion

Abstract

Arab American is an ethnic identity ascribed to immigrants and their descendents from the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East. Identity in the United States is largely shaped by immigration wave: pre-World War I immigration was predominantly Christian from present-day Syria and Lebanon; immigration since 1965 diversified geographically and was increasingly Muslim. Arab ethnic identity is embraced by some but not all and is not necessarily tied to religion, race, or country of origin. Christian Arabs, while minorities in the largely Muslim Arab world, form the majority of Arabs in America. Their religious affiliation, albeit distinctly Eastern, helped ease their acculturation into American society. Retaining Muslim Arab religious and social traditions is more challenging. Indigenous ethnic minorities, including Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Kurds, have long standing cultural and linguistic traditions that distinguish them from the majority Arab population and Arab identity. Politics in the United States and Arab world shape attitudes towards ethnic identity of Arab Americans. The terror attacks of 9/11/01 exacerbated prejudices in popular and political culture against Arabs and Muslims; American “Islamophobia” has caused some subgroups to distance themselves from Arab identity.