White Duality: The (dis)Advantage of Being a White Convert in the Muslim American Community

Abstract

Social identity theory tells us that our identities are context specific—they gain or lose salience depending upon the situation and setting in which we find ourselves. In the context of largely immigrant Muslim communities in the United States, most members are of Arab or South Asian descent. Yet converts to Islam in these communities reflect the predominant racial and ethnic categories of the US (black, white, and Hispanic). Using data from interviews with 39 American Muslim converts, I examine the implications of their racial identities for their credibility and authenticity as Muslims. Findings suggest that white converts experienced what may be called “white duality”, in which they were “prized” for their whiteness yet also met with belittlement and suspicion. I argue that white American converts’ racial identities play a major role in preventing them from achieving authentic Muslim identities within the context of predominantly immigrant Muslim communities.