Loading ...5 Reasons Arab Americans Have Made it in America
By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer
The journey of Arabs from the homeland to the U.S. in the early 20th century was not easy because they faced discrimination and prejudice. Assimilation into the larger society was gradual and not often easy for Arab immigrants though they tended to go where the economy was already strong. Arab American success in integrating into the fabric of American society is due to their ability to adapt to the entrepreneurial, participatory, and civic life from the strength of their position in the community, the family, and from the strong support of their women across society.
The Arab American Experience of Coming to America
The journey of Arabs from the homeland to the U.S. in the early 20th century was not easy. They faced discrimination and prejudice much like other so-called “white ethnics,” such as the Italians. Because of constraints in entering major institutions run by the establishment, they went to cities and farm areas for work, starting businesses, working in factories, and sometimes finding work in government offices. Arab immigrants, according to a recent study (Louise Caincar), achieved a degree of economic success, and led social lives that were intertwined with members of white ethnic groups and often resulted in intermarriage.” In some cases, in certain locales, Arabs were challenged in their right to become naturalized citizens.
There are three major waves of Arabic speakers immigrating to America. First, in the late 1800s up to World War I, comprised of largely Christian minorities leaving for political or religious reasons; second, with the end of World War II and in the 1950s and 60s another wave arrived, including more Muslims than in the first wave; and third, a wave of professionals, business people, and skilled and unskilled workers, many of whom left to escape political and military strife. The Immigration Act of 1965, which dropped the quota system that was biased against immigrants of non-European origin, accounted for a significant level of Arab immigration in the mid-seventies.
Assimilating and Integrating
Assimilation into the larger society was gradual and not often easy for Arab immigrants. They tended to go where the economy was already strong. Following the Arab-Israeli wars in 1967 and 1973, Arab Americans were denigrated and falsely associated with terrorism. The period of the Reagan administration in the 1980s was rough on them due to criticisms of passenger plane hijackings, negative opinions regarding the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and later the 9/11 attack by young Arab men on the World Trade Center, among other sites. The 2017 Trump ban on majority Muslim country immigration was the most blatant discriminatory act affecting new immigration.
According to the 1990 census, most Arab Americans reside in cities (82%) of which 63% were U.S.-born. Arab Americans are clustered in a few major cities, including Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles. More than two-thirds reside in ten states. While the first and second immigration waves experienced relatively easy assimilation into the dominant American culture, the third wave was not as well received. Immigrants in this wave did not acculturate as well, according to Abraham, leading to the establishment of Muslim schools, mosques, charities, and Arabic language classes. While not a major segment of the total U.S. population, only around 3%, Arab Americans have had a significant impact on the overall society, for reasons we now turn to.
1. Arab Americans have effectively Integrated into the Fabric of American Society
Some Arab Americans have chosen to live in ethnic enclaves, believing their values clash with overall American values. Some analysts aver that the type that decided to assimilate include those who have chosen to engage directly in American society, in order “to win societal acceptance.” I beg to differ with this latter point of view. Arab Americans have succeeded as citizens because they have an asset they have contributed to the welfare of people beyond just their immediate ethnic grouping. They chose to contribute because they possessed the means and because there was a need to be fulfilled, whether by a medical doctor, restaurant owner, religious leader, politician, health practitioner, or movie star.
2. Coming Together in Solidarity—a Key to overall Success
As Arab Americans became integrated into American society and culture, they have not accepted all American traditions, norms and values. They have kept their traditions of family and friends and of hospitality surrounding food and dining together. But not all agree, for example, on the American traditions of dating and sexual norms. However, Arab Americans unify on their positive feelings and beliefs about America, particularly on economic opportunities and political freedoms, while at the same time feeling deep pride in belonging to a rich cultural and historic tradition and in sharing the Arabic language.
3. The Arab Family and Community can claim Credit for Success of its Members
Typically, in their families in the home country, three generations of a family lived together in the same household. This applies in some cases of Arab Americans, especially among new immigrant arrivals, but the nuclear family has become the more common mode. Nevertheless, the Arab family, as it has been transposed to the U.S., still has a special place in its members’ lives in reinforcing Arab pride and values. On the community side, many Arab Americans continue to live in Arab sub-cultures that allow them to keep many of their distinctive ethnic practices that can be traced back to the home country.
4. Arab American Women Contributing to Family Success
Traditionally, Arab women have been circumscribed in their actions in society. However, their contributions to socializing their children and maintaining cultural and religious traditions have been paramount. Transposed to the U.S., this same traditional role has been indispensable in raising their families. Arab American women have assumed many roles in society, including leadership positions in community organizations, in the mosque or the church, and schools, but also in local, regional, and national positions in civic organizations, and elective and appointed positions in government.
5. Arab American Experiences in Education—an incredibly positive Influence
Education is highly valued among Arabs in general. Among immigrants to the U.S. coming from the Middle East and North African countries, there is a strong tradition of formal education. According to a study by Bousquet, “Traditional Arabic families value education for its own sake and encourage their children to apply themselves in schools; this is one of the reasons that Arab American students demonstrate academic success…” Census data has shown that Arab Americans are better educated than average Americans. Arab Americans see education as essential to both meaningful personal growth as well as a means to an end of making a living, to which families give both financial and emotional support.
Sources:
“The Social Construction of Difference and the Arab American Experience,” Louise Cainkar, 2006
“Arab Americans,” Nabeel Abraham
“Arab American Experiences in Education,” Sarah Bousquet, 2/20/2012
John Mason, PhD., who focuses on Arab culture, society, and history, is the author of LEFT-HANDED IN AN ISLAMIC WORLD: An Anthropologist’s Journey into the Middle East, New Academia Publishing, 2017. He did fieldwork in an east Libyan Saharan oasis and has taught at the University of Libya-Benghazi, Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the American University in Cairo. John served with the United Nations as an advisor in Tripoli, Libya, and consulted extensively on socioeconomic and political development for USAID, the UN, and the World Bank in 65 countries.
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