Egyptian American

Egyptian Americans

Notables (U.S.): Dina Powell · Oz Perkins · Ahmed Ahmed  · Hoda Kotb · Wendie Malick · Asaad Kelada
Total population
194,932 (2007 census) 800,000-2,000,000 (2008 est.)
Regions with significant populations
Mainly New Jersey, New York, California, Illinois, Florida, and Texas
Languages
English, Egyptian Arabic, Literary Arabic, Coptic
Religion
Predominantly: Coptic Orthodox Christianity Minority: Islam

Egyptian Americans are Americans of Egyptian ancestry, first-generation Egyptian immigrants, or descendants of Egyptians who immigrated to the United States. In the 2007 U.S. census, the number of people with Egyptian ancestry was estimated at 195,000, although some estimates range from several 800,000 to 2 million. The large majority of Egyptians in the U.S. are Coptic Orthodox Christians.

History

The Egyptians began to migrate to the U.S. in significant numbers only in the second half of the twentieth century. The majority of Egyptian left their country for economic or educational reasons. However, many Copts, Jews, and conservative Muslims emigrated because they were concerned about the political developments that were developing in Egypt. Still, thousands of persons left of Egypt in 1967 after that que his country was defeated in the Arab-Israeli War; Thus, from 1967 to 1977, 15,000 Egyptians immigrated to the United States. During the past three decades has developed a high Egyptian emigration Movements not only to the United States and Canada, but also to Australia, Europe, and the Gulf Arab countries. Most of the first Egyptian immigrants to the United States were educated professionals and skilled workers. In fact, the Egyptian immigration was eased by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allowing entry into the country of certain professionals, especially scientists.

Demography

The largest concentration of Egyptians living in New Jersey, New York, California, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. This, in this states, Egyptian American communities are concentrated in Jersey City, New Jersey; Levittown, New York; Steinway Village in Queens, New York; Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, New York; as well as in California, mainly in and around the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas, parts of Florida and, increasingly, Philadelphia. Also a large community of Egyptian Americans is located in northeastern Virginia and the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Religions

Most U.S. residents of Egyptian descent are Copts, having also Muslim and Jewish minorities. This also indicates that there a economic high conditions within the community of Egyptian Americans, as the Copts (who are a minority in Egypt), are mostly people who enjoy a economic good level. Today, Copts is still Used in church services in the United States, where, in Fact, are found large Egyptian Copts of Congregations. There is an archdiocese in Jersey City, New Jersey, where, one of the first American Coptic churches founded in the early WAS 1960s.

Economic

The first immigrants of Egypt that arrived in United States had obtained a professional degree or had come seeking further education. They have careers as doctors, accountants, engineers, lawyers and a teachers of major universities. The second wave have college degrees but had to accept menial jobs (many of them were drove taxicabs or waited on tables in restaurants). Some citizens become in entrepreneurs for themselves.

Politics and Government

Most Egyptian Americans are politically conservative and tend to vote Republican, although many Egyptian who have been living in the United States for more than 20 years are beginning to lean toward the Democratic Party or to vote independent.

Relations with Egypt

Recently the Egyptian government is interested in the expatriate communities of his country. Therefore. It maintains good relations with this communities by encouraging them to invest in its economy. Thus, in the past few years the Egyptian American Businessmen's Association has visited officially to Egypt, meeting with officials and advising to Egypt on various economic matters. The Union of Egyptians is a organization that try to meet Egyptian needs abroad by securing links with the homeland. Also there organizations that prefer focusing on educational and cultural ties between Egyptian Americans and their home country.

American Egyptian Strategic Alliance To Help U.S. Policymakers Develop New Engagement Model with Post-Mubarak Egypt
American Egyptian Strategic Alliance (AESA)
On February 11, 2012, A coalition of American Egyptians from around the United States launched a new advocacy organization, the American Egyptian Strategic Alliance (AESA), designed AESA seeks to empower American-Egyptians to serve the best interests of the United States with Egypt, a key player in the region; AESA facilitates decisions of stability and mutual prosperity which builds bridges to complement the best interests of both nations. Visit AESA's website to contribute and get involved in this vital organization.

Notable Egyptian Americans

For noteworthy Egyptian Americans, see this list of Egyptian Americans.

See also

• Egyptians
• Copts
• Coptic Orthodoxy in the US
• List of Coptic Orthodox Churches in the United States
  • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Jersey City, New Jersey)
  • St. Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church (Woodbury, New York)

External links

• American Egyptian Strategic Alliance or AESA
• Society of Egyptian Americans
• Alliance of Egyptian Americans
• Association of Egyptian-American Scholars
• Egyptian American Alliance of Youth
• Egyptian American Community Foundation
• Egyptian American Cultural Association
• Egyptian American Organization of California
• Egyptian American Society
• Challenges of Egyptian American Marriage