Arab Americans: Difference between revisions
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|popplace = [[California]], [[Florida]], [[Illinois]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Michigan]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York]], [[Texas]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], and [[Virginia]] |
|popplace = [[California]], [[Florida]], [[Illinois]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Michigan]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York]], [[Texas]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], and [[Virginia]] |
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|langs = [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[American English]], others |
|langs = [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[American English]], others |
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|rels = Predominantly [[ |
|rels = Predominantly [[Christianity]]. Minorities practising [[Islam]], [[Judaism]], [[Druze]] and others |
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|related-c = [[Arab Brazilian]], [[Arab Mexican]], [[Arab Singaporean]], [[British Arabs]], other [[Arabs]] |
|related-c = [[Arab Brazilian]], [[Arab Mexican]], [[Arab Singaporean]], [[British Arabs]], other [[Arabs]] |
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Revision as of 01:15, 19 April 2008
Regions with significant populations | |
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California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia | |
Languages | |
Arabic, American English, others | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Christianity. Minorities practising Islam, Judaism, Druze and others | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Arab Brazilian, Arab Mexican, Arab Singaporean, British Arabs, other Arabs |
Arab Americans are Americans of Arab ancestry and constitute an ethnicity made up of several waves of immigrants from twenty-two Arab countries, stretching from Morocco in the west to Oman in the south east to Iraq in the north. Arab Americans are also Middle Eastern and North African Americans i.e. terms that do not equate ethnic heritage with nationality, but rather a geographic area. Although a highly diverse ethnic group, Arab Americans descend from a heritage that represents common linguistic, cultural, and political traditions.
Population
The majority of Arab Americans, around 62%, originate from the region of the Levant or Greater Syria, comprising Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. The remainder are made up of those from Iraq other Arab nations, which, although small in numbers, are present nonetheless. There are 3,500,000 Arab-Americans in the United States according to The Arab American Institute. Arab-Americans live in all 50 states and Washington, DC - and more than 90% reside in the metropolitan areas of major cities. According to the 2000 US Census, 48% of the Arab-American population - 576,000 - reside in California, Michigan, New York, Florida and New Jersey, respectively; these 5 states collectively have 31% of the net US population. Five other states - Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania - report Arab-American populations of more than 40,000 each. Also, the counties which contained the greatest proportions of Arab-Americans were in California, Michigan, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
According to the 2000 US Census, the city with the largest percentage of Arab Americans is Dearborn, Michigan (southwestern suburb of Detroit) at nearly 30%. Other major communities are in Paterson, New Jersey/Clifton, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York (New York City metro-area); Miami, Florida; Silicon Valley (San Francisco metro-area), ; Los Angeles County, California, Orange County, California (Los Angeles metro-area); the San Diego metro-area; Chicago and Bridgeview, Illinois (Chicago metro-area); Houston; Boston; Jersey City, New Jersey;Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Jacksonville, Florida. The cities with the highest percentages of Arabs are Sterling Heights, Michigan; Jersey City; Warren, Michigan; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Burbank, California and Glendale, California; Livonia, Michigan; Arlington, Virginia; Paterson; and Daly City, California.
Many agricultural regions in California, like the San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley, Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley have a history of immigrants from Arab countries involved in the area's rich farming industry. Oklahoma had a sizable Arab-American population, mainly are immigrants in the oil business came in the 1980s and developed noticeable communities in Peoria, Illinois, Tulsa,Oklahoma]] and Oklahoma City. [citation needed]
Religious background
While the majority of the population of the Middle Eastern region, and, in particular, the countries of the Arab world, are identified as adherents of Islam, contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of Arab Americans are Muslim, not Christian Although Christians with arab descent refuse to consider themselves a minority, they have always given false information. [1]. According to the Arab American Institute, Christians account for 20%[2] of the Arab American population, while Muslims account for 70%, and the rest of the 10% identify as other religion, or no affiliation, although the number of Arab Muslims has been faster growing. The percentage of Christians are: Catholics (Roman Catholics, Eastern Rite Catholics - Maronites and Melkites) 35%, Orthodox Christians who are at 18%, and Protestant Christians are 10%.
Racial status
While Arab Americans in the United States are classified as White in the US Census, some have questioned this designation and lobbied for the creation of a separate category.[3]
Some Arab Americans, especially those with darker complexions and recent Muslim immigrants from the gulf, are not generally considered white in social terms and have been increasingly targeted for discrimination and hate crimes.[4]
A new Zogby Poll International found that there are 3.5 Million Americans who identify themselves as "Arab-Americans" or Americans of ancestry belonging to one of the 23 UN member countries of the Arab World. The poll also found that more than half identify themselves as Muslims (of that over half identify their denomination as of the Shi'a Mosque). 62% of participants identify themselves as democratic or leaning to the democratic party in voting in the 2008 election, while 25% identify themselves as republicans or leaning to vote republican in the upcoming elections.
Poll also finds that majority of those who identify themselves as Arab Americans are of Lebanese origin. Furthermore, the majority of poll participants reported an individual income of equal to or over $100000 U.S. (2007). Nearly one third of those who reported their incomes identified themselves as self-employed or running a family owned business.
Politics
Arab Americans tend to split fairly evenly between the Republican and Democratic parties. Historically, they have tended to vote for Democratic Presidential candidates[citation needed]. However, a number of prominent Arab American politicians are Republicans, including New Hampshire Senator John E. Sununu, and California Congressman Darrell Issa, who was the driving force behind the state's 2003 recall election that removed Democratic Governor Gray Davis from office. The strong sense of family values characteristic of Arab Americans does not necessarily translate to Republican values in Arab American statesmen, however; the first woman Supreme Court Chief Justice in Florida, Rosemary Barkett, is known for her dedication to progressive values and has been publicly criticized by Republican politicians at various stages of her career. Ralph Nader is another example of a liberal Arab American politician.
Many Arab Americans tend to be pro-life and to support the death penalty. They are also more in favor of gun control. [5] Arab American Republicans often view the GOP as more in line with Arab culture, which tends to be more socially conservative and values entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Those who ally themselves with Democrats may choose to do so through a sense of social justice or because of concerns over foreign policy and, in recent years, the Iraq War, Racial Profiling and the War on Terror.
Festivals
While the spectrum of Arab heritage includes 22 countries, their combined heritage is often celebrated in cultural festivals around the United States.
New York City
The New York Arab-American Comedy Festival was founded in 2003 by comedian Dean Obeidallah and comedienne Maysoon Zayid. Held annually each fall, the festival showcases the talents of Arab-American actors, comics, playwrights and filmmakers, and challenges as well as inspires fellow Arab-Americans to create outstanding works of comedy. Participants include actors, directors, writers and comedians, including director Piter Marek.
Seattle
Of paticular note is ArabFest in Seattle, begun in 1999. The festival includes all 22 of the arab countries, with a souk marketplace, traditional and modern music, an authentic arab coffeehouse, an arabic spelling bee and fashion show. Lectures and workshops explore the rich culture and history of the arab peoples, one of the world's oldest civilizations. Also of new interest is the arabic rap concert, including the NW group Sons of Hagar, showcasing the political and creative struggle of arabic youth.
Famous Americans of Arab descent
Main article: List of Arab Americans
Here are a few examples of famous Arab Americans. Arab Americans are very much involved in politics and are one of the wealthiest ethnic groups in the U.S., however it is hard to calculate their median income as they are classified white under the United States race census of 2005.
- Jerry Seinfeld, (Syrian Mother, Jewish) Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning comedian[6]
- F. Murray Abraham, Hollywood actor and Oscar winner for the film "Amadeus" (Syrian father)
- Jamie Farr, (Lebanese) Hollywood actor especially famous for his role as Klinger in the TV Series "M*A*S*H"
- Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. (Syrian father Abdulfattah Jandali)
- Danny Thomas, (Lebanese) actor and his daughter Marlo Thomas, actress
- Paul Anka, (Lebanese) vocal performer
- George J. Mitchell, (Lebanese) U.S. Senator from Maine, Senate Majority Leader
- John H. Sununu, (Palestinian) Governor of New Hampshire and White House Chief of Staff under George H. W. Bush
- John E. Sununu, (Palestinian) Senator from New Hampshire
- Casey Kasem, (Lebanese) radio personality and voice actor
- Spencer Abraham, (Lebanese) Senator from Michigan and Secretary of Energy
- Ralph Nader, (Lebanese) US politician, first Arab American to run for President of the United States
- Joe Robbie, sports team owner
- John Jaha, sports athlete
- Tony Shalhoub, (Lebanese) an executive producer and actor of Monk.
- Elizabeth Ayoub, (Lebanese-Venezuelan-American) Singer-Songwriter/Actress
- Edward Said, (Palestinian) literary theorist and outspoken Palestinian activist.
- Helen Thomas, (Lebanese) reporter, columnist and White House correspondent
- Sammy Hagar, (Lebanese), rock musician.
- John Abizaid, (Lebanese), retired General.
- DJ Khaled, (Palestinian), major DJ in the rap industry.
- Fredwreck, (Palestinian), hip hop producer
- Fawaz Gerges, ABC analyst, regular guest on Oprah's Anti-war series
- Chris Kattan, (Iraqi father), comedian and actor, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live
- Zainab Salbi, (Iraqi), co-founder and president of Women for Women International
- Kathy Najimy (Lebanese) actress in many American films that include Sister Act
- Rosemary Barkett, (Syrian), first woman Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice for the state of Florida
- Heather Raffo, (Iraqi father) playwriter and actress
- Kaysar Ridha, (Iraqi) businessman and contestant on reality series Big Brother
- Wafah Dufour, (Saudi Arabian Father) supermodel and singer/songwriter famous as the niece of Osama Bin Laden
- Benny Hinn, televangelist of Palestinian descent.
- Charles Elachi, (Lebanese) director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- James Zogby, (Lebanese) Founder and current President/CEO of Zogby International
- Najib Halaby, (Syrian) ather of Queen Noor of Jordan Lisa Elhalabi. Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. CEO, and chairman of Pan Am
- Rachid Stoury, (Moroccan) University of Delaware Football Player
- Doug Flutie, (Lebanese) NFL Player
- Jacques Nasser, (Lebanese) Former president and CEO of Ford Motor Company
- Ernest Hamwi, (Lebanese) Created the first ice-cream cone at the 1904
- John Mack Chairman of the Board and CEO of Morgan Stanley
- Khalid Khannouchi (Moroccan) Marathon world record holder
- Lorraine Ali, (Iraqi) reporter, editor, culture writer and music critic for Newsweek.
- Wentworth Miller, (Syrian) Actor
- Susie Gharib,co-anchor of the Nightly Business ,Report100 most influential business journalists
References
- ^ http://www.aaiusa.org/arab-americans/22/demographics
- ^ http://www.alhewar.org/gabriel_habib_What_About_Arab_Christians.htm
- ^ Ian F. Haney-Lopez, White by Law: The Legal Construction of Race (New York: New York University, 1996), Appendix "A".
- ^ Paulson, Amanda. "Rise in Hate Crimes Worries Arab-Americans" (Christian Science Monitor, April 10, 2003). [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3], Seinfeld, The Making of an American Icon by Jerry Oppenheimer Page 11. Accessed February 20, 2008.
See also
- American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
- Arab American Institute
- Arab lobby in the United States
- Diaspora politics in the United States
- Arab diaspora
- Western Muslims
- Refugees of Iraq
- Iraqi diaspora
Ancestry | 1990 | 1990% of US population | 2000 | 2000% of US population | Percent change from 1990 to 2000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iraqi | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 37,714 | 0.01% | negligible (no data) |
Lebanese | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 440,279 | 0.2% | negligible (no data) |
Palestinian | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 72,112 | 0.02% | negligible (no data) |
Syrian | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 142,897 | 0.05% | negligible (no data) |
Yemeni | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 15,000 | 0.005% | negligible (no data) |
Other Arabs | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 424,807 | 0.2% | negligible (no data) |
TOTAL | 716,396 | 0.1% | 1,275,641 | 0.42% | increased 67.9% |
External links
- US4Arabs.com Your Home Away From Home (Arab American Community website)
- 2000 US Census Report on the Arab-American population
- Learn more at the Arab American Museum located in Dearborn, Michigan.
- 100 Questions and Answers about Arab Americans
- A full definition of Arab Americans
- Arab American Demographics
- A collection of readings and A/V materials on Arab Americans
- Comprehensive demographics of Arab Americans
- ArabAmerican.Net
Books
- The Arab Americans (The New Americans) High-school level look at Arab Americans
Festival Links
- New York Arab American Comedy Festival
- Seattle ArabFest
- Concert of Colors: Metro Detroit's Diversity Festival (ACCESS/AANM)
- Dearborn Arab International Festival
Arab American Organizations ==