The Arab Americans (Multicultural America Vol.2)

Published: 2011

Language: English

Pages: 209

Arab Americans are loosely defined by their shared languageasopposed to similar religious or cultural practices. Eventhisdistinction is problematic, however, as some immigrants fromArabcountries, such as Kurds, Circassians, and Berbers, do notspeakArabic. Furthermore, a common misconception of Arab Americansasbeing predominantly Muslim persists in America when in factthemajority of the Arabic-speaking community in the United Statesisactually Christian. These complex and often divisivedistinctionshave deterred Arab Americans' establishment of largecommunities,although small enclaves have formed in California, NewJersey, andMichigan.