Cultural Identity: Arab Americans Immigrants - Assignment Example

Immigrants Arab Americans "cultural identity" Arabs American traces their origin from various Arabs nations. Lebanon is perceived to be the homeland of the majority of Arabs Americans. It is followed by other countries such as Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen. There are twenty-one Arabs countries from North America across to the Persian Gulf. Arabs America constitutes the many tribal groups that make up the United States population. Arabs started coming to the United States since 1800s. Just like other immigrants, they were attracted by educational and economic opportunities that were in America. The number of Arabs immigrants has rapidly grown due to the changes in the United States laws and the increased political and economic hardships in Middle East countries. Arabs Americans are the fastest growing minorities in America. The Arabs who first arrived in United Stated were comparatively homogenous groups of persons. Most of the Arabs immigrants were Christians from Lebanon and Syria. Most of them came from remote areas where they had limited access to formal education. The recent Arabs immigrants tend to be more diversified in terms of their educational achievement, religious background, and terms of their country of origin (Short 300). Arabs Americans are almost in every state, although they are more likely to be located at one place such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Boston. The cities have large neighborhoods of Arabs Americans communities and have Arabic grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses. The largest Arab Americans neighborhood is found Dearborn, Michigan. Arab Americans have become one of the most diverse groups of people in United States. Around 50 percent are Christians while the other 50 percent are Muslims. Some of the Arab immigrants trace their roots in African nations while others trace their origin in Asian countries. Some Arab Americans are born in America with their parents and grandparents born in United States making these Arabs have the little knowledge of the Arabic language. Others have immigrated to United States recently and therefore they are fluent in Arabic and can speak a bit of English. Arab Americans are also diversified in terms of income and jobs. Some are professional lawyers and doctors while others work in farms and factories. Many Arab Americans are a business owner of large enterprises. Some Arab women work as homemakers while others are found in all kinds of professions. Research shows that Arab Americans have better education level compared to average American (Corey 240). Previously, Arabs had not realized the importance of being educated but the mentality has changed and they are enrolling children especially girls in schools. Despite the diversity in the Arabs Americans, they have so much in common. They are connected to each other by the shared values, history, and culture. They have a common origin and speak Arabic language. An individual’s identity is a bit complicated, and every individual has numerous identities. A person’s gender, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, nationality, and residential place are important ways to identify a person. An individual may be identified as a female, Muslim, Republican, Syrian-American, and a New Yorker all at the same time. A person’s identity varies from one person to another and changes from circumstances and time (Buda and El Khoury 467). Some Arab immigrants identify themselves Americans while others identify themselves in terms of country of origin. Like any other tribe, Arab American tries to maintain their cultural and ethnicity identity. However, maintaining Arab culture has been a difficult task especially for early immigrants. Since the northern Europeans were the first to get to United States, their culture became the dictating culture. In 1880s, Arabs started coming to U.S and settled in New York and Boston. The Arabs isolated themselves from the large ethnic groups and stayed in their small neighborhood. Later the Arab children felt the urge to adapt to the dominating culture. The American believed that for one to be considered as a royal American one should adapt to the mainstream culture. Many Arab Americans changed their names and code of their dressing. Other immigrants struggled to maintain their culture by building Arabic schools and Mosque. Arab Americans also try to preserve contact with their extended family members who are dispersed throughout the world. The family reunions, conventions, community banquets, and festivals allow the Arab Americans to celebrate and preserve their culture back in their homelands. Arab-Americans celebrate many cultural and religious holidays. Arabs Americans who are Christians celebrate holidays such as Christmas. On the other, had Arab Muslims celebrate holidays such as Eid-al-Fitri. Arab Americans also join the native America celebrations such thanksgiving. Most Arabs in America have maintained their culture in terms of their foods, values, language, dressing code and beliefs. One of the changes in cultural in Arabs American is a change in gender role. Arab men believed that women should only do household chores and looking after the children. This mentality has changed to the Arab Americans as women get educated and are found in all professions (Baaldaki, Sidani and Itani 78). Arab Americans have ceased wearing the traditional costumes. Some Arab America women are exemptions as they wear traditional dresses. Palestine women in United States still wear their colorful embroidered dresses in their neighborhood such as Dearborn and Detroit. Women also wear the plain-colored headscarf mostly worn by Arab Muslim Female and many Lebanese women. On the other hand, men rarely wear traditional garments in public. Moreover, Arabs Americans have assimilated the dating style used by the Americans. According to the Arabs customs and norms, a woman should be pure prior to marriage and should remain faithful after wedding. The most pronounced dietary restriction followed by Arabs and Muslims is the prohibition of on the consumption of pork. Arab Christians also disregard consumption of pork but on a cultural basis. Muslims are only allowed to consume meat that has been ritually slaughtered. There has been an increased demand for ritually slaughtered meat (halal) and Arab Americans have established grocers that provide the halal meat. Arab America has unique food entered on bread and highly spiced dishes. The Arabs diet comprises of many ingredients that cannot be found in a kitchen belonging to an average American. Arabs Americans have been able to preserve their cultural dishes. In the entertainment sector, various Arab Americans have attained celebrity status. Arab Americans have entered in film and television industries. The Arab immigrants have developed effervescent art communities. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, for instance “The Electric Arab Orchestra” is played all over the city. An annual review of Arab films is usually held in Francisco. The festival is held annually to promote the Arab American cinema. Arab America also practices their traditional dances often danced during the festivals and other specialized occasions. In conclusion, Arabs America constitutes the many tribal groups that make up the United States population. The number of Arabs immigrants has rapidly grown due to the changes in the United States laws and the increased political and economic hardships in Middle East countries. Arabs Americans are almost in every state, although they are more likely to be located at one place such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Boston. Arabs Americans have preserved most of their cultural identity in terms of religion, marriage, food, and beliefs. Works Cited Baaldaki, Imadi, YUsuf M Sidani and Hanifa Itani. "United Arab Emirates female entrepreneurs: motivations and frustrations." Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, (2011): 78-98. Buda, Richard and Elssyed Elkhouly. "A Cross‐Cultural Comparison Of Value Systems Of Egyptians, Americans, Africans and Arab Executives." International Journal of Commerce and Management, (1997): 346-587. Conrey, Carol Fadda. Contemporary Arab-American Literature: Transnational Reconfigurations of Citizenship and Belonging. Chicago: NYU Press, 2014. Shora, Nawar. The Arab-American Handbook: A Guide to the Arab, Arab-American & Muslim Worlds. New York: Cune Press, 2009. Read More