Essay Sample on The Arab Americans

Introduction

The Arab Americans refer to Americans with Arab ethnic, cultural, or linguistic heritage. The Arab Americans trace their ancestry from immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula who migrated to the United States. Most Arabs migrated to the US from the 1880s to the mid-20th century. The Arabs mainly migrated to the US to escape hardships in their countries after a decline in the silk industry which was the core of their economy (Kayyali). Most of the first Arabs immigrants were Christians. The recently migrated Arabs have a keen interest in politics and civil rights. The Arab-American community seeks to unite with no Arabic discriminations.

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The merging of the groups resulted in a heterogeneous mixture of the Arbs and Americans culture. On migrating, the Arabs had cultural and linguistic challenges in interacting and learning the way of life of the Americans. The challenges for the Arabs in merging with the American culture were discrimination, racism, and cultural stratification. These aspects served to reinforce ethnic distinction in second and third generation Americans. The outcome of the merging is that the Arabs Americas of the second generation knowledge of their knowledge and culture has been lost. Ethnic identity has been an issue in the social definition in American society.

The first wave generation was composed of Christians while the others were majorly Muslims. Currently, most Arabs living in America are Christians. Women had to play a role in economic and public life. It was customary for women to take care of the family when the husband was away and to help their husbands in business ventures. The Arabs had to adapt to the Americans way of life, work as farmers or industries like the American. Their adopted Americans language and significantly dropped their linguistic aspects. Their children schooled with the Americans and with time the two cultures began to intermarry. The Arabs began to get into the Americans way of life during the, and after WWW I. The greatest foundation for the Arab Americans culture is food and family. Arab immigrants considered family as the most crucial social and economic institution. The early immigrants worked hard to for their families' upkeep.

The second wave generation of the Arabs from the Middle East was mainly seeking political refuge in the United States. Their countries had political instabilities and wars making them seek refuge in the US and increase the demographics of the Arab American community. From 1967, the political instability in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Sudan made the immigrants move to the United States. For example, the Arab-Israel War of 1967, political unrest, and fewer immigration restrictions made the number of immigrants to increase. This large immigration had an impact of heightening the sense of Arab American identity for the Arab Americans in the United States (Orfalea). The Iraqis faced human and economic effect of the war between Iraq and Iran. After the 1991 Gulf war, some were given refugee status and immigrated to the US. Moreover, Lebanon also had a 1-year war in 1975 which prompted some Lebanese to seek economic and political rest in the US and other countries.

From 1880 -1924, the United States had more than 20 million immigrants. 95, 000 of the immigrants have originated from Greater Syria (Arabs Stereotypes Org). Due to political repression and economic instability, most Arabs found their way to the U.S and settled in New York, Detroit to seek employment from the textile, peddling and automotive industries which had employment opportunities. Between 2000 and 2010, the Arabs Americans population grew by more than 72%. In 2000, 80% of the Arabs in the United States are citizens while 40% were first generation Arabs (Census.gov).

The second wave generation of immigrants occurred during Post-second world war to 1960s. During the post-WWW II period, a significant number of Arabs came to the US. The group was composed of Christians and Muslims from Arab counties. Most of them were urban middle class and others seeking a high level of education. The professional and students who had sought better education made the Arab World to undergo 'brain drain' since they remained in U. S due to available economic activities.

Over the past years, the Arab Americans have impacted on the political, economic and cultural life in the US. Several Arab Americans are activists who work and fight for improved lives of all Americans. The activists have supported and impacted fields such as health, labor, law, community, and social justice. The activists are committed to change the lives of all Americans. The activists are not only recognized by the Arab American community but also recognized by the whole nation. Ralph Johns was an active activist in the civil rights movement (Arab American Institute). There are also women activist who have to fight for women's recognition regardless of education, socioeconomic status and nationality. Ralph Nader was a Consumer advocate who was also a Green art presidential candidate.

Arab Americans have also participated in creative activities such as poetry, design, music, acting, and dancing. Their participation has enhanced and broadened the culture of the nation. Through their different arts, they have brought a great, understanding and cohesion of cultural diversity. Sam Maloof created a woodwork art which has appeared in the White House. Arabs Americans have wholly participated in politics. They serve in the United States as members of the Congress and Senate, ambassadors, judges, governors among other government positions. Through their hard work and commitment, they have contributed to serving all Americans. Examples are Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, ambassador Selwa Roosevelt. The Arabs also contributed to the growth of literature in the US. Steven Naifeh was a writer-publisher of the book 'Hackson Pollack: An American Saga.'

Works Cited

Arab American Institute. Famous Arab Americans. n.d. Article. 26 February 2019.

Arabs Stereotypes Org. The First Wave: Mass Migration (1880-1924). n.d. 26 February 2019.

Census.gov. The Arab Population: 2000. n.d. 26 February 2019.

Kayyali, R. The Arab Americans. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006.

Orfalea, G. The Arab Americans: A History. New York: Olive Branch Press, 2006.