American-Muslim Voices

I attended the discussion session given by Jamillah Karim on American-Muslims. At the discussion session she explained that American Muslims is one faith represented by two different groups of people, ethnically speaking: there are immigrant Muslims and African American Muslims. This is a unique combination, for different races are forced to intersect on the common religion of Islam; and they are forced to deal with both immigrant and race discrimination. Jamillah pointed out that although these people are different from the "typical American," there are instances when their ideas intersect with American values and traditions. Although several topics were discussed, one that I found interesting was her study of political engagement among Muslim Americans. After a study conducted in 2007, only 25% of her study group planned on voting, for they felt that there voices did not really matter, and that Congress did not represent their needs. This is a similar sentiment among all college students (although this 2008 election proved differently), not just African American college students. This is the "familiar" voice that Jamillah refers to. In contrast, political engagement among 2nd generation American Muslims was 100%. This represents the "unique" voice of American Muslims. For this group, in which all of the members planned on voting, involvement in the political process is a way for them to prove their patriotism and loyalty to America. This is the group,unlike African American Muslims, who felt a strong backlash after 9/11. More than ever, this group feels a need to prove that they are American. African Americans did not experience the same type or magnitude of discrimination after 9/11, resulting in different approaches to the political system.
OK, I know this is long, but I just found it so interesting how the diversity within one group of people can cause such different outlooks and decisions. It also reminds me that although these individuals are Muslim and, perhaps different than the majority, they have a voice in this country and deserve to be treated like every other citizen. What happened after 9/11 was unfortunate, yet it is still intriguing to me how one group within the Islam faith got treated so much differently than the other when their beliefs are identical. This also interesting in that these people, similar to Sanjeev and Twinkle, are forced to balance two identities: racial and religion. That is challenge, especially when both are in the minority.