1. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 1
The Struggle to Retain Islamic Heritage When
Surrounded by Discrimination
Spencer Peak
California State University Monterey Bay

2. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 2
Adolescence, to paraphrase Charles Dickens, may be the best of times and worst of times.
It is during adolescence that both body and mind are drastically changing. During these years,
children become adults as they make choices and experiment with morality while dealing with a
variety of external pressures. The difficulty of making appropriate decisions coupled with the
desire to “fit in” leads many teenagers down a path laden with grief and often discomfort. With
the proliferation of Islamophobia perpetuated by the media, there is a greater divide between
americans and Middle Easterners. In this paper, I will examine how Muslims keep their next
generation loyal. Through the school system that introduces the struggle for most Muslim
Americans, to the language that is spoken at home, we look at the struggle and irony of living in
such a diverse, hate-filled society. Taking one step further and looking at post 9/11 treatment and
xenophobia, we will look at how the community is held together through adaptation, ethnic self-
identification and the will to be heard as a unified culture in America.
Children often deal with crushing realities. Because they’re so young and unexposed to
problems, dealing with a serious problem can be detrimental to a child's health. Childhood
bullying is a problems that forces children to face problems and circumstances that their minds
are simply not ready for. Without having the time or experience to build coping skills, insults
hurt so much more. According to Marvasti (2004), “Educational discrimination is one of the key
elements in structural or cyclical discrimination.” (pg. 131) This discrimination is so difficult for
children just looking to “fit in”. When someone emphasizes the differences in children who
already feel ostracized because of physical disparities, it only further fuels the alienation they
feel toward their peers. This has the potential to affect the rest of their lives and makes learning

3. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 3
even harder. Marvasti’s interview of an Iranian American woman showed “that children, who
usually don’t an interest in politics, become so enraged as to call a classmate a terrorist based on
her appearance alone shows how pervasive stereotypes of Middle Eastern Americans have
become.” (pg 133) The reality for Middle Eastern American children, is that they are simply not
seen as equals by their peers. Whether its their names, clothes, or color of skin, these children are
constantly criticized for what is out of their control. Furthermore, this discrimination shows
blatant disregard and ignorance for Middle Eastern culture and religion. Some critics say
teachers should teach more of distant cultures to encompass more than just the US. As Arabs in
America (1999) state, “Teachers can act as filters for ethnicity. Given that they are usually the
primary adult contact outside the home and that they are sanctioned by the larger community to
instruct youth, their power is considerable.” (pg. 118-119) Teachers are one of the few people
who shape the decision making paradigm of future generations. If they were able to add respect
for different cultures into their academic curriculum, children would have more of a respectful
base from which to formulate their opinions. Lacking teaching of Muslim ideology Kayyali
(2006) notes, “teaching of religion is barred in the US public school educational system ,
prompting the establishment of islamic schools”. (pg. 96) These private institutions, for
preschool through 8th grade, were established for those who wished to reinforce the teachings
from home in their school life. Through reinforced teaching of muslim culture, these children are
taken out a of a harmful environment and taken away from many forms of abuse. This
strengthens their familiarity with their culture and provides a safe, supportive ambiance.
Muslim tradition is often far more conservative than that of american counterparts. When
regarding the hierarchical nature of a Muslim family, Kayyali (2006) writes “ the expectation of
obedience by parents have proved to be issues of contention for their children.” (pg. 69) These

4. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 4
parents are having issues with disciplining their children. Children are surrounded by American-
style teaching which promotes more liberal and loose rules from within the household. Often the
Muslim family must negotiate with their children and often succumb to American culture,
showing a slow alteration in ideology congruent with most immigrant cultures. This is also seen
in the way language is treated. In many schools, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) classes are
established for students without english fluency. Muslim American parents recognize that
schools and teachers have a strong influence on their children and think that “the public school
system tries to eradicate immigrant culture through homogenization.” (pg. 70) Most parents who
feel this way choose to homeschool their children or enroll them in private muslim schools.
However, if one can afford neither of these options, children are often enrolled in public school
where these LEP classes turn these immigrant children to more western-minded thinkers. One
way this is most prevalent is in the language of these Muslim Americans. Often, they are
criticized by older generations for only speaking “kitchen arabic”. This halfway point where they
are no longer accepted by americans or their ancestors causes issues. A type of hate from older
generations and by a lot of misunderstanding from american leaves this individual in a type of
limbo area where they belong to neither cultures and instead start to form their own.
Being Muslim in the United States is becoming more and more of a race as Americans
categorize Arab and South asian as ethnic affiliations. The rise of Islam in the recent decade has
taken on a more nationalistic meaning. Kayyali (2006) sees this as “more people claim that there
is a clash of civilizations between the West/Christianity and East/Islam.” (pg. 94) This growing
divide was only so much more accentuated by the events of 9/11. “The events of 9/11 and the
backlash against Muslim Americans and the rise in Islamic consciousness have accentuated the
growing rift between moderates and revivalists and between the generations.” (pg 94) Kayyali

5. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 5
points out how the 9/11’s events had such a strong, adverse effect on muslims in America. Not
only was more hate thrust on them, but they also feel the need to prove their innocence. After
9/11, muslim americans experienced so much more violence from Americans. In one instance
Marvasti (2004) writes about a man with a beard who was jumped by a bunch of guys and broke
the windshield of his car with a beer bottle. “This kind of behavior seemed to be a way for some
people to relieve their frustration, anger, and sense of helplessness after the attacks, at expense of
their fellow citizens.” (pg. 140) This jingoistic discrimination is something felt at one time or
another by all Muslims living in America. Even two years after the twin towers came down,
Muslim Americans are constantly on guard or suspicious of what could potentially happen to
them. America’s diversity is also not much of a consolation as Mary Cooper (1993) states,
“Diversity does not always translate into racial harmony, despite Islam's call for tolerance and
non-discrimination.” (“Muslims in America”) Even though so many people could understand
what these Muslim Americans are going through, people do little to stand up for them. Soon, the
racial profiling was systematically perpetrated in an effort to protect America. Seen through the
Patriot Act, TSA laws and the manifestation of government agencies to look for terrorists within
our own borders, Muslim Americans often feel threatened. Constantly living in this fear with a
threat always above you, is a type of atmosphere that many people don't have to live through.
Most Muslims saw 9/11 as a chance to educate others about the truth in their religion.
However, they weren’t ready for media’s portrayal of the events. Kayyali (2006) shared the
inaccuracy and struggle of Muslim Americans to listen to Media’s portrayal of their religion.
“Moderate American Muslims heard the real meaning of Islam being defined by non-
Muslims who did not understand or agree with their religious tenets… The videotapes
from Al-Qaeda used the Quran to justify mass murder were played over and over U.S.

6. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 6
news channels; then scholars and politicians quoted back Al-Qaeda statements as ‘true’
reflections of the Muslim viewpoint.” (pg. 144)
Muslims were forced to suffer in silence as the greater majority of americans minimized their
religion as a summary of violence. The media reinforced an epistemological view of violent
extremist muslims. Bad translations and inaccurate quotes from the Quran left the American
public with no understanding of Islam as a religion dedicated to peace. After the attacks, many
muslims responded by emphasizing and outwardly displaying their patriotism for the US.
Kayyali wrote “More than 80 percent of Arab Americans showed solidarity with the victims of
9/11 by flying a U.S. flag, giving money or donating blood.” (pg. 145) Looking at all of the
violence perpetrated toward Muslim americans with little to no responding violence shows how
viable the preaching of islam as a religion of peace really is. Kayyali notes how muslims are
constantly surrounded by hate and misunderstanding; how this forms a one way, temporal bond
that sees “muslim inherently backward and inferior to mainstream to white culture.” (pg 139) If
this culture is always being tested with hate and misunderstood with ignorance, how is that Islam
is still on the rise? What holds people to their Islamic Heritage? When Muslims can simply
change location and be treated differently, what holds them and allows them to persevere here in
America?
Muslims in america have learned to persevere through difficulty and hardships like most
cultures in america. They hold a record amount of people to their religion and now are on the
rise. Through ethnogenesis, panethnic groups, integration, ethnic self identification and
interconnectedness Muslims feel an important balance to the culture in which they reside. This is
so important because the re identification of these key ideas can help other cultures enter into a
society and transpond from a place of self actualization to a place where the surrounding

7. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 7
community also recognizes and respects their policies. The ability to adapt is something most all
immigrants must learn to do. Transforming one’s own beliefs and identities to ideas is a
necessary skill to fit into a desired culture. As Cooper (1993) Quotes Haddad, “To work around
life in the United States, many American Muslims now go to mosques for services on Sunday,
rather than at noon on Friday, the traditional Islamic holy day. It's not the preferred time to go
and pray, but they have made it into a very interesting institution.” (“Muslims in America”) The
americanization of this religion has legitimized the sacrifice of key religious elements. The
religion may suffer, but entrance into an accepted society is also important. Most Muslim
Americans find a nice balance between their religion and what the American culture desires from
them. Haddad (2014) writes about the ability to “integrate Islam into the mainstream of
American psyches and culture have been activist youth programs” (“Post 9/11”) These youth
groups offered to Muslim youth are essential for spreading the ideas and peace of islam at a
faster rate and ensuring little is taken out of context. In such a digital world, it is easy to research
in an instant but it is also easy to see things on a scrren and instantly assume they are true. These
youth groups conquer stereotypes and show how Muslims are so peaceful and similar to other
religions.
As a country, America is composed of an assortment of ethnic minorities. If one look at
the history of these minorities, it can be seen that they all form coalitions where they can band
together as a unit to combat discrimination, share stories or just share a heritage and speak a
common tongue. Marvasti (2006) quoted a term “ethnogenesis” as “a process by which ethnic
practices or groups are formed by combining ‘old’ and ‘new’ cultural elements, sometimes in
response to nativistic attacks.” (pg. 148) One can see why ethnogenesis can be of such
importance to an ethnic minority. The values of a culture are being weighed, valued and

8. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 8
combined or dropped. In fact, in american history, ethnic groups are often formed in response to
economic and political oppression. As Gowricharn (2013) believes, ethnogenesis “describe the
‘emergence’ of ethnic groups as a response to external circumstances.” (“Ethnogenesis”) He
believes it is a combination of external pressures and “that the initiatives of ethnic leaders are
crucial in this regard.” (“Ethnogenesis”) These external pressures are a combination of bullying,
discrimination and ignorance from the people surrounding the ethnic majority. These attitudes
toward Muslim Americans are seen as pressures from outside that establish a unity within their
own culture. This unity can be establish and linked together by someone who takes charge and
steps up as a leader. When change occurs, often people need someone to look to in times of
hardship. This individuals often shape the peacefulness of the ethnogenesis and how people
portray their feelings of discontent. Often people turn inward but sometimes individuals do the
exact opposite. These feelings of infidelity and always feeling less-than manifest in a way that
portrays muslims as hate-filled radicalists. Islamic extremism is seen in few Muslims but the US
has normalized a view of terrorists as anyone who wears a type of headdress or has a large beard.
Another response mechanism is the forming of Panethnic groups of support. Defined by
Marvasti (2004), these groups are”the coming together of people from different linguistic,
cultural, religious or national backgrounds.” (pg. 149) Often these groups are misrepresented or
misrecognized by others and lumped into one single unifying group that may not do each group
justice. Being pointed out as foreigners and potential enemies does give a certain unifying factor
to most all panethnic groups who undergo the same discrimination. For Muslim Americans, a
sense of shared text and culture, no matter religion or ethnicity, has a unifying effect. For Many
Muslim Americans, the problem is to overcome “their status as second-class citizens.” (pg. 155)
The idea of interconnectedness that is shared among most Muslim Americans combats the

9. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 9
second class citizen status. As Kayyali states, “New immigrants tend to move to certain
neighborhoods or suburbs to be close to people from their families, villages or cities of origin.”
(pg. 66) This grouping of similar ethnicities helps with the transition of becoming american.
Surrounding oneself with similar attributes that one would be familiar with combat the tension of
living in such a diverse, misunderstood community. This Ethnic self identification helps
immigrants retain their religion and perpetuate a community of shared ideals. The youth of
America have proliferated with the use of technology to portray their religion and seek support.
As Haddad (2014) states
“Muslim American youth have set out to integrate Islam into the American popular
conception of religious pluralism and diversity through the modern avenues of
networking, blogging, events on college campuses, and conferences and seminars open to
the public that cater to non-Muslims around the country” (“Post 9/11”)
The attempt of Muslim youth to integrate Muslim ideology into everyday online life shows a
desire to be understood the proper way. I recently interviewed Dunia, a Muslim American
student at UC Davi. I learned a lot about the struggle of a second generation Syrian coming to
terms with her Islamic roots. Coming from a liberal background, her parents didn’t offer as much
support for her muslim heritage but when she went to college, she was embraced by a large
community of Muslims. This large Ethnogenesis became apparent even as Dunia started her own
Muslim American Sorority (Epsilon Alpha Sigma) where arabs, muslims and all panethnic
groups could show their solidarity. Often tabling for her sorority and ensuring that her and her
sister’s voices are heard as a common unit. Interviewing Dunia, I learned the strength that she
felt for her religion and passion she directed toward every aspect of her life.

10. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 10
All through America, Muslim American are constantly treated as second-class citizens.
From Islamophobia, discrimination and a failure to find solidarity within their own culture,
children are ostracized from their community and the larger country from which they come.
America, a country that boasts of diversity, acceptance, and an american dream is often one of
the most hate filled nations. Muslim Americans do a great job at combating all of the negativity
thrown in their direction. Through Ethnogenesis, support from panethnic groups and a solidarity
seen in communities, Muslim Americans hold close to their cultural heritage and promote
acceptance of different viewpoints. Understanding that peers are united in the fight against
discrimination gives new meaning to the fight against ignorance. This unification and support
from so many different aspects has a negligible effect defeating the negativity that the American
public thrust at Muslims. Perhaps Americans should take a critical look at themselves as they try
to understand the reasons many other parts of the world don’t like them. The ways in which
Americans treat different points of view is combated by religious diversity. The Addition and
proliferation of Muslims in America can go a long way to changing America’s view of different
cultures and can negligibly affect how America responds to immigrants in the future.

11. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 11
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12. The struggle to retain Islamic Heritage 12
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