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| Islam and Muslims in America (pages 13-14) |
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Recent events have shone a spotlight on Islam and generated much interest in the religion on the part
on many Americans. Despite this growing interest and because of unfamiliarity with the faith along
with the lack of information, many misconceptions have been developed with regards to Islam. N
evertheless I can proudly say that Islam, during the last era of the twentieth century, has for the
most part been introduced in a fair and positive light by the American media and in schools and churches.
Additionally, Muslims are now being widely recognized as the new significant participants in the
development of 21st century American civilization. The recent Pluralism project is an example of
this trend.
Muslims in America come from a number of different cultures. There are immigrant Muslims, who face
a whole host of problems maintaining their native values while taking on the values of their adopted
country. Many of these individuals, as I observed, successfully adjust to American society, while
others fail. There are also American born Muslims whose parents come from these other traditions.
Many of them, as I observed, are torn between the two cultures which leaves them in a state of confusion.
Finally, there are African American Muslims who are aware that their ancestors have dealt with multiple
problems of slavery, racism, discrimination and segregation. These Muslims are trying to maintain their
identity as Americans. At the same time many of them are disconnected from the rest of the American
Muslim community, and they face religious as well as racial discrimination.
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