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Young American Muslims: Dynamics of Identity
Author(s): Nahid Afrose Kabir (Author)
- Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
- Publication Date: 5 Dec. 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 248 pages
- ISBN-10: 0748669930
- ISBN-13: 9780748669936
Book Description
What is it like to be a young Muslim in America? Many young Americans cherish an American dream, ‘that all men are created equal. And the election of America s first black President in 2008 has shown that America has moved forward. Yet since 9/11 Muslim Americans have faced renewed challenges, with their loyalty and sense of belonging being questioned. Nahid Kabir takes you on a journey into the ideas, outlooks and identity of young Muslims in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Virginia. Based on around 400 in-depth interviews with young Muslims, discover the similarities and differences between ethnic and racial groups such as Iranians, Arab Americans and African Americans. Find out how they rate President Obama as a national and world leader, where they stand on the Israeli-Palestine issue and how the media impacts on them.
Editorial Reviews
Review
This assured work completes the author’s triptych of insightful studies of young Muslims in Australia, Britain and now America. Despite deep reservations about their country’s foreign policy and an unsympathetic media, they have not given up on the American dream. Confident and bi-cultural, they share their hopes and fears. The text is enlivened with some excellent cartoons.–Philip Lewis, University of Bradford
Young American Muslims: Dynamics of Identity is an incisive, informative and accessible study, written in well-organised and succinct chapters promoting dialogue and critical engagement. It reveals the author’s connection and empathy towards issues affecting her interviewees while at the same time offering an astute critical analysis of a diversity of issues and attitudes. Giving voice to young Muslims living in America and a space to tell their stories, Kabir’s study is ultimately optimistic in its appreciation of the maturity and fair-mindedness of the participants which are crucial for establishing as well as continuing constructive dialogues in American society.–Maja Milatovic, University of Edinburgh “LSE Review of Books”
‘As an introductory work,
Young American Muslims is an accessible and readable book that is suitable for an undergraduate audience. The qualitative content and diverse array of experiences would make it a useful addition as a supporting text in anthropology, sociology, and Islamic studies courses. Kabir’s book is also an important methodological contribution, due to its research transparency and researcher reflexivity.’–Logan Cochrane, University of British Columbia “Journal of Religious & Theological Information”Clearly one of the best books out today describing the global identities of a new generation of politically savvy and culturally diverse American Muslims. Dr Kabir’s ‘life-stories’ approach is perfectly suited for cultivating the diverse voices of Muslims in America.– “Tony Gaskew, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and CERIS”
Multidimensional in nature…It tackles issues of ideologies within and outside of Islam, the formation of perceptions toward the Muslim community, demographic factors which interact with the Muslim identity, and an array of other topics which the author skillfully assesses and considers in this work…Moreover, the tables, research methodologies, and findings are presented in a fashion which makes reading and interpretation easy to do. Despite such simplicity, the book retains absolute creditability through its solid research, careful scrutiny to detail, and revealing findings which paint a story worth telling.– “Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 2014 43: 135”
From the Inside Flap
‘This assured work completes the author’s triptych of insightful studies of young Muslims in Australia, Britain and now America. Despite deep reservations about their country’s foreign policy and an unsympathetic media, they have not given up on the American dream. Confident and bi-cultural, they share their hopes and fears. The text is enlivened with some excellent cartoons.’ Philip Lewis, University of Bradford ‘Clearly one of the best books out today describing the global identities of a new generation of politically savvy and culturally diverse American Muslims. Dr Kabir’s “life-stories” approach is perfectly suited for cultivating the diverse voices of Muslims in America.’ Tony Gaskew, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, and Board President of the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS) An examination of the identity of young Muslims in America Many young Americans cherish an American dream, ‘that all men are created equal’. And the election in 2008 of America’s first black President has shown that America has moved forward. Yet since 9/11 Muslim Americans have faced renewed challenges, with their loyalty and sense of belonging being questioned. This book presents a journey into the ideas, outlooks and identity of young Muslims in America today. Based on almost 400 in-depth interviews with young Muslims from Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Virginia, the book gives the opportunity for the richness and nuance of minority voices to be heard. Key Features -Investigates the identity of ethnic and racial groups such as Iranians, Arab Americans and African Americans -Discusses the impact of the American media on young Muslims -Introduces debates on the Israeli-Palestine issue -Analyses President Obama as a national and world leader Nahid Afrose Kabir is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia. She is the author of Muslims in Australia: Immigration, Race Relations and Cultural History (2005); and Young British Muslims: Identity, Culture, Politics and the Media (Edinburgh University Press, 2010). Cover image: American Muslim holding an American Flag (c) Joel Gordon Photography. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com
From the Back Cover
‘This assured work completes the author’s triptych of insightful studies of young Muslims in Australia, Britain and now America. Despite deep reservations about their country’s foreign policy and an unsympathetic media, they have not given up on the American dream. Confident and bi-cultural, they share their hopes and fears. The text is enlivened with some excellent cartoons.’ Philip Lewis, University of Bradford ‘Clearly one of the best books out today describing the global identities of a new generation of politically savvy and culturally diverse American Muslims. Dr Kabir’s “life-stories” approach is perfectly suited for cultivating the diverse voices of Muslims in America.’ Tony Gaskew, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, and Board President of the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS) An examination of the identity of young Muslims in America Many young Americans cherish an American dream, ‘that all men are created equal’. And the election in 2008 of America’s first black President has shown that America has moved forward. Yet since 9/11 Muslim Americans have faced renewed challenges, with their loyalty and sense of belonging being questioned. This book presents a journey into the ideas, outlooks and identity of young Muslims in America today. Based on almost 400 in-depth interviews with young Muslims from Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Virginia, the book gives the opportunity for the richness and nuance of minority voices to be heard. Key Features – Investigates the identity of ethnic and racial groups such as Iranians, Arab Americans and African Americans – Discusses the impact of the American media on young Muslims – Introduces debates on the Israeli-Palestine issue – Analyses President Obama as a national and world leader Nahid Afrose Kabir is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Muslim and Non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia. She is the author of Muslims in Australia: Immigration, Race Relations and Cultural History (2005); and Young British Muslims: Identity, Culture, Politics and the Media (Edinburgh University Press, 2010). Cover image: American Muslim holding an American Flag (c) Joel Gordon Photography. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com
About the Author
Nahid Afrose Kabir is Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding, University of South Australia. She was a visiting fellow (2009 2011) at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, USA. Dr Kabir is the author of ‘Young British Muslims: Identity, Culture, Politics and the Media’ (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 2010) and ‘Muslims in Australia: Immigration, Race Relations and Cultural History’ (London: Routledge 2005).
