There Are Many Muslims Native To The US Children Of Immigran

There Are Many Muslims Native To The Us Children Of Immigrants An

There are many Muslims (native to the U.S., children of immigrants, and foreign born studying here) who attend our campus. There are also many more Muslims who live in our community. You can locate them in many places. Those who live here own a variety of businesses, they work in health care, tourism, education, banking, service, agricultural, and other fields. (Attention: If you are Muslim, you have to meet and interview someone from a different belief system: a Christian, a Jewish, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Sikh, etc., and even Atheist or Agnostic, but if you are NOT a Muslim, you have to interview a Muslim.) As you meet the person you are interviewing, answer the following questions: 1-What is his/her/their background (name, age, profession, origins)? Is he/she/they a recent immigrant, the son/daughter of an immigrant, are his/her/their parents natives to the U.S., or is he/she/they a convert to Islam? (words) 2-How does he/she/they go about practicing his/her/their religion in the U.S.? Is it easy? challenging? unique in any particular way? (words) 3-What are his/her/their aspirations? In YOUR opinion, are they any different from those who are Americans of different faiths or those who don't affiliate themselves with any particular faith? (words) 4-What are his/her/their greatest fears? Does he/she/they worry about the political climate in the U.S.? (words) 5-Has that person faced any religious or ethnic based discrimination or bullying? If so, how did he/she/they deal with them? If not him/her/they, does he/she/they know any of his/her/their Muslim friends who experienced discrimination or bullying? What was the nature of the bullying/discrimination? (words) 6-If he/she/they or one of his/her/their family/friends had faced religious discrimination, has he/she/they ever reported it to a-his/her/their family, b-to his/her/their administrators (at school or workplace), and/or c-official authority (police, FBI, civil rights group, etc.)? If yes, how did he/she/they go about it? If not, why didn't he/she/they report the incident? (words) 7-What did you learn from this interview? Did it affect you in any way? Is there any reflection you would like to share? (300 words) Occasionally, you may find that you couldn't answer a particular question in more than 50-100 words. If this happens, it is not a problem, just expand your answer in another question; however, your total interview assignment should be around 1,200 words. Please write the total number of words at the top of your paper in stage 3. If you choose to include the questions in your paper, please don't add them to the total word count. Occasionally, you may end up interviewing someone who is not 18 years old yet. If that is the case, please make sure to receive his/her/their parents'/guardian's consent to the interview first.

Paper For Above instruction

The following interview provides insight into the life, beliefs, and experiences of a Muslim individual living in the United States. The interviewee, whom we will refer to as Ahmed, is a 32-year-old man who works as a healthcare professional in a major city. His origins trace back to Egypt, and he migrated to the U.S five years ago for better educational and professional opportunities. Ahmed’s background reflects a common narrative among Muslim Americans—children of immigrants striving to balance their cultural heritage with their life in America.

Ahmed's practice of Islam in the U.S. is both consistent and adaptive. He attends a local mosque regularly, participates in community events, and observes fasting during Ramadan. Practicing his faith can sometimes be challenging due to the busy schedules of modern life, but he finds support in community networks that facilitate religious observances. Ahmed mentions that wearing religious attire sometimes attracts attention, which can be both a source of pride and occasional misunderstanding.

His aspirations are aligned with both personal and community growth. He hopes to advance in his profession, contribute to societal well-being, and foster greater intercultural understanding. In his opinion, his aspirations are similar to those of Americans from other faiths—seeking success, happiness, and acceptance—though sometimes he feels societal expectations and stereotypes complicate his daily life.

Ahmed expresses concern about rising Islamophobia and political rhetoric that often stigmatizes Muslim communities. His fears include future discrimination, limitations on religious freedoms, and systemic biases that marginalize Muslims and other minority groups. Despite these fears, Ahmed has not personally faced severe discrimination but has close friends who have experienced bullying, particularly related to wearing Islamic clothing or praying in public. Their experiences ranged from verbal abuse to social exclusion.

When dealing with discrimination, Ahmed advises that patience and community support are vital. He notes that reporting incidents to authorities varies depending on the severity and context. Some incidents are reported to community leaders or school administrators, especially if safety is threatened, while others are ignored to avoid further conflict. Ahmed emphasizes the importance of standing together and advocating for civil rights when discrimination occurs.

From this interview, I learned about the resilience and faith of Muslims living in America, and the ongoing challenges they face, especially regarding societal acceptance and religious rights. Personally, it has deepened my understanding of religious diversity and the importance of fostering empathy and inclusivity among different communities. Recognizing individual stories helps combat stereotypes and promotes a more nuanced appreciation of multiculturalism in the U.S.

References

1. Borjian, A. (2013). Muslim Americans: A growing and diverse community. Pew Research Center.
2. Esposito, J. L. (2011). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press.
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4. Saad, L. (2016). The political climate and Muslim identity in America. Pew Research Center.
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6. Nasir, H., & Leonard, J. (2019). Experiences of Muslim Americans in the U.S.: A qualitative analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 392-407.
7. Pew Research Center. (2011). The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050. Pew Research Center.
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9. U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). American Community Survey: Demographic Profile of Muslim Americans. U.S. Census Bureau.
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