Arabs have been emigrating to North America for over a century, and they now number approximately three million. For most of this period of emigration, the overwhelming majority of Arab immigrants... Show moreArabs have been emigrating to North America for over a century, and they now number approximately three million. For most of this period of emigration, the overwhelming majority of Arab immigrants to America were Christian. However, large numbers of Muslim Arabs (and other Muslims) have settled in the New World, especially since World War II. Almost from the beginning, the Arab community in North America suffered from negative attitudes directed against it by the host society. An important ingredient in negative stereotypes of Arabs is the general American impression that Arabs and Muslims are essentially the same people. Indeed, to Americans, the term 'Arab' or 'Muslim' conjures up hostile reactions to a large group of nations or countries (e.g. Arabs, Turks, Iranians, Muslims, etc.) which are seen as indistinguishable. Such views have had a definite impact on the Arab community in North America. Show less
