Introduction to the AAUMC Website

Arab Americans are an integral part of the American work force. Yet Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian people in the U.S. are currently facing a new wave of racism, discrimination and widespread suspicion from their fellow Americans in the aftermath of the political and cultural changes that have become systematic since 9/11. Some recent reports claim that the economy has added 1.5 million jobs over the past year (2003), but this has not come close to making up for the 2.6 million jobs that have disappeared since the recession of 2001. Employers have responded to the rise in unemployment by squeezing more out of existing workers ? often after multiple rounds of layoffs. Layoffs double and triple workloads placed on remaining workers, and the choice many workers need to make between healthcare or food for their families is a growing dark cloud over American Working families of all ethnic backgrounds. In addition to these problems, Arab American workers also face what has become an increased institutionalized discrimination with "Homeland Security" and heightened racial profiling since 9/11 even though hundreds of Arab, Muslims, Middle Eastern and South Asian workers also died in the terrorist act of 9/11. We have become so pre-occupied in maintaining our own lively-hoods and existence in America we haven't even had time to grieve for these workers.