Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry
Is there any connection between your conversion to Islam and growing up in Dearborn?
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Thats a good question Kerry, and one that I have asked myself.
In terms of being exposed to Arabs on a level that most Americans never have the opportunity to-
I would say that I did notice a differance in the Arab community as opposed to the caucasion community-
In terms of, the absence of drunken fathers/wife beaters..the drug addiction/experimentation that gripped my peers.
Also, the sense that the Arab community were very cohesive-and pretty much self-sustaining.
There were scores of Arab immigrants that came to the states (in particular Detroit/Dearborn) and went to work in the automobile factories, beginning in the 30's.
A good number of them could barely speak English, but they never complained..took the jobs that white men did not want..saved their money..brought their family's over..and became entrenched.
The 70's brought about a shift in their focus. Now they had a peice of the American dream, homes, cars, businesses etc..and at this point they began sending their children to colledge to obtain higher education.
From this crop came the Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, and other professionals, who are taking the Arabs to the next level in American society.
In terms of religion..to be honest, in 1965-72, I had no idea that these neighbors were Muslim, and had no clue as to what Islam was.
My conversion came about after going through a transitional period in my life that began in 2001. And did not come about until after I had done a lot of research on differant beliefs, religions, enlightenment paths etc..