How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America

2.5 StarsVery interesting stories (except the last one), good prose. What really bugged me about this book is the author's complete and total lack of empathy for the victims of 9/11. He never mentioned them even ONCE. In those stories, where the author mentioned the protagonist's experience on that fateful day, it was always about the negative feelings which quickly developed towards the Arabs on and after that horrible event. Mr. Bayoumi never mentions the lives taken on that day and just how WRONG and terrible that was. If you're reading this book not knowing what happened on 9/11 (I doubt there's such person on this planet) you would think that it was just "an event" where two planes hit two empty buildings and nothing more of that.But, wait, there IS more.Here's a direct quote from the book:(Omar, the protagonist of one of the stories, meets his aunt whose office was located in one of the Twin Towers after the "accident." The aunt survived because she stopped by a Starbucks that morning.)"And she told Omar the story with remarkably little emotion. "Thank God for that cup of coffee," she said, and the two of them laughed a little. Then they turned and went quietly inside, and Omar shut the door" (p. 203)Let me repeat that:"and the two of them LAUGHED A LITTLE"Not even a WORD about those who actually DIED on that day.Yet--they are laughing.LAUGHING?As a New Yorker, I am DISGUSTED that this author lives in my hometown (as well as that protagonist AND his aunt).Besides the above, there was one particular story which drove me mad. It's the third story in the book, under the name "Yasmin." The story is about a determined, young lady who decides to run for a leadership position in her HS. She is selected and she starts serving her term. Then one day she is told that she has to attend... school dances, as a required part of her role, which she knew of BEFORE she signed up to run for that position. She quickly announces that she cannot do that because of her... "moral principles." And as a result, she is removed from that role.A normal person would accept the outcome at that point (no, wait--a normal person would not sign up for something that she knows she cannot do) but, Yasmin is above everybody, and she decides to make this "struggle" all about her "religious persecution." Let me restate that--she is NOT discriminated against by believing in Islam, practicing her religion, or wearing a hijab (a head scarf) in her school. Yet, because the school does not allow her to neglect one of the conditions that she *willingly* signed up for--she turns the tables on the school's officials and makes it all about "her discrimination."At one point she even writes in her diary: "I believed people would have confidence in me because of what was in my heart and not (sic) prejudice against my outer appearance. (...) And further: "because America is prejudiced so much and will never let people like me succeed no matter how hard we try. (p. 101)SERIOUSLY?!Let's say--I want to go to an event where I would be required to jump from a plane. I know in advance that I have a severe fear of heights, yet I sign up for it anyway because you know what--at the end, I'll just wing it. So I arrive at the event and then announce that I cannot jump from a plane because my "moral principles" wouldn't allow me to board the plane. And then I get upset that I am kicked out of that event and decide to...sue the company! And that's exactly how little Yasmin's logic works. And you know what--she does succeed bringing the school's leadership down on its knees all in the name of so-called "tolerance to the religious diversity," or something along those lines. Now, I'd understand if she were required to go to school dances at a strip club, and would agree with you that it is completely "morally inappropriate"... but a HS dance? GIVEMEABREAK. Please. What I do admire about Yasmin is her extreme sense of entitlement.Finally, the last point goes to the publishing house. Really, Penguin? You could not find a better copyeditor for this writer? It's not like you're one of the biggest publishing houses in the world, right?Here’s just a tiny sample:- missing end of quotation marks (p.1)- "Reem was five yars older..." (p. 17)- "They did, it did, and she did, too." (p.174)--this got to be my favorite "pearl of wit" from this author; there are many other grammatical errors and similar weak sentences which could use an eye of a good copyeditor.But then, why would a respectable publishing house with the HQ in NYC even publish a book SO completely and utterly DISRESPECTFUL to the memory of those innocent souls robbed so abruptly and maliciously out of their lives on 9/11--is beyond me. Yes, we definitely NEED a book to show others that killing other innocent civilians, be it in Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan, is NOT a "solution," not to even mention how terribly wrong religious/cultural/etc. hatred is, but THIS ONE is NOT the book that does justice to BOTH sides.Again--as a New Yorker, I am disgusted.

seven twenty-somethings: all arab american, all brooklynites, each one struggling it out in a post 9-11 world. there is so much heart to these stories...so much gumption and grace. how to live from a place of dignity, trust, when you are under constant surveillance? under suspicion? subjected to discrimination at work, school, while riding the bus up brooklyn's fifth avenue, to get taco bell for your three sisters?stories connect us to each other, writes dr. bayoumi. "in the ways that polemics and polls cannot, they reveal our conflicts within ourselves and our vulnerabilities to each other."in these stories we learn of a young arab american marine who enlists, and is deployed to iraq where he eventually begins questioning the war & his involvement in it. "am i out here for somebody's personal gain?" he asks. "none of these people making decisions have anybody there. they're playing with house money. they're playing with the youth of this country."then there's rasha, a young woman who is detained post 9-11, with her entire family and without reason...there's yasmin a force, a firebrand, who takes on the administration of her school, calling them out on their discrimination...there are stories of hurt and betrayal and love here. of humanity."how does it feel to be a problem?" w.e.b. dubois asked over a century ago. and now, dr. bayoumi asks anew, asks at a time when muslim communities around the nation continue to "feel under the blunt hammer of suspicion."i loved this book, an essential, powerful read. five stars are not enough.

An intimate picture of a culture I was not too familiar with. Very informative and culled from young men living amongst us in New York. I never realized how devout and serious these young people are; how unfairly judged they are and how difficult it is for them to live both religious and secular lives where they fit in. Finding work is a nightmare, I was amazed at their resilience and faith that they will find a place where they fit in.

I came across this book in an article in the local Sunday paper as the author will be appearing at Millersville University. First off, kudos to MU for making this book required reading for all its incoming freshman. They want to spotlight the Middle East and the experiences of Arabs in the US post 9/11. Second of all, as the American-born mother of three Arab American teens, who have been confronted with their Arab identity, I was very interested to know what else might they face and how others have dealt with it.First of the writing is superb. It's intelligent but easily accessible. There's no dumbing down or superficial smarting up. It's a book that can be used in a university course as well as read but the average person who wants to educate themselves. There's no political agenda. The goal of the book is simply to inform.The book contains the stories of 7 Arab American young people who live in Brooklyn. Some were born there. Others came at a young age. All are American citizens. Some are not easily recognized on the street as Arabs. Some wear traditional Muslim dress. Some are Christian. Some are Muslim. All have dealt with their Arab and American identities but in different ways. For someone, like me, who is well aware of the problems Arab Americans have faced, I can't say anything shocked me or surprised me. What impressed me was the profiles in courage that are presented. I really love that strong Arab women are presented fighting for their rights and not pictured as oppressed. I really respect and admire Yasmin for not giving up in her struggle and her father who supported her even when he wasn't always sure that what she wanted was in her best interest.This book would be a great high school, college or book group selection to start a conversation about racism and profiling. The study questions at the end really help put yourself in the Arab shoes and make you consider how you would react in these situations.

I was expecting the stories of these young people to be told in their own words from the book description. Instead of fresh young voices, this is a work crafted by an academic with a strong agenda. Thus the book does not live up to its promise.Despite this misrepresentation, this book is still worth reading. It provides insight into the perception of discrimination that middle class Muslims face in the U.S. it would be stronger if the afterword spent more effort on comparing this with the perceptions of blacks, Irish Catholics, Jews and other minorities who have emigrated to the states in blocks.

Das Buch kam sehr schnell an und ich fand es einfach nur super!!!Ich habe es regelrecht verschlungen, da es soo spannend war, die einzelnen Lebensgeschichten zu lesen.

An interesting book to read!