Description
Book SynopsisClaiming Belonging dives deep into the lives of Muslim American advocacy groups in the post-9/11 era, asking how they form and function within their broader community in a world marked by Islamophobia. Bias incidents against Muslim Americans reached unprecedented levels a few short years ago, and many groups responded through actionorganizing on the national level to become increasingly visible, engaged, and assertive.
Emily Cury draws on more than four years of participant observation and interviews to examine how Muslim American organizations have sought to access and influence the public square and, in so doing, forge a political identity. The result is an engaging and unique study, showing that policy advocacy, both foreign and domestic, is best understood as a sphere where Muslim American identity is performed and negotiated.
Claiming Belonging offers ever-timely insight into the place of Muslims in American political life and, in
Table of Contents
Introduction: Making Muslim Constituents Visible
1. Discrimination, Advocacy, and Collective Identity
2. From Muslims in America to American Muslims
3. From the Patriot Act to the "Muslim Ban"
4. The Rise of the Muslim American Lobby
5. Domestic Advocacy: Between Contestation and Collaboration
6. Advocating for the Muslim Ummah
Conclusion: Who Speaks for American Muslims?
