Racial Discrimination and Inequity: A Comparison of American Germans and American Muslims

Running head : U.S. HISTORY
U.S. HISTORY
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1U.S. HISTORY
The loyalty of immigrants has always been questioned. More so if an individual belongs
from a different community, religion or ethnicity. To top it all, war has always been linked with
communal sentiments. Modern warfare such as the American Revolution, French Revolution,
First World War, Russian Revolution and Second World War were not religious in nature but
these altered the fates of millions of people who belonged to a particular ethnic group (Maier).
Similarly, after the dilapidating effects of the First World War, the lives of the German
Americans changed completely. Before the war, the largest English speaking minority
community consisted of the Germans.
American schools taught German language and it was the most studied foreign language
during that time. Cities like Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis allowed the option for the children in
elementary school to receive their instruction in English as well as German. There was a
dramatic change after the First World War. Germans were badly stigmatized. In fact, only few
schools in America now taught German. The same happened after the attack of 9/11. Muslims
were disparaged badly. Any Muslims or Arabs who looked like the terrorists of 9/11 were held
responsible. Both the Germans and Muslims were seen with suspicion and fear.
There were more hate crimes than before 9/11(Keynes and Maynard). The Muslims were
subjected to racial attacks, insults, discrimination and were asked to “go home” by many. They
were humiliated in public transports, universities, schools, supermarkets and everywhere they
went. Young girls were asked not to wear hijabs as the parents were scared that they would be
attacked (Selod). Many homemakers did not step outside their homes out of fear of being
assaulted. The American Germans had to face severe atrocities after the First World War. They
were beaten up by the mob, hanged to trees, mistrusted and more. People everywhere developed
anti-German sentiments. Similar treatments were meted out to the American Muslims.