Fear in our hearts : what Islamophobia tells us about America
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-214) and index.

"Fear in Our Hearts examines Islamophobia in the United States, positing that rather than simply being an outcome of the 9/11 attacks, anti-Muslim activity grows out of a fear of difference that has always characterized US public life. Caleb Iyer Elfenbein examines the effects of this fear on American Muslims, as well as describing how it works to shape and distort American society. Drawing on over 1,800 news reports documenting anti-Muslim activity, Elfenbein pinpoints trends, draws connections to the broader histories of immigration, identity, belonging, and citizenship in the US, and examines how Muslim communities have responded to this discrimination. In the face of public fear and hate, American Muslim communities have developed connections with non-Muslims through community transparency, outreach, and public engagement efforts, offering a model for creating more welcoming conditions of public life for everyone. Arguing that anti-Muslim activity tells us as much about the state of core American values as it does about the particular experiences of American Muslims, this compelling book offers practical ideas about how we can create a more welcoming public life for all."--,Provided by publisher.