essay

The Arab-American community of Springfield, Massachusetts

arab americans, studies in assimilation (1) • Published In 1969 • Pages: 50-66

By: Aruri, Naseer Hasan.

Abstract
This is an account of the Arab-American community of Springfield, Massachusetts. Aruri writes about the early occupations, the wholesalers who acted as a political and cultural brokers, sporadic violence between Arab Christians and Muslims, and their relationship with other ethnic groups. He also focuses on Monsignor Saab, a community leader who gained a national reputation for his long service to his church and local community. Aruri, along with Hagopian (no. 25) criticizes the Syrian-Lebanese- American Federation for its failure to develop a strong national organization on par with the NAACP, or the American Jewish Committee. The author also examines the occupational structure, educational attainmants, incomes, and political and social behavior of present residents. Smaller familes and social mobility are signs of successful acculturation, but the persistance of Syrian-Lebanese clubs and churches are a factor in what the author calls their 'slow assimilation.'
Subjects
Settlement patterns
Sodalities
Priesthood
Religious denominations
culture
Arab Americans
HRAF PubDate
1998
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Unknown
Analyst
Ian Skoggard; 1998
Field Date
not specified
Coverage Date
1890-1968
Coverage Place
Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Notes
Naseer H. Aruri
Includes bibliographical references
LCSH
Arab Americans