Muslims of Metropolis: The Stories of Three Immigrant Families in the West (Hardcover)

by Kavitha Rajagopalan (Author)
Key Phrases: special registration, lost village, United States, New York, Arab Media Watch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Her book is well-written, compelling, and of broad interest, and does a wonderful job of following the journeys of three families as each leaves a majority-Muslim country and moves to a Western one. -- John Bowen, Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor in Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis

Product Description
The Muslim population globally is comprised of hundreds of ethnic, linguistic, and religious sub-communities. Yet, more often than not, the public conflates these diverse and unrelated communities, branding Muslim immigrants as a single, suspicious, and culturally antagonistic group of people. Generalizations like these have compromised many Muslim immigrants' sense of belonging and acceptance in places where they have lived, in some cases, for three or four generations.

In Muslims of Metropolis, Kavitha Rajagopalan takes a much needed step in personalizing and humanizing our understanding of the Muslim diaspora. Tracing the stories of three very different families-a Palestinian family moving to London, a Kurdish family moving to Berlin, and a Bangladeshi family moving to New York-she reveals a level of complexity and nuance that is seldom considered. Through their voices and in their words, Rajagopalan describes what prompted these families to leave home, what challenges they faced in adjusting to their new lives, and how they came to view their place in society. Interviews with community leaders, social justice organizations, and with academics and political experts in each of the countries add additional layers of insight to how broad political issues, like nationalist conflict, immigration reform, and antiterrorism strategies affect the lives of Muslims who have migrated in search of economic stability and personal happiness.

Although recent thinking about immigration policy in the United States and Europe emphasizes the importance of long-term integration, a global attitude that continues to sensationalize divisions between Muslim and other communities thwarts this possibility. Integration cannot occur with policy solutions alone-people must feel that they belong to a larger society. Whether read as simple stories or broader narratives, the voices in this revealing book are among the many speaking against generalization, prejudice, and fear that has so far surrounded Muslims living in the West.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (August 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813543444
• ISBN-13: 978-0813543444
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unapologetic Journalism at its Best, November 7, 2008

By	Aisha Richard (NY, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Talented journalist, scholar and author Kavitha Rajagopalan leads us through a "behind the scenes" journey into the lives of three "Westerners" with severely contrasting Muslim experiences (or rather, three Muslims with severely contrasting Western experiences). Avoiding the impulse to be swept into reporting world current events, Rajagopalan grants us access to the individual passions & obstacles of her three protagonists and their cultural identities in the Western world. Muslims of Metropolis is infused with the rich imagery of creative literature, the passion of a novel, yet never sparing the precision and objectiveness expected of a non-fictional piece on current events. Rajagopalan doesn't create strong characters in this wonderful piece - rather, she creates a platform that intimately captures Sukriye, Aisha and Sharif's poignant experiences that lets their strengths speak for themselves. The author does all this without imposing her world view on their ideas and passions. Kavitha Rajagopalan writes beautifully, objectively, passionately, and leaves you wanting to know more and more about the lives of her three heroes, their families, their cultures, their country, their joys and their woes. My eyes were opened to the ethnic, social and political diversity that exists among people who share the Muslim faith. Indeed, a wonderful read!

5.0 out of 5 stars Muslims of Metropolis, February 8, 2009

By	Arif A. Syed (215 Porter Ave,Bergenfield,Nj 07621) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I liked the book. It is worth reading. it is Muslims of Metropolis. It is a book.