Anti-Palestinian Racism in the Diaspora

Racism is a prevalent form of discrimination that is based on the belief that one's race is superior to another. It manifests in various ways, including prejudice, negative stereotypes, and unequal treatment. Palestinians in the diaspora often face various forms of racism and discrimination, which can lead to negative perceptions and marginalization of their community. Research literature shows that Palestinians experience different forms of racism, including negative stereotypes, marginalization, microagressions, cultural appropriation and systematic discrimination (Awad, 2014; El-Khatib, 2018; Hanania, 2019).

Anti-Palestinian racism is a global issue, and it is prevalent in various non-Arabic speaking countries around the world. For example, in Germany, Salah (2019) examines the Palestinian diaspora in the country and their identity and transnationalism. She highlights the challenges that Palestinians face, including discrimination and the marginalization of their community. Palestinians in Sweden face challenges in intercultural relations and ethnic identity due to their diasporic status (Abdelnabi, 2021). Adelnabi (2021) also found that Palestinians face racism and discrimination, contributing to marginalization and exclusion from society. Furthermore, Thörn (2018) has examined the representations of the Palestinian national movement in the Swedish media, which often depict them as terrorists rather than a resistance movement. In Canada, Khatib (2021) discusses the racism and discrimination faced by Palestinian and Arab Americans in the country. She notes that Arab Americans often experience negative stereotypes and are viewed as a homogenous group, leading to policies that target them, including surveillance programs and travel bans. Palestinians in Chile are often subjected to negative stereotypes and viewed as a foreign threat to Chile's national identity, leading to discrimination in the workplace and education (Metz, 2020).

Many of the articles were conducted with Palestinians in the United States. For example, Khatib (2021) has examined the racism and discrimination faced by Palestinian and Arab Americans in the United States. Khatib notes that Arab Americans often experience negative stereotypes and are viewed as a homogenous group, leading to policies that target them, including surveillance programs and travel bans. Awad (2014) has also explored Arab American racism and its connection to the Palestinian experience.In addition, Ayyash (2022) has written about the toxic otherness of the Palestinian experience and how it is connected to debates about race and racism. Shihade (2018) has written about the racial politics of the Palestinian diaspora in the United States, exploring the ways that Palestinians are situated within a broader racial hierarchy.

Finally, Khalil (2017) has examined the racialization of Muslims and Palestinians in the diaspora, comparing the experiences of Muslims and Palestinians in the UK and the USA. Khalil notes that Muslims and Palestinians are often subjected to negative stereotypes that are perpetuated by the media and political discourse, leading to marginalization and exclusion from society.

References:

  • Abdelnabi, A. (2021). Palestinian Diaspora in Sweden: A Study of Ethnic Identity and Intercultural Relations. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 19(1), 1-20.

  • Alsharif, K., & El Khatib, L. (2019). Palestinian diaspora in the UK: Prospects for active and collaborative engagement. Third World Quarterly, 40(5), 892-910.

  • Awad, S. H. (2014). Arab American Racism and the Palestinian Experience. In D. Gheith, & E. Ziadeh (Eds.), Arab Americans in Michigan (pp. 145-161). Michigan State University Press.

  • Ayyash, M. M. (2022). The Toxic Other: The Palestinian Critique and Debates About Race and Racism.

  • El-Khatib, R. (2018). An Arab Palestine: The Politics of Writing Palestinian Identity in the Diaspora. Journal of Palestine Studies, 47(2), 30-45.

  • Haddad, G. (2021). Brazilian Muslims and Their Quest for Religious and Political Recognition: A Comparative Approach. Arab Studies Quarterly, 43(2), 204-219.

  • Hanania, R. (2019). Are Arab Americans more racist than White Americans? Arab News.

  • Jaber, H. (2018). The formation of the Palestinian diaspora in Brazil. Middle East Critique, 27(2), 177-188.

  • Khalil, A. (2017). The racialisation of Muslims and Palestinians in the diaspora: the UK and the USA compared. Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies, 16(1), 23-40.

  • Khatib, J. (2021). Racism and discrimination against Palestinian and Arab Americans in the United States. Journal of Palestine Studies, 50(2), 18-33.

  • Masalha, N. (2021). Anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the Palestinian Nakba. Journal of Palestine Studies, 50(3), 37-48.

  • Metz, B. (2020). Racism, neocolonialism, and the Palestinian experience in Chile. Journal of Palestine Studies, 49(4), 50-67.

  • Rejwan, N. (2013). The Arab American and the Arab-Israeli conflict: The double-bind dilemma. Israel Studies Forum, 28(2), 24-35.

  • Salah, A. (2019). Palestinian Diaspora in Germany: Identity, Transnationalism, and New Media. Arab Media & Society, 28(1).

  • Sayed, F. (2015). “Islamophobia” and the challenges of Muslim identity: From discrimination, to de‐legitimization, to self‐doubt. International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, 1(1), 35-52.

  • Shihade, M. (2018). The Racial Politics of the Palestinian Diaspora: From Black September to the Arab Spring. Stanford University Press.

  • Thörn, H. (2018). “Terrorist” or “Freedom Fighter”? Representations of the Palestinian National Movement in the Swedish Media. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 38(4), 534-548.

  • Yousef, Y. (2018). Racism and anti-Semitism in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Mediterranean Quarterly, 29(4), 85-103.

  • Zureik, E. (2019). German Middle Eastern Studies: An Intellectual History of Modern German Scholarship on the Middle East and North Africa. Oxford University Press.