In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Americans Muslims were treated to significant acts of hatred, prejudice, and violence by Americans, while tens of thousands were fingerprinted and interviewed by representatives of the American government. Today, American Muslims still believe they are dealing with the lingering impact of September 11, with many claiming new acts of terrorism abroad (like the failed bombing attempts in London) rekindle anti-Muslim American sentiments at home. As Spencer Michels (1) notes, for most of the approximately 9 million Muslims living in America, "life is not the same as it was before." This analysis will discuss the immediate impact of September 11 on American Muslims as well as the lingering impact of those attacks to the present time.
The unprecedented and effective terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11 by Islamic extremists associated with al-Qaeda forever changed America and Americans, especially their perception of feeling secure from foreign attacks. The enormous confusion and outrage over the attacks initially led to a high degree of violence and hatred toward American Muslims, immediately associated with Islamic extremists, primarily because of fear, strong emotions, and stereotyping. As one historian notes of the impact on American Muslims right after the attacks, "Numerous incidents of harassment and hate crimes were reported against Middle Easterners and other 'Middle-Eastern-looking' people, particularly Sikhs, due to the fact that Sikh males usually wear turbans, which are stereotypically associated with Muslims in the U.S." (September 9).
Such incidents were plentiful in the aftermath of the attacks, despite the fact that all of the top Muslim organizations in the U.S. were rapid in condemning that attacks and those responsible for them. Politicians were also swift to respond against the Muslim community in America in wa...