Aref Assaf,  9-23-2007

The occasion was the unveiling of the 2007 report on "New Jersey: A Statewide View of Diversity." The stated goal of the report was to use the findings to improve New Jersey policy and programs. The report had one major message to relay: while New Jersey ranks first as the most diverse state in the nation, yet it remains highly segregated in schools and housing patterns.
 Put differently, while more than 140 ethnic groups call New Jersey their home, most live in ethnically defined enclaves with little but improving contact with other ethnic groups. This is a disturbing but factual assessment of our state.
 Do Arabs and Muslims who call New Jersey their home really exit? For the first time, the survey found that discrimination against Muslims was measured and was shown to be higher than that affecting Blacks and Latinos. But when I raised the issue of determining the number of Arabs or Muslims in New Jersey, James Hughes, PhD, the Rutgers Professor who supervised the extensive survey answered that he has no data on the community and does not expect the study to demonstrate or explain the rise of anti-Muslim sentiments or discrimination patterns.

Not desirous to render the questioning a raucous scene,  I proceeded to provide the audience and the presenter the available numbers on our community as reported by well-known Zogby Poll; 240,000 Arab and 500,000 Muslims. I persisted by  stating that since the community is the target of intense scrutiny, stereotyping and racial profiling and the acutely  limited representation in  State government or State-sponsored programs, that another Arab and Muslim specific survey is warranted- without which no public policy recommendations can be validated.
 The organizers of the well attended meeting, the American Conference on Diversity, have noted our recommendations. While talking with Nina Wells, Secretary of State, I won a promise that our issues will be addressed. It is now up to us to follow up. The task will be made easier, we hope,  since both organizations, the American Conference on Diversity and the American Arab Forum have entered into preliminary discussions on  collaborative research,  targeted  workshops, and joint efforts.

The critical need is evident for a dialogue between the State and its Arab and Muslim residents. We do exist but we somehow elude the radar screen of policy makers, of resource funding officials and of statewide organizations. We remain so underrepresented in all areas of state government, in non-profit and public corporations and in state-sanctioned boards and commissions. It may surprise some to learn that the only statewide agency that caters to our 'needs' is the State office of Counter Terrorism.

Consequently, we should not be surprised that not only demographers know little about our community but also our state government. Our existence cannot only be measured by homeland security concerns nor by acknowledging our existence as merely victims of racial profiling and discrimination. Or have we simply been reduced to potential  terrorism suspects? We are much more than victims or metaphysical creatures. We are a community of dedicated and hardworking citizens with higher than average voter turnout, income and education. As Governor Corzine wrote to us recently, “the Muslim community is a vital part of New Jersey, continuing to make important contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the garden State.” The disconnect is most striking between these  much appreciated accolades and actual or proposed state policies.

Answer is simple, start by establishing the long-overdue Arab Heritage Commission. This entity has been our goal for the last three years and while we have received support from many towns, agencies and politicians, the process of evaluation is being delayed.

At its core, the duties of the commission would include giving assistance to public and nonpublic schools on the positive contributions and achievement of Arabs and Arab-Americans in our society. They would also encourage recognition of those values, both cultural and historical, which are deeply rooted in the Arab heritage.

But it could also prove exactly the kind of needed mechanism to disseminate information from and to our community. We know our Governor cares about inclusivity and equal access and we hope he will act upon his deeply felt desire to build a new and brighter future for the residents of New Jersey.

Aref Assaf, PhD, is president of American Arab Forum, Paterson. You may reach him at info@aafusa.org

Read "New Jersey: A Statewide View of Diversity."

 Report: Introduction
 Report: Survey Report
 Report: Survey Data
(All files pdf. format)