Jordanian American
Encyclopedia
A Jordanian-American is an American
citizen who is descended from Jordanian people or a Jordanian who has U.S. citizenship. According to surveys conducted in 2007 with respect to the American population, about 64,211 people descend from Jordanians.
is relatively recent, it seems that the first Jordanians who emigrated to this country did shortly after the Second World War (1945) in relatively small groups. Those first Jordanians settled in Chicago
esp. the Near West
and Southwest Sides section," New York City
, and the Southwest and West Coast states (i.e. California
) at the end of 1950, when about 1,000 Jordanians lived in the country.
These early migrants were forced to work as immigrants because of poverty that Jordan suffered at the time, caused by the Arab-Israeli War, which took place in this small country. They were a group of hard workers. Some of these Jordanians opened retail stores while others managed to earn degrees in business, medicine and engineering. Many men returned to their families in Jordan after working or studying in Chicago and New York for several years."
In those early years, people in the Jordanian
East Bank and West Bank Palestinians could travel to the United States
with Jordanian passports, creating the undefined category "Palestinian - Jordanian." In the 1950s, 5,762 Jordanians immigrated to the United States
. In the mid 1960s, due to U.S. immigration laws and the remained of the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 in Jordan
, the number of Jordanians who emigrated to the United States almost doubled: 11,727 Jordanians immigrated. At this time the majority chose to settle in Western cities and in the southwest of the country, except, basically, the wealthy Jordanians felt more comfortable in the suburbs of large cities. Then in the 1970s, 27,535 Jordanians arrived, reflecting an era of civil strife in Jordan. In the 1980s, immigration averaged around 2,500 a year. In those year the Jordanian community in the United States had grown at a rapid pace and was already a large population. This was the direct result of that still persists Arab-Israeli war in Jordan that he had return seen the light in 1973, and the fact that at the same time, initiated Jordanian civil war (1970–71). Therefore, the majority of Jordanians established in the United States at this time were war refugees. The total number of Jordanian immigrants from 1820 to 1984 was 56,720. Jordanian emigration due to internal strife in his country as economic issues, as in the U.S., the salaries were higher than in Jordan
.
. More than 30 percent of those working in the United States
were university graduates, and 40 percent were in professional positions. Many immigrants stayed four and a half to eight years in United States
, then returned to Jordan. United States salaries were higher than those in Jordan, and this attracted immigrants. More than other Middle Eastern immigrants, Jordanians tended to take their families with them when working in the United States
. Since the 1980s, many Jordanians have remained in the United States and have formed cohesive communities. The Jordanian American community in Washington, DC, held a candlelight vigil after the death of King Hussein. As a result, they are much less Americanized, if at all, than groups with longer histories american. Guided by family and friends, these new Americans understandably find comfort in neighborhoods established by others from their home country. Most Jordanian Americans are Eastern Orthodox Christian, although there also are some Muslim
, and in such surroundings they continue their familiar practices in social activities, shopping, and religion. Continued use of their native language and dialect sustains homeland ties and delays acculturation. Language is a key factor in the acculturation process. Those who are fluent in English have greater communication and interaction with the majority population. Other factors that can accelerate acculturation include educational levels and how much contact with the larger community occurs on the job. Also, people from urban areas of Jordan
adjust more quickly to America's cities than do some from rural areas. Children often adapt more easily to new surroundings and, as with other immigrant groups, tend to assimilate faster than their parents. Jordanian Americans have access to national newspapers published in Arabic. There is sometimes a local Arabic newspaper in a community with a large Arab population, such as metropolitan Detroit. basically the Jordanians speak Arabic, but there are many Jordanians speak also english, so Jordan's radio and television stations offer some English programming.Chicago
also maintains, even today, a large Jordanian population, which, together with other Arabs to worship, to celebrate the holidays, network and mobilize politically through organizations like the Professional Association or the Arab American Action Network, the various Islamic cultural centers and area churches and mosques.
and the United States receive financing from their families, but some obtain assistance from the government of Jordan
. Students from Western European and American schools tend to gain the more desirable and prestigious positions on their return home. The perceived higher quality of education in the West helps make these graduates more competitive in the job market.
, Oregon
. Jordanian food is based on traditional Bedouin cooking. In Jordanian meals, the main course usually starts with several varieties of mazza, or hors d'oeuvres, such as humus, fuul, kube, and tabouleh. Felafel consists of deep-fried chickpea balls. Shwarma is spit-cooked sliced lamb. Lentils, adas in Arabic, are a common ingredient in Jordanian dishes, and there are many recipes for Shorabat 'adas, lentil soup. Magloube is a meat, fish, or vegetable stew served with rice. Jordanian foods are seasoned with spices typical of the Mediterranean, including cumin, garlic, lemons, coriander, and especially saffron. Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost everything. A meal finishes with dessert or fresh fruits, and Arabic coffee without which no meeting, whether formal or informal, is complete. Arabic coffee will normally be served continuously during social occasions. To signal that no more is wanted, one slightly tilts the cup when handing it back; otherwise it will be refilled.
Traditionally, lunch is Jordanians' main meal. They usually have a light breakfast and supper. Most Jordanians do not eat pork, which is forbidden to Muslims.
According to Jordanian tradition, brought to the United States, the bride, groom, and both families plan weddings, and the groom and his family pay for them. Marriage is for life in the Jordanian American culture. If a couple has marital problems, parents and relatives from both families will intervene. Their focus will be on preserving the marriage. If there are children, the culture dictates that the couple resolve past their own problems for the children's sake. Divorce is uncommon.
and four percent Christian
. The Jordanian American community is almost the opposite, with the majority Christian and eight percent Muslim. The largest group of Jordanian American Christians belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church
, the next largest to the Roman Catholic Church
, and the remainder to Protestant and evangelism
churches. Jordanian American Christians and Muslims often share their church buildings and mosques with compatible congregations from other Arab groups, with the institutions bolstering identity and cultural continuity.
The largest of the Christian sects in Jordan, as among Jordanian Americans, is Eastern Orthodox.
at a time—the latter half of the twentieth century— when their new country was rethinking its own structure. Civil rights laws have helped immigrants feel they do not have to totally submerge their ethnic identity to fully participate in American society. As a result, Jordanian Americans and members of other groups have felt increasingly secure in taking part in local and national political activity, both inside and outside their own groups' interests. They have welcomed interactions with their mother country as well. Jordan's deputy prime minister opened a Detroit trade show in 1997 and urged the United States to take a more active role in the peace process in the Middle East
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen who is descended from Jordanian people or a Jordanian who has U.S. citizenship. According to surveys conducted in 2007 with respect to the American population, about 64,211 people descend from Jordanians.
History
The history of the Jordanian immigration to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is relatively recent, it seems that the first Jordanians who emigrated to this country did shortly after the Second World War (1945) in relatively small groups. Those first Jordanians settled in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
esp. the Near West
Near West Side, Chicago
The Near West Side, one of the 77 defined community areas of Chicago, is located , adjacent to the downtown central business district . The rich history of the Near West Side of Chicago has its genesis in the Hull House phenomenon...
and Southwest Sides section," New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the Southwest and West Coast states (i.e. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) at the end of 1950, when about 1,000 Jordanians lived in the country.
These early migrants were forced to work as immigrants because of poverty that Jordan suffered at the time, caused by the Arab-Israeli War, which took place in this small country. They were a group of hard workers. Some of these Jordanians opened retail stores while others managed to earn degrees in business, medicine and engineering. Many men returned to their families in Jordan after working or studying in Chicago and New York for several years."
In those early years, people in the Jordanian
Demographics of Jordan
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Jordan, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
East Bank and West Bank Palestinians could travel to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Jordanian passports, creating the undefined category "Palestinian - Jordanian." In the 1950s, 5,762 Jordanians immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the mid 1960s, due to U.S. immigration laws and the remained of the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, the number of Jordanians who emigrated to the United States almost doubled: 11,727 Jordanians immigrated. At this time the majority chose to settle in Western cities and in the southwest of the country, except, basically, the wealthy Jordanians felt more comfortable in the suburbs of large cities. Then in the 1970s, 27,535 Jordanians arrived, reflecting an era of civil strife in Jordan. In the 1980s, immigration averaged around 2,500 a year. In those year the Jordanian community in the United States had grown at a rapid pace and was already a large population. This was the direct result of that still persists Arab-Israeli war in Jordan that he had return seen the light in 1973, and the fact that at the same time, initiated Jordanian civil war (1970–71). Therefore, the majority of Jordanians established in the United States at this time were war refugees. The total number of Jordanian immigrants from 1820 to 1984 was 56,720. Jordanian emigration due to internal strife in his country as economic issues, as in the U.S., the salaries were higher than in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
Demography
Since the 2nd World War until the 1980s, most immigrants were Jordanians married people whose ages are comprised between 20 and 39 years. They also had an above-average educational level of persons of the east bank of the Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. More than 30 percent of those working in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were university graduates, and 40 percent were in professional positions. Many immigrants stayed four and a half to eight years in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, then returned to Jordan. United States salaries were higher than those in Jordan, and this attracted immigrants. More than other Middle Eastern immigrants, Jordanians tended to take their families with them when working in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Since the 1980s, many Jordanians have remained in the United States and have formed cohesive communities. The Jordanian American community in Washington, DC, held a candlelight vigil after the death of King Hussein. As a result, they are much less Americanized, if at all, than groups with longer histories american. Guided by family and friends, these new Americans understandably find comfort in neighborhoods established by others from their home country. Most Jordanian Americans are Eastern Orthodox Christian, although there also are some Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and in such surroundings they continue their familiar practices in social activities, shopping, and religion. Continued use of their native language and dialect sustains homeland ties and delays acculturation. Language is a key factor in the acculturation process. Those who are fluent in English have greater communication and interaction with the majority population. Other factors that can accelerate acculturation include educational levels and how much contact with the larger community occurs on the job. Also, people from urban areas of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
adjust more quickly to America's cities than do some from rural areas. Children often adapt more easily to new surroundings and, as with other immigrant groups, tend to assimilate faster than their parents. Jordanian Americans have access to national newspapers published in Arabic. There is sometimes a local Arabic newspaper in a community with a large Arab population, such as metropolitan Detroit. basically the Jordanians speak Arabic, but there are many Jordanians speak also english, so Jordan's radio and television stations offer some English programming.Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
also maintains, even today, a large Jordanian population, which, together with other Arabs to worship, to celebrate the holidays, network and mobilize politically through organizations like the Professional Association or the Arab American Action Network, the various Islamic cultural centers and area churches and mosques.
Employment and Economic traditions
Jordanian Americans have careers in education, business, engineering, and science. The male-female breakdown in the Jordanian American work force is similar. Many Jordanians come to the United States to pursue advanced degrees in medicine and engineering. Most of the Jordanian students in Western EuropeWestern Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and the United States receive financing from their families, but some obtain assistance from the government of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. Students from Western European and American schools tend to gain the more desirable and prestigious positions on their return home. The perceived higher quality of education in the West helps make these graduates more competitive in the job market.
Cuisine
Jordanian food is popular in the United States, and many cities boast Jordanian restaurants such as the Petra House in PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Jordanian food is based on traditional Bedouin cooking. In Jordanian meals, the main course usually starts with several varieties of mazza, or hors d'oeuvres, such as humus, fuul, kube, and tabouleh. Felafel consists of deep-fried chickpea balls. Shwarma is spit-cooked sliced lamb. Lentils, adas in Arabic, are a common ingredient in Jordanian dishes, and there are many recipes for Shorabat 'adas, lentil soup. Magloube is a meat, fish, or vegetable stew served with rice. Jordanian foods are seasoned with spices typical of the Mediterranean, including cumin, garlic, lemons, coriander, and especially saffron. Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost everything. A meal finishes with dessert or fresh fruits, and Arabic coffee without which no meeting, whether formal or informal, is complete. Arabic coffee will normally be served continuously during social occasions. To signal that no more is wanted, one slightly tilts the cup when handing it back; otherwise it will be refilled.
Traditionally, lunch is Jordanians' main meal. They usually have a light breakfast and supper. Most Jordanians do not eat pork, which is forbidden to Muslims.
Courtship and Weddings
Jordanian Americans want their children to marry within the culture or, at least, within the larger Arab-American community. Sometimes a Jordanian American man will travel to Jordan to find a woman he considers a suitable wife. On the other hand, marriage to a non-Jordanian is tolerable, and husband and wife are welcomed into each other's families.According to Jordanian tradition, brought to the United States, the bride, groom, and both families plan weddings, and the groom and his family pay for them. Marriage is for life in the Jordanian American culture. If a couple has marital problems, parents and relatives from both families will intervene. Their focus will be on preserving the marriage. If there are children, the culture dictates that the couple resolve past their own problems for the children's sake. Divorce is uncommon.
Interactions with other ethnic groups
The Jordanian-Americans tend to be identified particularly with the Palestinians, as both groups share a similar experience: the diaspora. But they are also similar to the Lebanese and the Syrians and share with them, besides the Arabic language and geographic location the three neighboring countries, often, they have the same political views. Jordanian Americans sometimes conflict politically with Israeli organizations in the United States as well as with the pro-Israel policies of the U. S. government.Religion
The religious affiliations of Jordanian Americans contrast sharply with those of homeland Jordanians. Jordan's government states that the country is 96 percent MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and four percent Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. The Jordanian American community is almost the opposite, with the majority Christian and eight percent Muslim. The largest group of Jordanian American Christians belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
, the next largest to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, and the remainder to Protestant and evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
churches. Jordanian American Christians and Muslims often share their church buildings and mosques with compatible congregations from other Arab groups, with the institutions bolstering identity and cultural continuity.
The largest of the Christian sects in Jordan, as among Jordanian Americans, is Eastern Orthodox.
Politics and Government
Jordanians began arriving in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at a time—the latter half of the twentieth century— when their new country was rethinking its own structure. Civil rights laws have helped immigrants feel they do not have to totally submerge their ethnic identity to fully participate in American society. As a result, Jordanian Americans and members of other groups have felt increasingly secure in taking part in local and national political activity, both inside and outside their own groups' interests. They have welcomed interactions with their mother country as well. Jordan's deputy prime minister opened a Detroit trade show in 1997 and urged the United States to take a more active role in the peace process in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
External links
- 1 http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED229297. ED229297 - American, Jordanian, and Other Middle Eastern National Perceptions.
- 2 http://jordan.usembassy.gov/. Embassy of the United States Amman, Jordan.
- 3 http://countrystudies.us/jordan/66.htm. Relations with the United States.
- 4 http://www.amchammena.org/JordanCelebrates.asp?p=0. American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary.