The 9/11 Generation

            After 9/11, in the Silicon Valley area, there were economic problems between different racial groups. Muslims faced the most discrimination due to the stereotypes caused by 9/11. “Many Indian and Pakistani immigrants with technical and educational qualifications “came here to part of the tech industry, not for putting stuff in boxes” and “would come in” to work “as if they were officer workers in ties and shirts,” struggling with the downward mobility.” Even though these people were qualified to work for the upcoming tech jobs that started to become prevalent in the area, it was hard for them to involved because of the stigma attached to their culture, and even their looks. These people were considered “bad Muslims” and they were associated with poverty and often times terrorism. A “good Muslim,” on the other hand, acknowledged radicalized behavior and violence as wrong and fought for social justice in their community. I think, since Muslims were categorized either “good” or “bad,” it made it easier for people to be targeted because of the low economic jobs they had or how they portrayed themselves.

            However, in some areas like San Jose, people were extremely tolerant of Muslims and did not discriminate. People were familiar and comfortable with Muslims because of the history they had living in this area and were accepting of them- especially the younger generation. I think this is common today among young people. “The sense of being shielded from the larger phenomenon of intensified Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism even seemed to take the form of a kind of survivor’s guilt for some youth.” Even though this tolerance was a great thing in these areas, it backfired as a shield to Arabs. When Arabs left this “bubble” after 9/11, they experienced different backlash then they were used to. This “tolerance” showed that racism was prevalent, and in my opinion, possibly made it worse by putting the blame on Arabs.