| Summary: | This study deals with the dynamics of American Muslims in coping
with the identity conflicts in the aftermath of September Eleventh
Attacks. This study aims at describing the reconstruction of cultural
identity of American Muslims and revealing the underlying reasons of the
reconstruction.
The study used the qualitative method. The types of the data were
words or statements, either written or spoken, and events or actions
conducted by the subjects of the study. The data sources consisted of
printed documents, audio/visual records, statistics, images/photos,
literary works, and films. The methods of collecting the data were library
research, internet browsing, observation, and interview by email. The
analyzing techniques were descriptive-analytic technique, categorization,
and interpretation.
The study found that in the aftermath of the September Eleventh
Attacks, American Muslims underwent some changes, particularly in the
mental and social dimensions. The changes in the mental dimension
were reflected in the different way of identifying the citizenship, identity
configuration, and the position of American Islam. The changes in the
social dimension could be identified from the response to religious
extremism, behavior towards other religious groups, and representation
of Muslim women. They also produced some publications, such as
statement, advertisement, fatwa, posters, video, and reality show in
addition to the interfaith institutions.
The findings implied that American Muslims underwent a cultural
identity reconstruction constituting a survival strategy of the minority
group against the threat of the dominant culture. They reconstructed
their identity by seeking for the meeting points between Islam and
American culture and by keeping the religious principle.
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