Vigilante Racism: The De-Americanization of Immigrant America

Abstract

The mistreatment of those of Arab, Muslim, and Sikh descent in the United States post September 11 amounts to vigilante racism--the enforcement of a presumed code of what constitutes a "true" American. In the process, the culprits engage in a process of "de-Americanizing" individuals of color, informing them that they do not belong to the American community. There are two Americas; one that is embracing of diversity, the other that continues to be premised on a Euro-centric vision.

Keywords: race, culture, hate crime, discrimination, hate speech, de-Americanize, racism, vigilante, diversity, Euro-centrism