1. Ask before assuming anything
Most people think that Muslims all come from Saudi Arabia and speak Arabic. However, that is not true. In fact, there are 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide and Muslims in the United States are so diverse and come from so many different countries and backgrounds that others often have a hard time classifying them. There is not a single race or ethnicity that dominates the rest. About 41% of American Muslims consider themselves white, a category that includes those who describe their race as Arab, Middle Eastern, Persian/Iranian or in a variety of other ways. About 30% percent are Asian, including those from South Asia, and about 20% are black. About 8% identify as Hispanic, and the other 3% consider themselves mixed with other races. With so much variety, it is no surprise that Muslim educators also differ widely in their appearance, opinions, and religiosity. When in doubt, simply ask and chat.
2. Maintain your expectations
While no administrator, supervisor, or teacher, usually goes out of their way to treat staff members differently, the political climate of our country sometimes leads to the censorship of Muslim educators and a difference in how Muslim educators are responded to. Muslim educators are also expected to be experts on global issues and are sometimes held to different standards. The same standards, rules, and expectations should be held of all staff members. Additionally, just as no other staff member is obligated to explain personal choices about how they dress or practice their religion, Muslim educators should also not be subject to personal questions about how they choose to dress or practice theirs.
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