Lighter-skinned Syrian immigrants found easier acceptance in early 1900s America

Evidence

Skin color and class position would influence how these new immigrants were regarded. A New York Times article describing the people in the Syrian enclave in New York City noted that “a good many of them are easily distinguishable by a rather dark complexion, and might by some be taken for Italians or Frenchmen from the South of France, but not a few are of quite light complexion, and with light-colored hair.” This latter group was more easily accepted. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 227

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Syrian immigrants won citizenship by proving their whiteness through Christian faith; Lighter-skinned Arab immigrants were more readily accepted than darker ones; Skin shade determined how easily early Arab immigrants were racialized (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Lighter-skinned Arab immigrants were more readily accepted than darker ones #corroborates (1.00)
• Skin shade determined how easily early Arab immigrants were racialized #corroborates (0.95)
• Lighter skin and Christian identity secured citizenship privileges that darker or Muslim Arabs lacked #corroborates (0.82)
• Early US naturalization law treated Christian Syrians as White. #qualifies (0.75) — Sahar F. Aziz, The Racial Muslim, 540