History of the Middle Eastern people in Metro Detroit

In 2004, Metro Detroit had one of the largest settlements of Middle Eastern people, including Arabs and Chaldo-Assyrians in the United States.Arab, Chaldean, and Middle Eastern Children and Families in the Tri-County Area
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''From a Child's Perspective: Detroit Metropolitan Census 2000 Fact Sheets Series''. Wayne State University. Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2004. p. 1/32. Retrieved on November 8, 2013. As of 2007 about 300,000 people in Southeast Michigan traced their descent from the Middle East. Dearborn's sizeable Arab community consists largely of Lebanese people who immigrated for jobs in the auto industry in the 1920s, and of more recent Yemenis and Iraqis. In 2010 the four Metro Detroit counties had at least 200,000 people of Middle Eastern origin, excluding Jews. Bobby Ghosh of ''TIME'' said that some estimates gave much larger numbers.Ghosh, Bobby.
Arab-Americans: Detroit's Unlikely Saviors
" ''TIME''. Saturday November 13, 2010. Retrieved on November 8, 2012. From 1990 to 2000 the percentage of people speaking Arabic in the home increased by 106% in Wayne County, 99.5% in Macomb County, and 41% in Oakland County.Arab, Chaldean, and Middle Eastern Children and Families in the Tri-County Area
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''From a Child's Perspective: Detroit Metropolitan Census 2000 Fact Sheets Series''. Wayne State University. Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2004. p. 2/32. Retrieved on November 8, 2013.

From 1990 to 2000 Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties had a combined increase of 16,632 people who were born in Iraq. The publication "Arab, Chaldean, and Middle Eastern Children and Families in the Tri-County Area" of the ''From a Child's Perspective: Detroit Metropolitan Census 2000 Fact Sheets Series'' states that "Arab and Chaldean representation cannot be determined" in that figure. During the same period there was an increase of 7,229 people born in Lebanon.

Arab Americans and Arabs

By 2007 Metro Detroit, if defined as Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties, had the United States's largest Arab American population, larger than that of Greater Los Angeles if that region was defined as Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. As of that year Arab Americans are one of the largest immigrant groups into Southeastern Michigan. The majority of Metro Detroit's Arabs are Lebanese, Palestinian, Yemeni, and Iraqi.Shryock and Abraham, "On Margins and Mainstreams," p
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According to Jen'nan Ghazal Read of the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2000, in the Wayne-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw region there were 96,363 persons of Arab ancestry,Arab American Economic Contribution Study: Gauging the economic contributions that persons of Arab ancestry have on Southeast Michigan’s Economy
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Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies. Submitted to the League for Economic Empowerment on March 1, 2007. p. 7. Retrieved on November 11, 2013. of whom 92,122 people lived in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties; these made up 79.2% of Michigan residents of Arab ancestry. According to Read, within the Wayne-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw region there were 131,650 persons of Arab ancestry in 2004. The largest number of Arab Americans in the Metro Detroit area live in Wayne County. As of 2004 religions among Arab Americans in Detroit include the faiths of Islam and Christianity, with Christian varieties including Maronite, Melkite, Greek Orthodox, and Syriac Orthodox beliefs. The Muslim branches of Sunni and Shia beliefs are present in Metro Detroit. Jordanians and Palestinians in Metro Detroit include believers of Sunni Islam, Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox Christian beliefs. Yemeni people include believers of the Shafi'i Sunni Muslim school of thought and the Zaidiyyah Shia Muslim school of thought. As of 2004 most recent Arab immigrants to Metro Detroit are Muslim. A 2007 Wayne State University study said that the Metro Detroit Arab American community produced $7.7 billion annually in earnings and salaries. Annually these businesses produced $500 million in taxes to the state.Metro Muslims, Arabs overcome 9/11 tensions by forging ties
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Wayne State University. September 8, 2011. Retrieved on November 11, 2013.

As of 2006 Hamtramck has a large concentration of Yemeni people.Almasmari, Hakim.
Hamtramck, Michigan: A Yemeni oasis
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'' Yemen Observer''. November 21, 2006. Retrieved on September 9, 2013.

As of 2004 Arabs stated that they wish to come to Detroit to unify their families, escape from conflicts in the Middle East, and improve their economic standing. As of 2000, victims of population displacement, economic hardship, and political oppression included Palestinians, Yemenis, and Iraqi Chaldo-Assyrians, and refugees from war included Shia from Iraq and Lebanon.Shryock and Abraham, "On Margins and Mainstreams," p
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Andrew Shryock and Nabeel Abraham, authors of "On Margins and Mainstreams", wrote that "When asked to explain why so many Arabs have migrated to Detroit, most people in the community will mention the automobile industry. As a kind of historical shorthand, this answer is certainly the best."

History of the Arabs

Arriving in the early 1870s, the first Middle Eastern settlers in the Detroit area were Lebanese people. Most of them were Christians, including Maronites, Melkites, and Eastern Orthodox. Some immigrants were Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. Some Druze also immigrated. A February 6, 1900 article in the ''Detroit Free Press'' stated that "Detroit's Colony of Syrians" included 75-100 people, mostly Lebanese Maronites.Shryock and Abraham, "On Margins and Mainstreams," p
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The Lebanese worked as peddlers and shopkeepers. Henry Ford's factories had 555 Syrian employees, including many recently-arrived Muslims, by 1916. 9,000 Arabic-speakers were among the residents of Detroit in 1930. Of them, 6,000 were Syrians. The remainder included Assyrians, Yemenis, and Palestinians. Immigrants from the Levant were originally labeled as being from the Ottoman Province of Syria. After 1920 the Ottoman Empire collapsed and European colonial administrators divided the areas in the Levant into Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. Therefore immigrants into the Detroit began to be classified as Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians.

Immigration from Iraq started in the beginning of the 20th century, and immigration from Yemen and the Arabian peninsula began in the early 20th century. A peak immigration of Iraqis occurred from 1927 to 1950, and a peak immigration of Yemenis and those from the Peninsula occurred from 1912 to 1925. Of those three groups, in 1951 most of them lived together in a section of Dearborn.Mayer, p
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"Data on the arrival of the first people from Iraq .. Around 1951 there were about 50,000 people in Detroit who had descent from Lebanon and Syria. Around the same year there were about 4,000 to 5,000 persons in Detroit and Dearborn who had origins from the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Yemen, and other Middle Eastern countries. Sally Howell, author of "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit", wrote that Yemeni people had a presence in the area since the late 1960s. Arab immigrants continued traveling to Detroit even after the automobile industry decline of the 1970s.

The 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War resulted in a wave of immigration to Detroit.India leads all nations in sending people to Detroit

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. '' Crain's Detroit Business''. June 1, 2014. Updated June 6, 2014. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.

Many Iraqis immigrated to Metro Detroit after the Gulf War of 1991 and the Iraq War of 2003.

From 2001 to 2011 the number of members of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce increased from 300 to 1500.

In 2015 Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan announced his city was accepting 50 Syrian families from the Syrian Civil War and will support them for a three year period.

Demographics of Arabs

Since their immigration to the United States in the 1870s, the Arab population has been continuously increasing. This increase can be observed in data collected by The American Community Survey and U.S Census Bureau. To determine this amount, surveys are sent out asking each individual to identify his or her "ancestry or ethnic origin." This phrase is defined by the U.S Census Bureau as ethnic origin, descent, roots, heritage or place of person's or ancestor's birth. The U.S Census Bureau considers individuals who reported being one of the following ethnic origins as an Arab: Algerian, Bahraini, Egyptian, Emirati, Iraqi, Jordanian, Kuwaiti, Lebanese, Libyan, Moroccan, Omani, Palestinian, Qatari, Saudi Arabian, Syrian, Tunisian, and Yemeni.

With the aforementioned criteria, it was estimated that 850,000 people with Arab ancestry (0.35 percent of the total population) lived in the United States in 1990. In 2004, 1.2 million (0.42 percent of the total population) resided in the U.S. The 2006–2010 ACS 5-year estimates show that an estimated 1.5 million people (0.5 percent of the total population) with Arab ancestry were living in the United States, representing a 76.0 percent increase since 1990. Currently, the ten states with the largest Arab populations are California, Michigan, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, respectively. These populations are generally concentrated in metropolitan areas.

Arab American communities are generally tight-knit, as they value family, tradition, and economic achievement. Earlier immigrants worked as peddlers and in factories. More recent immigrants, however, have taken up roles in all parts of society, including public leadership positions. These increasingly professional roles have helped establish a majority of the populations in bustling cities. Consequently, their increasing role in high-level positions has helped raise the median income of Arab American households to $56,433 compared to the $51,914 for all households in the United States.

Economy of Arabs

Many Lebanese own and operate stores, restaurants, shops, and other major businesses; they were historically known for this.

Religion of Arabs

The Islamic Center of America (Arabic: المركز الإسلامي في اميركا is a mosque located in Dearborn, Michigan. Although the institution dates back to 1963, the Center's current mosque opened in 2005. It is the largest mosque in North America 4] and the oldest Shia mosque in the United States. With its large Shia Arab population (consisting mostly of Lebanese), Dearborn is often called the "heart of Shiism" in the United States.

The Mu'ath bin Jabal Mosque ( ar, مسجد معاذ بن جبل), was established in 1976.Masjid Mu‘ath Bin Jabal

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. University of Michigan. Retrieved on December 10, 2015. Sally Howell, author of "Competing for Muslims: New Strategies for Urban Renewal in Detroit", wrote that the mosque "has been credited" by public officials and area Muslims "with having turned around one of Detroit's roughest neighborhoods at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, making its streets safe, revitalizing a dormant housing market, attracting new business to the area, and laying the foundation for an ethnically mixed, highly visible Muslim population in Detroit and Hamtramck."Howell, p
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Chaldo-Assyrian Americans

By 2004 the Metro Detroit area was home to the largest Chaldean diaspora community in the world. Most Assyrians originate from northern Iraq, although some originate from northwestern Iran, northeastern Syria, and southeastern Turkey. Assyrians in Detroit work as businesspersons, grocers, owners of liquor stores, and professionals. Most of the Assyrians in Detroit often identify as Chaldean, due to being members of the Chaldean Catholic Church.

According to the US census of 2007 there were 32,322 Chaldean/Assyrian/Syriac persons in the Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, and Washtenaw four-county region of Michigan. The publication "Arab, Chaldean, and Middle Eastern Children and Families in the Tri-County Area" of the ''From a Child's Perspective: Detroit Metropolitan Census 2000 Fact Sheets Series'' states that "Many Chaldeans believe they have a unique ethnic identity other than Arab and wish not to be considered part of the Arab population.” As of 2004, Chaldean Catholic Assyrians in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties make up 94% of the Assyrian population of the State of Michigan.

History of the Chaldeans

The first Chaldeans arrived in the early 1900s, taking jobs in the automobile industry. The first large Chaldean immigration wave to Detroit was in the 1920s as a result of the genocide, and In 1953 there were 300 Chaldean Catholic families in Detroit.Hanoosh, p
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However, the majority of the Chaldean population settled in Metro Detroit in the late 1960s. The Chaldeans settled in this area because of job availability in the automobile industry, the presence of a Maronite Christian community, which Chaldeans had much similarity with in terms of liturgy and church doctrine, and a pre-existing community in Detroit and nearby Windsor, Ontario. Typically newly arrived Chaldeans initially worked in small family-owned stores which older Chaldean groups setup.Henrich and Henrich, p
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Levin, Doron P.

" ''The New York Times''. December 17, 1990. Retrieved on September 11, 2013. As time passed, more and more Chaldeans moved to Detroit and found jobs at the existing Chaldean Chaldean stores operated by their relatives. The stores became larger, becoming large convenience stores. Once the socioeconomic standing of the Chaldeans improved, older groups moved to the suburbs. During the first wave they settled Oak Park and Southfield, and during the second wave they moved to Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, and West Bloomfield Township.

Around 1979, after Jacob Yasso, the reverend of the Sacred Heart Chaldean Church ( arc, ܥܕܬܐ ܕܠܒܗ ܕܡܪܢ ܕܟܠܕܝ̈ܐ ''ʿēttāʾ d-lebbēh d-māran d-ḵaldāyēʾ''), congratulated Saddam Hussein on becoming the President of Iraq, Saddam gave $250,000 ($ when adjusted for inflation) to the Sacred Heart Chaldean Church.Saddam Hussein Helped Detroit Church, Got Key to City
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''Associated Press'' at ''Fox News''. March 27, 2003. Retrieved on November 17, 2013. In 1980 Saddam gave Yasso $200,000 ($ when adjusted for inflation) after Yasso told Saddam his church had $170,000 ($ when adjusted for inflation) in debts. ''WDIV-TV'' (Channel 4) wrote that the funds "reportedly helped build" the Chaldean Center of America, a building on Seven Mile Road adjacent to the church. The building houses offices of the church, an English-language school, and a Chaldean cultural museum. In honor of Saddam's efforts, Yasso presented Saddam with the "Key to the city" procured by Mayor of Detroit Coleman Young. Officials from the U.S. State Department stated that, at the time Saddam was giving funds to Chaldean and Assyrian churches and organizations in the United States, with $1.7 million given to Chaldean churches and organizations in Detroit. Yasmeen S. Hanoosh, the author of ''The Politics of Minority Chaldeans Between Iraq and America'', wrote that the giveways were called donations but were interpreted as bribes.Hanoosh, p
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State Department officials also stated that the Iraqi government was establishing spy networks in Chaldean communities at that time. Reports from U.S. and Assyrian media stated that in the period around 1979-1980 the Iraqi government attempted to Arabize Chaldeans in the United States through liaisons in churches by either bribing or threatening and attempting to improve its image.Hanoosh, p
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As of 1990, there were about 50,000 to 60,000 Assyrians in the metropolitan area. Chaldeans moved to Southfield and West Bloomfield in the 1990s.Ow
CHALDEAN CHURCH IS STANDING ROOM ONLY
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''Detroit Free Press'' at ''Zinda Magazine''. December 19, 2002. Retrieved on November 17, 2013. From 1990 to 2000, the population of Assyrians in Oakland County increased by 10,903, in Macomb County by 7,579, and in Wayne County by 219. Macomb County had the largest percentage increase, at 426.5%. By the 2000s, Assyrians began moving to areas in Macomb County including Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and Warren. In 2002 officials from Chaldean Catholic churches estimated that 4,200 Chaldeans live in those cities.

By 2004, the Chaldean Cultural Center ( arc, ܩܢܛܪܘܢ ܝܪܬܘܬܢܝܐ ܟܠܕܝܐ ''qenṭrōn yārtūṯānāyāʾ kaldāyāʾ''), the United States's largest Chaldean cultural center, was located in West Bloomfield Township. That year, a new Chaldean Catholic Church was being built in Shelby Township. , many Chaldean Catholics were involved in the merchant trade.Chaldeans In Metro Detroit
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''Detroit 20-20''. WXYZ-TV (ABC 7), Scripps TV Station Group, The E.W. Scripps Co. August 11, 2011. Retrieved on September 19, 2013. St. George Chaldean Church, the first Chaldean church in Macomb County, was scheduled for a possible completion in 2004 and had a cost of $5 million. It is on a site along Dequindre north of Hall Road.

Assyrian/Chaldean neighborhoods

As of 2004, of the Assyrians in the tri-county area, 58% resided in Oakland County. As of 2000 2,629 Assyrians resided in Wayne County.

Areas with Assyrian residents as of 2001 include Chaldean Town, Southfield, Oak Park, Troy, and West Bloomfield Township. As of 2007 Assyrians residents of Chaldean Town, Detroit tend to be low income elderly people and recent immigrants.Henrich and Henrich, p
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By 2014, in addition to West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills and Sterling Heights had also received Assyrians.Hijazi, Samer.
Dearborn Heights’ Arabs strengthen businesses, increase property values
." '' Arab American News''. Friday May 30, 2014. Retrieved on December 7, 2014. Assyrian immigrants, once they gain financial well-being, move to suburbs in Metro Detroit, such as Oak Park, Southfield, Troy, and West Bloomfield.Henrich and Henrich, p
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The Chaldean Federation of America, an umbrella organization for most of the areas Assyrian groups, had its offices in Southfield. As of that year, the largest Chaldean Catholic church in terms of the number of congregants resided in Southfield. The city also had the area's sole Assyrian retirement home, the Chaldean social club Southfield Manor, and a popular Assyrian restaurant named La Fendi.

As of circa the 1950s, Highland Park and the Woodward Avenue/7 Mile area had concentrations of Assyrians. The community's focal point later shifted to Southfield.

Grocery industry

Assyrians have a near monopoly over Detroit's grocery stores,Dado, Natasha.
Remembering Arabs and Chaldeans who were killed working to support their families


. ''The Arab American News''. Friday March 14, 2014. Retrieved on June 30, 2014. Assyrians became grocers mainly due to white flight as a result of the 1967 Detroit riot, which caused many white business owners to leave Detroit. Taking advantage of the situation, Assyrians purchased their businesses at rock bottom prices. In 1972, there were 278 grocery stores in Detroit owned by Assyrians, and In the mid-1990s, Assyrians owned 1,500 grocery stores in Detroit.Smith, Natalie Jill, p. 69. In 1962, 120 grocery stores were operated by Chaldean Catholic Assyrians, and over half of Assyrian households were supported by proceeds from the grocery business.

Most of the customers of these stores are African Americans. There has been resentment against Assyrian businesses because, as family-owned operations, many do not hire black people. Many African Americans also perceive that overcharging occurs at the stores.Smith, Natalie Jill, p. 70. According to the Associated Food Dealers of Michigan (AFD),Smith, Natalie Jill, p. 77. only larger stores have black employees as well as Assyrian employees. Natalie Jill Smith, author of "Ethnicity, Reciprocity, Reputation and Punishment: An Ethnoexperimental Study of Cooperation among the Chaldeans and Hmong of Detroit (Michigan)", stated that she "met few grocers who employed Blacks" and that employees unrelated to the owners are more likely to be Assyrians or White Americans. Violence has occurred at the stores, and business owners have installed bulletproof glass and obtained firearms to protect themselves. As of 2001, several Chaldean Catholic business employees and owners have died in violent incidents. Many younger Assyrians are not entering the grocery business anymore, with them instead starting professional careers and attending universities.

Culture of the Assyrians

Natalie Jill Smith wrote that family ties are important, even to younger Assyrians who are more Americanized. This may be due to the fact that Assyrian culture is based on tribal bloodlines and family origin. Most of the Assyrians in Metro Detroit trace their origins to Iraq or Turkey, particularly from the town of Tel Keppe in Iraq.

Institutions of the Assyrians/Chaldeans

In Metro Detroit as of 2007, there were five Chaldean Catholic churches, with one in Chaldean Town