Whiteness In Islamophobia
It's not difficult to summarize given the history of how United States treatment towards minority groups that Islamophobia has it's rooted in the policing of whiteness. Specifically, in regards to whiteness, it should be mentioned quoting from Neil Irvin Painter article in the Sunday Review of the NY Times, "What is Whiteness" that
Constructions of whiteness have changed over time, shifting to accommodate the demands of social change. Before the mid-19th century, the existence of more than one white race was commonly accepted, in popular culture and scholarship. Indeed, there were several. Many people in the United States were seen as white — and could vote (if they were adult white men) — but were nonetheless classified as inferior (or superior)
Constructions of whiteness have changed over time, shifting to accommodate the demands of social change. Before the mid-19th century, the existence of more than one white race was commonly accepted, in popular culture and scholarship. Indeed, there were several. Many people in the United States were seen as white — and could vote (if they were adult white men) — but were nonetheless classified as inferior (or superior)