Personal and Economic Impact of COVID on Muslim-Owned Small Businesses

Abstract

Small Muslim-owned businesses are very common within the United States. There are restaurants, barbershops, massage parlors, and other kinds of companies managed by Muslims. It’s not easy for them as they are tasked with overcoming a myriad of obstacles not many people have to deal with. Obtaining proper documentation such as a green card and citizenship status is a challenge for them. In addition to dealing with these kinds of problems, there are other issues they have to deal with once they arrive in the United States. Although the attacks of 9-11 transpired almost two decades ago, Muslims still face a tremendous amount of unjust racism and bigotry and are still called “terrorists” and are recipients of other racist remarks. Hate crimes against Muslims are still among the highest compared to other oppressed and marginalized racial and religious groups. What occurred the past two years with the pandemic was especially difficult for Muslims across the globe; COVID-19 and the adjustments that were required due to social distancing were additions to the already substantial list of obstacles Muslim small business owners have to deal with.