How Does It Feel to Be a Problem

How Does It Feel to Be a Problem follows seven young Arab and Muslim Americans in Brooklyn during the years after 9/11. Through extensive interviews and observation, Bayoumi chronicles their experiences navigating work, education, relationships, and identity in a time of heightened discrimination and suspicion. The narratives include a young woman pursuing her teaching degree, a student facing sudden arrest and detention, and a Marine who serves in Iraq. Each person's story stands alone while contributing to a larger mosaic of Arab-American life in the 21st century. This work of narrative nonfiction tackles big questions about belonging, citizenship, and what it means to be American. By focusing on individual lives rather than abstract politics, Bayoumi shows how national security policies and cultural attitudes impact real people in their daily existence. The book's title comes from W.E.B. Du Bois, drawing parallels between historical struggles for civil rights and contemporary challenges faced by Arab and Muslim Americans. Through these seven stories, Bayoumi reveals how being viewed as a "problem" shapes both personal identity and public life.

Readers appreciate the book's intimate portrayal of young Arab-Americans through personal narratives and interviews. Many note its relevance to understanding post-9/11 discrimination and civil rights challenges. Reviewers highlight how the stories humanize individuals beyond stereotypes. Common criticisms include repetitive writing, slow pacing, and what some call an overemphasis on victimhood narratives. Several readers wanted more exploration of solutions rather than just documenting problems. "The personal stories make statistics and headlines real," writes one Goodreads reviewer. Another notes: "Important topic but the writing style kept me at arm's length." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (40+ ratings) The book receives stronger ratings from academic and activist readers compared to general audience reviewers, who sometimes find it too scholarly in tone.

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🔸 The book's title is inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois's famous question in "The Souls of Black Folk," drawing parallels between the African American and Arab American experiences of being "a problem" in American society. 🔸 Author Moustafa Bayoumi received the American Book Award in 2009 for this work, which follows the lives of seven young Arab Americans in Brooklyn after 9/11. 🔸 Brooklyn, where the stories take place, is home to one of the oldest and largest Arab American communities in the United States, with roots dating back to the 1880s. 🔸 The book was adopted by several universities for their First Year Reading Programs, including the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and Hofstra University. 🔸 Between September 11, 2001, and March 2002, the U.S. government detained over 1,200 Arab and Muslim immigrants without charge, a context that heavily influences the narratives in the book.