The Islamic factor in keeping ethnicity in йmigrй (the Turco-Tatar Diaspora in the USA)

Having emigrated, Tatars, in particular, found themselves in cultural and language surroundings new for them, therefore, the threat of assimilation and oblivion of their own cultural values became quite real. In order to preserve their traditional culture, religion, language, it was necessary to make an effort. Emigrating to other countries, Tatars formed traditional religious communities, where they kept their religious rites, rituals and standards, in which traditional values of the Turco-Tatar society were set. The role of the Islamic factor in keeping ethnicity in йmigrй was one of the most important conditions for survival of Tatars in a foreign country. Despite all the ordeals and hardships, the common belief and traditions of people united all the Turco-Tatar emigrants. Ideas about relations of the Turkic people, about historic commonality of their fate, about Moslem solidarity are closely intertwined in the national liberation movements. In countries with different culture, Moslem emigrants inevitably face the problem of keeping their religion and national and cultural traditions. Islam was the main part of the Turco-Tatar identity from the 10 century as a component of self-identification. Besides, Islam is a substantial factor of keeping and stabilization of Tatars' national consciousness. The analysis of formation of Turco-Tatar communities in different parts of the world enables to come to a conclusion that Tatars formed their Diaspora almost everywhere; they tried to organize their own associations and religious organizations. The research of the Turco-Tatar Diaspora in the USA deserves special attention. Today the main centres of compact residing of Tatars in the USA is New-York and California. It should be emphasized that the religion, language and national and cultural traditions played a great role in forming and preserving the Turco-Tatar Diaspora in the USA. The Turco-Tatar Diaspora became the centre of religious, cultural and social life of migrants. They devoted great attention to the problem of bringing up of children. After all, Islam defined the life of emigrants; Imams and Mudaris were keepers of traditional culture and the main transmitters of knowledge, conveyed from generation to generation. As Islam was and still remains the substantial combining force, the Turco-Tatar Diaspora keeps their ethnicity in йmigrй. Having suffered from persecution on Islam, having left the motherland, in exile, Tatars felt the necessity in Moslem unity with special keenness. In йmigrй, Islam united all the representatives of the Turkic people from Russia. The Islamic factor made the adaptation of emigrants faster and kept ethnicity of the Turkic people, who were far from the motherland. Now there are many Tatars in the Turco-Tatar Diaspora, born in the USA, the descendants still keep their religion, language and national and cultural traditions

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