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Certainly! Though i think what the author was referring to in the comment (as well as the author that Greg was referencing) is the immigrant population within a country. or maybe that's what you're also talking about? I just think it is an interesting issue, being an immigrant myself, but as that population gets larger, there's less and less incentive to assimilate, as it were, so less and less incentive to have or cultivate a vested interest in a high art form (or low art forms for that matter) that has little to do with their ethnic background or homeland.

One anecdote I can relate that happened recently to me to illustrate. I had played a show with my Arabic group in mid December the owner of which is Palestinian by background though is from Israel. He also happens to be Christian (now THAT'S a combination, eh?)--Greek Orthodox that is. He and his wife had invited members of their congregation (a fair number of whom are Arab-Americans) as well as a members from a meeting he had just hosted at his venue (Arab American Business Owners)--many of whom were Iraqi. After our second set two of the Iraqi gentlemen grilled me with questions:

"So, where are you from?"

We're based in Louisville, KY

"So is there a large Arab community there?"

Not particularly though it's a large enough community that there are at least four Arabic groups or artists that regularly perform there--and it's growing as I'd read recently that Louisville has the fastest growing ethnic population in the US (from a newspaper in 2007)--almost twice the national average!

"Really?" (brief exchange of looks between the gentlemen--and then the question they really wanted to ask)

"So are you an Arab?"

No, I'm not--I'm Thai. I was actually born in Thailand. (I said while chuckling at their surprised looks)

Needless to say they proceeded to ask if any of the members of our group were Arabic--none of us are--and they thought it was fascinating that non-Arabs would be interested in their music and to be able to play it convincingly enough that they thought we must have some Middle-Eastern background. Near the end of the evening, one of the gentleman approached us in between songs and asked if we knew any Iraqi music (most of our repertoire are Classical Egyptian standards like compositions by Baligh Hamdi, Mohammed Abdul Wahhab, and Um Kalthoum muwwashahat with a smattering of Turkish, Armenian tunes). We told him no, but would be more than willing to learn if he could give us suggestions. He gave us more than enough to keep me busy researching and transcribing until the next time we go back there!

Point being--we played music they were familiar with--very familiar with. Music that pretty much all Arabs, Turks, and most Persians are familiar with. But they wanted something even more familiar--more familiar to them as Iraqis.

I've had similar situations happen with other Arabs at other venues in other cities--and with other ethnic groups (Greeks, South Asians, Turks, Italians) in reaction to my world music ensemble in Indianapolis. So I guess I don't look around at my social circle wondering where all the darker people are. They're usually right there with me.

Probably doesn't help that they're probably busy as hell too!