Arab American National Museum
Exhibits and shows celebrate Arab American history and contributions
Sep 22, 2008
The building eschews a certain Eastern feeling. Its domed architecture and mosaic art impress upon the visitor the yore of Mecca, or Medina, or Mesopotamia. The eclectic art, the stenciled figures and beautiful browns and oranges, the deep crimsons and maroons, unearth a Middle-Eastern aura, a religiosity and culture from across the world. But the technology, the art, the people, the place, the city, are distinctly American.
Or, more appropriately, Arab-American.
The Museum
Set in the heart of the most highly populated Arab haven outside of the Middle East, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn is the first of its kind—the first structure in the world dedicated to the experience that is Arab American.
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., the museum, with standing history exhibits, cycled art exhibits, and a myriad of educational, cultural and art exhibits and shows, is a historical walk-through of the experience of a people underrepresented in the United States and historied throughout the world.
The museum shows that, despite their diversity and different religions, Arab Americans share a common sense of history and culture. The exhibits establish them as an “important” community in the United States since the 1500s, and “even more importantly since the 1800s.” And their history and success, unknown to many, is laid out at the museum for visitors to uncover.
Arab Americans as a diverse American people
From Morocco in North Africa to Oman to Iraq, Arab Americans have very distinct beginnings and even more distinct aspirations and successes in the United States, and like any cultural community, fight against stereotypes or being slumped together. But, when taken as a whole, this cultural entity from one pocket of the globe boasts a wide range of religion and culture new to the United States.
From the Qu’ran to the Bible to God and Allah, Arab Americans reflect an international way of religious practice—generally a very traditional form of Islam or Christianity. They tend to have Democratic political leanings, with nearly two-thirds of the population reporting themselves as such, while only 20% identify with the Republican Party.
The culture of millions
Arab American culture has been found in American with the immigration of many of its gifted minds to the country in waves as students, a “brain drain” on many Middle Eastern countries, but a flourishing of Arab American culture here in the United States. And though from nearly two dozen different countries and varying religions, they celebrate this heritage often and as a community. From yearly comedy festivals in New York City to Seattle’s annual ArabFest, Arab culture is widely celebrated for its contributions to the world.
From founding Kinko’s, to being the White House’s official Santa Claus for seven administrations, Arab Americans have contributed to American culture in every way. They have won Nobel Prizes, traveled space, explored Antarctica, been leading professors at major universities, served in every war since the American Revolution, and held important political office.
Many Arab Americans academicians have been in the sciences and liberal arts, while their art in the United States has reflected a much updated sense of classic Arab arts. With the regality and exoticness of the Middle East, Arab American art has been much updated to fit American standards, and Arab Americans are thus among the leaders of a very American style of contemporary art, and in most facets, a very American style of life.
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