Arab American National Museum Celebrates Ninth Year

posted on: May 4, 2014

The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn Michigan is celebrating its 9th year this week, the only such museum of that documents the history of Arabs in America.

I was proud to have been commissioner by Saudi Aramco World Magazine in May 2005 to document the opening of the museum for a lengthy feature that ran that fall. Not only was it a great story to write, because I pride my journalism career with constantly working to help advance the identity of American Arabs, but because I also learned so much about American Arabs.

The museum opening on May 5, 2005 was historic and included a large collection of items donated by American Arabs from throughout the country, including documents that recorded the history of Arab settlement in this country.

American Arabs have done a poor job of documenting their presence and activism in this country. They have been here since early in the 1850s, but in many cities where we live, we have no real high profile public presence. In 2005, the same years as the museum opening, I wrote a book to document Chicago’s Arab American community settlement called “Arabs of Chicagoland.”

The Arab American National Museum will help us build a national identity to preserve and make that information available to the public.

The Museum’s website details its mission as:

<blockquote>The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is the first and only museum in the United States devoted to Arab American history and culture. Arab Americans have enriched the economic, political and cultural landscape of American life. By bringing the voices and faces of Arab Americans to mainstream audiences, we continue our commitment to dispel misconceptions about Arab Americans and other minorities. The Museum brings to light the shared experiences of immigrants and ethnic groups, paying tribute to the diversity of our nation.

MISSION

The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves and presents the history, culture and contributions of Arab Americans.

The AANM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums; an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; and a founding member of the Immigration and Civil Rights Network of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.</blockquote>

Ray Hanania
Arab Dail News