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Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country Opens on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011
Arab Americans have been an integral part of the United States of America since its inception, contributing to our society in myriad ways, including representing and defending American ideals through public service. Long the target of negative stereotypes, Arab Americans even found themselves dubbed “guilty by association” following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
A new exhibition created by the Arab American National Museum (AANM) – Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country – tells true stories of heroism and self-sacrifice that reaffirm the important role Arab Americans have played in our country throughout its history.
Patriots & Peacemakers highlights three specific areas of service: the U.S. Armed Forces, the Peace Corps (marking its 50th anniversary this year) and diplomatic service. Personal narratives highlight Arab American men and women of different national and religious backgrounds.
The exhibition, opening Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 and running through June 10, 2012 in the Main Floor Gallery, also encourages visitors to consider how commitment to service impacts their daily lives.
“Whether serving in the military, joining the Peace Corps or speaking out as conscientious objectors, Arab Americans are committed to the core values of democracy and freedom that are dear to us all,” says AANM Director Dr. Anan Ameri. “While this exhibit focuses on Arab American public service in only three areas, Arab Americans have long been present in every facet of public life.”
Produced by the AANM Curatorial Department with guest curator Joan Mandell, Patriots & Peacemakers presents the stories of 170 individuals from 39 states and Washington, D.C. More than 100 Arab Americans in the military, and about 35 each in Peace Corps and the diplomatic corps, shared their service experiences for the exhibition.
The service stories begin with the Revolutionary War and touch upon nearly every conflict up to the present day. The earliest diplomats profiled date from the late 1940s/early 1950s. The Peace Corps was founded in 1961; Patriots & Peacemakers includes a profile from the 1962 class up through volunteers who are currently serving and one who has been accepted and is set to head out in 2012.
“Together with AANM staff and volunteers, books and archival lists were scoured for Arab surnames, consulted with historians and national organizations,” says Mandell. “Over the last two years, I visited and interviewed hundreds of Arab Americans across the country, and phoned diplomats and active-duty military around the world.”
“Humble people were sometimes reticent to talk, while others were elated to finally be heard. I learned to work with combat veterans to safely push through the fear and shame that has kept their heartfelt stories secret, even for decades,” Mandell says.
Following its AANM run, Patriots & Peacemakers will hit the road as a major traveling exhibition; a smaller version of the exhibition is already available for bookings. Inquiries should be directed to Curator of Exhibits Elizabeth Barrett Sullivan at 313.624.0234 or ebarrett@accesscommunity.org.
Guest curator Joan Mandell is a Detroit-based journalist, documentary filmmaker and educator. Among her documentary titles are Tales from Arab Detroit; Voices in Exile: Immigrants and the First Amendment; Gaza Ghetto: Portrait of a Palestinian Family; I, Too, Sing America; One Million Postcards; and Arab American Road Movie, the short film that is part of the AANM’s “Living in America” permanent exhibit. Her 9-11 Moments can be viewed HERE.
Mandell has taught documentary film production/film studies and ESL at University of California at Irvine, Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, Birzeit University in Palestine and most recently, aboard ship with the University of Virginia’s Semester-at-Sea program. She was a Fulbright scholar, a Felton Scholar in Media Literacy and an affiliated fellow at UCLA’s von Grunebaum Center for Near East Studies.
Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country was made possible in part by Ford Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Arab American National Museum