A Journey through the Arab Roots and American Stories of Amreeka

From the bustling streets of New York City to the serene landscapes of California, the United States of America has long been known as a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. One such cultural influence that often goes unnoticed is that of Arab Americans, who have been an integral part of American society for centuries. In this article, we will embark on a fascinating journey through a country called Amreeka, exploring its Arab roots and the amazing stories it holds.

The Arab Influence in Amreeka

The Arab influence in America dates back to the late 19th century when Lebanese and Syrian immigrants began making their way to the United States. These early Arab settlers faced numerous challenges but were determined to carve out a better life for themselves and their families. Many settled in industrial cities like Detroit and New York, where they worked in factories and spread their cultural traditions.

Fast forward to the present day, and Amreeka is home to one of the largest Arab populations outside of the Arab world. Arab Americans can be found in every field and profession, contributing significantly to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the country.

A Country Called Amreeka: Arab Roots, American Stories

by Alia Malek(Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1522 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	310 pages

FREE

Unveiling Amreeka's Treasures

Amreeka is not only a land of opportunity but also a land of mesmerizing landscapes and hidden gems. From the rolling sand dunes of the Arabian Desert to the vibrant colors of the Moroccan markets, Arab Americans have brought a piece of their heritage to America.

Step into any major city, and you will find Arab neighborhoods bustling with activity. Take a stroll through Dearborn in Michigan, where you can savor delicious Arab cuisine, purchase traditional handicrafts, and experience the warmth of Arab hospitality. Discover the rich history of Arab American communities in cities like Paterson, New Jersey, or Chicago, Illinois, where mosques, cultural centers, and festivals celebrate the Arab culture.

Amreeka's awe-inspiring landscapes are not limited to just cities. Head south to the breathtaking Everglades National Park in Florida, and you will find traces of the Seminole Indians, who have Arab ancestry. Alternatively, visit the picturesque vineyards of California's Napa Valley, which were introduced by Lebanese immigrants in the 19th century.

Celebrating Arab American Achievements

Arab Americans have made significant contributions to various fields, from art and literature to science and technology. Many prominent figures in American society are of Arab descent, yet their Arab heritage often goes unnoticed.

One such individual is Ralph Nader, a renowned political activist who has tirelessly fought for consumer rights for over five decades. Another is Helen Thomas, a trailblazing journalist who was the first female member of the White House Press Corps and who paved the way for many aspiring women in the field. Moreover, Arab American writers like Khaled Hosseini and Leila Aboulela have left an indelible mark on the literary world.

Preserving Arab Traditions in Amreeka

The Arab culture is rich in folklore, music, and dance. While Arab Americans have embraced their new home, they have also made sure to keep their traditions alive. Annual festivals such as the Arab International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan, and the Arab American Festival in New York City bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate Arab heritage.

Arab Americans are also actively involved in promoting dialogue and understanding between their heritage culture and mainstream American society. Organizations like the Arab American National Museum in Michigan and the Arab American Association of New York provide platforms for education, cultural exchange, and community engagement.

Amreeka, with its Arab roots and American stories, is a remarkable country that embraces diversity and celebrates cultural heritage. The contributions of Arab Americans can be seen in every corner of the nation, from the arts and sciences to food and festivals. By recognizing and appreciating these contributions, we can continue to build a society that values inclusion, diversity, and mutual respect.

A Country Called Amreeka: Arab Roots, American Stories

by Alia Malek(Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1522 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	310 pages

FREE

Among the surfeit of narratives about Arabs that have been published in recent years, surprisingly little has been reported on Arabs in America -- an increasingly relevant issue. This book is the most powerful approach imaginable: it is the story of the last forty-plus years of American history, told through the eyes of Arab Americans. It begins in 1963, before major federal legislative changes seismically transformed the course of American immigration forever. Each chapter describes an event in U.S. history -- which may already be familiar to us -- and invites us to live that moment in time in the skin of one Arab American. The chapters follow a timeline from 1963 to the present, and the characters live in every corner of this country.

These are dramatic narratives, describing the very human experiences of love, friendship, family, courage, hate, and success. There are the timeless tales of an immigrant community becoming American, the nostalgia for home, the alienation from a society sometimes as intolerant as its laws are generous. A Country Called Amreeka's snapshots allow us the complexity of its characters' lives with an impassioned narrative normally found in fiction.

Read separately, the chapters are entertaining and harrowing vignettes; read together, they add a new tile to the mosaic of our history. We meet fellow Americans of all creeds and colors, among them the Alabama football player who navigates the stringent racial mores of segregated Birmingham, where a church bombing wakes a nation to the need to make America a truly more equal place; the young wife from Ramallah -- now living in Baltimore -- who had to abandon her beautiful home and is now asked by a well-meaning American, "How do you like living in an apartment after living in a tent?"; the Detroit toughs and the potsmoking suburban teenagers, who in different decades become politicized and serious about their heritage despite their own wills; the homosexual man afraid to be gay in the Arab world and afraid to be Arab in America; the two formidable women who wind up working for opposing campaigns in the 2000 presidential election; the Marine fighting in Iraq who meets villagers who ask him, "What are you, an Arab, doing here?" We glimpse how America sees Arabs as much as how Arabs see America. We revisit the 1973 oil embargo that initiated the American perception of all Arabs as oil-rich sheikhs; the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis that heralded the arrival of Middle Eastern Islam in the American consciousness; bombings across three decades in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and New York City that bring terrorism to American soil; and both wars in Iraq that have posed Arabs as the enemies of America.

In a post-9/11 world, Arabic names are everywhere in America, but our eyes glaze over them; we sometimes don't know how to pronounce them or understand whence they come. A Country Called Amreeka gives us the faces behind those names and tells the story of a community it has become essential for us to understand. We can't afford to be oblivious.