DOCUMENT RESUME ED 361 275 SO 023 307 AUTHOR Hooglund, Eric, Ed. TITLE Taking Root: Arab-American Community Studies,Volwae INSTITUTION American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee, Washington, DC. REPORT NO ISBN-0-53A079-01-3 PUB DATE 85 NOTE 163p.; For volume I (1984), see SO 023 306. AVAILABLE FROMADC Publications, 4201 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20008 ($5, prepaid). PUB TYPE Books (010) Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Arabs; Community Study; *Cultural Influences; *Ethnic Groups; *Immigrants; *North Americans;United States History ABSTRACT This book is the second in a series of worksthat seeks to examine the Arab-American experience. The original1984 publication, "Taking Root, Bearing Fruit: TheArab-American Experience" featured surveys of 12 communitiesin all geographic regions of the United States. Suchwas the response to that report that its creators decided to continue the seriesuntil they studied all Arab-American communities. Chapters in thesecond volume include: (1) "Mosque on the Prairie" (Gregory Orfalea);(2) "Dabkeh in the Delta" (Joseph Schechla); (3) "The Mohamedsin Mississippi" (Joseph Schechla);(4) "Syrians in Tin City" (Anthony B. Toth);(5) "Mahrajan in Michigan" (Christopher Mansour);(6) "Celebrating Tradition in Rhode Island" (Eleanor Doumato); and (7) "GoingHome" (Eugene Tinory). The book includesa preface and an introduction and notes on the contributors. (SG) *******************************************************************k*** Reproductions supplied by EDRSare the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** a Ilk A 0 DEPASTMENT Of EDUCATION OfflosEduceneme Reeserch and Immovement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (EFNC) document has been reproduced es Tbciivid horn the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Qualify POWs 01.1Vi or 00mons Stated in thisdoctr ment do not netelleiffily moment official OERI powtioa or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" Fc; (NO wasser Taking Root I1 Takifig Root Arab-American Community Studies Volume II Eric Hooglund, Editor The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee ADC Research Institute Washington, D.C. 1985 American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee 1731 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20009 (202) 797-7662 James Abourezk ADC National Chairman Omar M. Kader ADC Executive Director Eric Hooglund Director, ADC Research Instil:de Anne Mooney Director of Publication.> The American-At abAnn-Discrimination Committee (ADC)isanon-sectarian, non- partisan senice organization committed to de- fending the rights and promoting the heritage of Arab-Americans. The largest grassroots Arab- American organization in the United States, ADC was founded in 1980 by former U.S. Sen- ator James Abourezk in response to stereotyp- ing, defamation and discrimination directed against Americans of Arab descent. The ADC Research Institute publishes in- formation onissuesof concernto Arab- Americans and provides educational materials on Arab history and culture, and on the ethnic experiences of Arabs in America. © 1985 ADC Research Institute ISBN 0-934079-01-3 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. Inquiries may be addressed to Director, ADC Research Institute, 1731 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington. D.C. 20009. Printed in the United States of America. Book Design by Take Two Design, Washington, D.C. For those who made the journey. C Preface The contributions of our ancestors to this American culture are rich and varied; however, their stories and the value of early Arab- American contributions are generallynot known outside of our own community. Many of our forebears arrived here from the Arab world before the turn of the 20th century, and by that date centers of Arab heritage were already taking root in American cities, towns and farms. The Arabic of our parents and great-grandparents was the common means of communication at the harbors, mines, mills, shops and on the great plains of this vast country. Of course, for many second-, third- and fourth-generation Arab- Americans, the Arabic language is a secondary means of communica- tion. But the stories of our forefathers are still being told. In ADC's permanent commitment to preserving Arab-American heritage, this second volume of Taking Root captures some of the stories and experiences, the anecdotes and the voices of those who contributed so much to making us what we are today: 2 to 3 million Americans with a profound respect and appreciation for family, tradition and Arab culturefor itis the Arab world that has provided the seed for us to and flourish. Taking Root is a celebration and a tribute to all Arab-Americans. But perhaps more important than a means for Arab-Americans to know themselves, this volume provides an opportunity for others to know and appreciate us as well. Omar Kader Executive Director, ADC Notes on Contributers Eleanor Doumato, author of "Arab-Americans in Rhode Island," is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Middle East History at Columbia University. She studied at Oxford University under Albert Hourani and lived for many years in the Middle East, including Beirut and Riyadh. Currently she resides in Providence. Eric Hooglund, editor of Taking Root, is Director of the ADC Research Institute. He has a Ph.D. in Middle East Studies from Johns Hopkins University and taught Middle East politics for several years. He is the author of several books and articles on the Middle East. Christopher Mansour, author of "Mahrajan in Michigan," is a na- tive of Flint, Michigan. After graduating from Georgetown University with an M.A. in Arab Studies, he spent two years living and working in the Middle East. He currently works for a congressional office in Washington, D.C. Gregory Orfalea, author of "Mosque on the Prairie," is the author of Before the Flames: An Arab-American Search, which is to be published by the University of Texas Press in 1986. He has also written three collections of poetry, Pictures at an Exibition, NightJump, and The Capital of Solitude, and a volume of fiction, The Dinosaur and Other Stories. He is currently co-editing an anthology of 19 Arab-American writers. Mr. Orfalea works as an editor in Washington, D.C. where he lives with his wife and son. Joseph Schechla, author of "Dabkeh in the Delta," is a graduate of Georgetown University with an M.A. in Middle East Studies. Before joining the ADC Research Institute he was an editor for the,/ ournal of Palestine Studies. Anthony B. Toth, author of "Arab-Americans in Newcastle," recieved his M.A. in Middle East history from Georgetown University. From 1982 - 85 he was a member of the research staff and served as official photographer for ADC. He is currently a Washington, D.C. writer and editor. Introduction By Eric Hoogiund Many ADC members who were born prior to 1945 have fond memories of growing up in Arab ethnic neighbor- hoods. The United States in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s was still a country whose cities, especially in the industrial belt of the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, contained ethnically distinct neighborhoods. In these unique areas millions of immigrants and their American-born children sought simultaneously to preserve cherished traditions and to assimilate into the new culture. During the past 30 years, however, most of these neighborhoods have fallen victim to the relentless wrecking balls and the new migration to "melting pot" suburban developments. The disappearence of America's ethnic neighborhoods has meant the loss of many visable symbols of history. Some groups, notably Germans, Irish, Italians, Jews, Poles and Scandanavians, have organizations which have done valuable work in documenting the history of their communities in our country. Un- fortunately, the history of Arabs in America is one which is little known, except in the form cf oral history among Arab-Americans, and it is in danger of being lost to future generations. Concern about preserving the history of Arab immigration to the United States and documenting the process of becoming Americans prompted members to express an interest in having ADC undertake efforts to ensure that the Arab-American experience would be passed on to their children and descendants. In 1982 the ADC Research In- stitute initiated a project to study and record Arab-Americancommu- nities all across the country. The first result of this projectwas the publication in 1984 of Taking Root, Bearing Fruit. This book featured surveys of 12 communities in all the geographic regions of the United States. 'The response to this book was enthusiastic and convincedus that Taking Root should be but the first volume in a series that could continue until all of the communities of Arab-Americans had been studied. In undertaking research on Arab immigration to this country,one is struck by the pattern of t wo distinct waves: the immigration priorto 1924 and that after 1965. Individual Arabs came to what isnow the Taking Root, blame Il United States as members of Spanishexploration teams in the 16th and 17th centuries. And the oralhistories of some Hispanic families who have lived in the Southwest forthree centuries include Arab ancestors. The earliestdocumented Arabs to settle in the United States are believed to be theWahab brothers who established families on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, atthe end of the 18th century. Dur- ing the first half of the 19th centuryother Arabs purchased property in various states. One example wasJermiah Mahomet who, in the early 1800s, settled in Frederick, Maryland,where he raised race horses and was a successfulreal estate dealer. The first real wave of immigration,that is significant numbers of Arabs, began slowly in the 1870s;:eached a crescendo between 1900- 1913, and continued at a reducedlevel until 1924. In the next year, im- migration from Arab areas was effectivelycurtailed by a new Immigra- tion Act.