WORKSHOP SEEKS TO DISPELL ARAB AMERICAN STEREOTYPES
--IMAGES AND PERCEPTIONS OF ARAB AMERICANS
Arab Bashing in America: Fact or Fiction
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Warren David
313-999-6000
Siham Awada Jaafar
313-910-1955
DEARBORN, MI, April 28, 2006 –Arab Detroit will host an
educational workshop, "Images and Perceptions of Arab Americans" on Wednesday May 31, 2006 from 8:30am to 2:00pm at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Fairlane Center, 1900 Hubbard Drive, Dearborn, Michigan.
Recent events such as the Danish cartoon and Dubai Ports controversies have made Arab bashing fashionable in America. This workshop will examine the culture and diversity of Detroit’s Arab American community and explore the image of the Arab American in the media and the effects of prejudice and discrimination. Finally this workshop will address vital issues affecting Arab Americans, utilizing humor as a vehicle for confronting stereotypes.
"This workshop goes beyond the everyday headlines and looks at some of the vital and pertinent issues affecting Arab Americans in southeastern Michigan," says Siham Awada Jaafar, Vice President of David Communications and one of the principal organizers of the event. She went on to say, "We are hopeful that participants will have a more accurate understanding of Arab Americans as a result of this informative event."
The workshop presenters include:
Hon. Mary Rose Oakar, former Congresswoman and national President of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in Washington, D.C.
Ray Hanania, award-winning writer, author and comedian from Chicago.
Dr. Nadine Naber, Assistant Professor of the Program on American Culture and Department of Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Evelyn Alsultany, Research Investigator on Arab racism for the Program on American Culture at the University of Michigan.
Warren David, President and CEO of David Communications, a multi-cultural public relations and marketing firm with specialization in the Arab American market.
The workshop is expected to attract members of the print and broadcast media, business leaders, human resource directors, diversity program managers, advertising, marketing and communications professionals, educators, municipal and government employees, law enforcement personnel, community leaders and those interested in learning more about Arab Americans.
The registration enrollment fee is $95 per person and includes the workshop, continental breakfast, luncheon and workshop materials.
An optional bonus session will be offered from 2:15pm to 3:30pm and will focus on some of the most commonly used Arabic language phrases.
Arab Detroit is dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of accurate information about Arab Americans through the develop-ment of informative print materials, educational and cultural events and multi-media programming.
For more information contact Arab Detroit at 1-877-ARAB-944 (1-877-272-2944), via email, info@arabdetroit.com or on the world- wide web at, www.arabdetroit.com
Sponsored by:
ArabDetroit
In partnership with:
Center for Arab American Studies--University of Michigan-Dearborn
Detroit Edison
Sprint-Nextel
Davenport University
Comerica Bank
Fairlane Club
With support from:
ADC
The Democratic Party
ACCESS
American Arab Chamber of Commerce
AWARE
Smooth Jazz-98.7FM
(30)
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Arab American TV Online launches
Arab American TV Online launches web access to documentaries and films
Arab American culture is the focus
Chicago -- Documentaries and films on Arab American and Arab World culture are now available on-demand on the Internet through a new web page called Arab American TV Online.
The web page is:
http://www.ArabAmericanTVOnline.com
The first films to be posted are interviews hosted by award winning Arab American journalist Ray Hanania on his monthly Comcast Cable TV program "30 Minutes." Now playing is a 30 minute interview with former Jordanian legislator and Civil Rights activist Ms. Toujan Faisal.
Also posted are 30 minute documentaries on A Walk Through Arab East Jerusalem, a tour of war-ravaged Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and a walk through an Israeli military checkpoint/examination of the apartheid Wall erected by Israel as a means of confiscating Palestinian-owned land as a part of Israel's illegal land and settlement expansion.
"The American media is driven by an anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. Most American can't even tell the difference between Palestinians and Pakistanis, a racism that drives this bias that is also reflected in the mainstream news media. The ignorance of most Americans is tragic and a reflection of their lack of education about Middle East issues and the Arab American community," says Hanania, a 30-year veteran of American journalism and twice winner of the Soictey of Professional Journalists/Chicago Headline Club Lisagor Column Writing Awards.
"The Internet gives Arab Americans the opportunity to confront this media bias and help educate Americans about the truth of the Middle East conflict, Arab culture and the Muslim religion. The fact is that most Americans don't even know that the majority of Arabs in America are in fact Christians, and that the Christian population in Palestine is suffering along with Muslims as a result of Israeli oppression and the military occupation."
Hanania says that the web portal Arab American TV Online will present films and documentaries that challenge the biases in the American media and in the greater media of Hollywood films, television and broadcast cable TV.
"Arab Americans only have a limited presence in the media, mainly because of bias that prohibits them from participating fully. They are intentionally excluded by bigots and racists and by unprofessional journalism that pervades the mainstream American media system," Hanania says.
"My objective is to change this and help make journalism the profession of fairness and objectivity that it should be and is not in this country."
END
Arab American culture is the focus
Chicago -- Documentaries and films on Arab American and Arab World culture are now available on-demand on the Internet through a new web page called Arab American TV Online.
The web page is:
http://www.ArabAmericanTVOnline.com
The first films to be posted are interviews hosted by award winning Arab American journalist Ray Hanania on his monthly Comcast Cable TV program "30 Minutes." Now playing is a 30 minute interview with former Jordanian legislator and Civil Rights activist Ms. Toujan Faisal.
Also posted are 30 minute documentaries on A Walk Through Arab East Jerusalem, a tour of war-ravaged Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and a walk through an Israeli military checkpoint/examination of the apartheid Wall erected by Israel as a means of confiscating Palestinian-owned land as a part of Israel's illegal land and settlement expansion.
"The American media is driven by an anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. Most American can't even tell the difference between Palestinians and Pakistanis, a racism that drives this bias that is also reflected in the mainstream news media. The ignorance of most Americans is tragic and a reflection of their lack of education about Middle East issues and the Arab American community," says Hanania, a 30-year veteran of American journalism and twice winner of the Soictey of Professional Journalists/Chicago Headline Club Lisagor Column Writing Awards.
"The Internet gives Arab Americans the opportunity to confront this media bias and help educate Americans about the truth of the Middle East conflict, Arab culture and the Muslim religion. The fact is that most Americans don't even know that the majority of Arabs in America are in fact Christians, and that the Christian population in Palestine is suffering along with Muslims as a result of Israeli oppression and the military occupation."
Hanania says that the web portal Arab American TV Online will present films and documentaries that challenge the biases in the American media and in the greater media of Hollywood films, television and broadcast cable TV.
"Arab Americans only have a limited presence in the media, mainly because of bias that prohibits them from participating fully. They are intentionally excluded by bigots and racists and by unprofessional journalism that pervades the mainstream American media system," Hanania says.
"My objective is to change this and help make journalism the profession of fairness and objectivity that it should be and is not in this country."
END
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Commemoration of actor Ahmed Zaki
tribute to legendary actor Ahmed Zaki
Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 PM
Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8 Street
Please join us for a special tribute to legendary actor Ahmed Zaki on the first anniversary of his death
HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MINISTR (Maali al-Wazir)by Samir Seif.
Egypt, 2003, 120 min, 35 mmUS PremiereIn his last film to be screened commercially before his death, the impossibly talented Ahmed Zaki takes us to the dark world of official corruption in Egypt.
In the film His Excellency, The Minister, Zaki brilliantly plays the part of Mr. Rustom, who after being mistakenly appointed to the ministerial cabinet due to a confusion of names, uses his position of power to illegally amass a huge fortune.
The film investigates the price that Mr. Rustom pays for such power manipulation, which ultimately leads him to suffer from intense alienation from his family and friends. Through the tribulations of Rustom, the film takes an audacious and critical stance towards the current political situation in Egypt. In Arabic with English subtitles.
Post-screening discussion with Karim Tertousieh (NYU) and Mona Eltahawy (journalist, NYC)Arte News's April issue is dedicated to Zaki and his legacy. Read new and recently translated articles and reviews about the life and legacy of Zaki as well as his filmography and biography by visiting
www.arteeast.org
==================
General admission $9; Student admission $7For your convenience, you may purchase tickets online at
http://www.arteeast.org/cinemaeast/
spring06/ce_tickets_spring06.html
A CINEMA EAST FILM SCREENINGPresented by AretEast, the Department of Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, and the Kevorkian Center at NYU Present:
=================
UPCOMING:ArteEast and the Film Society of Lincoln Center Present:A RETROSPECTIVE OF SYRIAN CINEMA. MAY 5-18, 2006More details coming soon.
=========================
Cinema East is a collaborative project of ArteEast, Inc., the Department of Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies and the Kevorkian Center at NYU. This program is supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts and New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs. It is sponsored by the American University of Beirut and The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's New York Chapter. Additional support is provided by Persian Arts Festival, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and Print Icon.
==================
ArteEast490 Third Street, #2Brooklyn, NY 11215Tel & Fax: 718 832 6564Email: info@arteeast.orgwww.arteeast.org
Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 PM
Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8 Street
Please join us for a special tribute to legendary actor Ahmed Zaki on the first anniversary of his death
HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MINISTR (Maali al-Wazir)by Samir Seif.
Egypt, 2003, 120 min, 35 mmUS PremiereIn his last film to be screened commercially before his death, the impossibly talented Ahmed Zaki takes us to the dark world of official corruption in Egypt.
In the film His Excellency, The Minister, Zaki brilliantly plays the part of Mr. Rustom, who after being mistakenly appointed to the ministerial cabinet due to a confusion of names, uses his position of power to illegally amass a huge fortune.
The film investigates the price that Mr. Rustom pays for such power manipulation, which ultimately leads him to suffer from intense alienation from his family and friends. Through the tribulations of Rustom, the film takes an audacious and critical stance towards the current political situation in Egypt. In Arabic with English subtitles.
Post-screening discussion with Karim Tertousieh (NYU) and Mona Eltahawy (journalist, NYC)Arte News's April issue is dedicated to Zaki and his legacy. Read new and recently translated articles and reviews about the life and legacy of Zaki as well as his filmography and biography by visiting
www.arteeast.org
==================
General admission $9; Student admission $7For your convenience, you may purchase tickets online at
http://www.arteeast.org/cinemaeast/
spring06/ce_tickets_spring06.html
A CINEMA EAST FILM SCREENINGPresented by AretEast, the Department of Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, and the Kevorkian Center at NYU Present:
=================
UPCOMING:ArteEast and the Film Society of Lincoln Center Present:A RETROSPECTIVE OF SYRIAN CINEMA. MAY 5-18, 2006More details coming soon.
=========================
Cinema East is a collaborative project of ArteEast, Inc., the Department of Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies and the Kevorkian Center at NYU. This program is supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts and New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs. It is sponsored by the American University of Beirut and The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's New York Chapter. Additional support is provided by Persian Arts Festival, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and Print Icon.
==================
ArteEast490 Third Street, #2Brooklyn, NY 11215Tel & Fax: 718 832 6564Email: info@arteeast.orgwww.arteeast.org
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Chicagoland Independent Middle East Film & Comedy Festival Oct. 7-8, 2006
Independent Middle East Film & Comedy Festival
Chicago, October 7 and 8, 2006.
More than 24 films will be screened. Entries that include films, documentaries and comedies that address any aspect of the Middle East can be submitted for judging and screening.
The festival is hosted by the Southwest Arab American Coalition, the National Arab American Journalists Association (Chicago Chapter), The Future News Newspaper, and al-Offok al-Arabi Newspaper.
Screenings will be held on Saturday Oct. 7, 2006 and Sunday Oct. 8, 2006 at the Bridgeview Community Center Theater (seating 450).
Categories include:
Film: Under 15 minutes, 16-45 Minutes; 46-90 Minutes
Documentary: Under 15 minutes, 16-45 Minutes; 46-90 Minutes
Comedy/Humor: Under 15 minutes, 16-45 Minutes; 46-90 Minutes
Miscellaneous (PSAs, Advertising, Commercials, other) (Under 5 minutes only)
Submission deadline (Postmarked) August 15, 2006.
Finalists will be notified by email Sept. 15, 2006. Entry fee is $45. Download and complete the entry submission form.
The Festival is also seeking comedians who wish to appear as emcees introducing submission entries. Any interested comedian or performer should send a Demo Tape to: Hanania Enterprises Ltd., PO Box 2127, Orland Park, IL., 60462.
The festival is seeking mainly performers who live in the Midwest, but performers from other regions are also welcome to submit a request to perform. Comedians who use foul language, swear or use offensive religious references will be eliminated from consideration. All comedy performances must be family oriented.
For more information, visit: www.hanania.com/cimeff.htm (Please circulate widely) This festival is open to ALL filmmakers, producers and screenwriters of all races, nationality of religions. All entries will be considered.
END
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