Arabs in America: Building a New Future

For many North Americans, Arab-Americans are invisible, recalled only when words like 'terrorism' or 'anti-American sentiments' arise. However, people of Arab descent have been contributing to U.S. and Canadian culture since the 1870's in fields as diverse as literature, science, politics, medicine, and commerce witness surgeon Michael DeBakey, former Oregon governor Victor Atiyeh, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, and Canadian M.P. Mac Harb. Yet, while Arab-American contributions to our society are significant and Arab-Americans surpass the U.S. average in both education and economics, they still struggle for recognition and acceptance. In this volume, editor Michael Suleiman brings together 21 prominent scholars from a wide range of perspectives including anthropology, economics, history, law, literature and culture, political science, and sociology to take a close look at the status of Arabs in North America. Topics range from the career of Arab-American singer, dancer, and storyteller Wadeeha Atiyeh to a historical examination of Arab-Americans and Zionism. The contributors discuss an assortment of different communities a Palestinian refugee community in Detroit, a group of well-educated Jordanian men, and the Shi'a Muslims in order to illustrate the range of Arab emigre experience. More broadly, they examine Arabs in the legal system, youth and family, health and welfare, as well as Arab-American identity, political activism, and attempts by Arab immigrants to achieve respect and recognition in their new homes. They address both the present situation for Arab-Americans and prospects for their future. "Arabs in America" will engage anyone interested in Arab-American studies, ethnic studies, and American studies. Michael W. Suleiman is University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science at Kansas State University. He has written and co-edited numerous works in the field of Arab American studies, including "U.S. Policy on Palestine from Wilson to Clinton" and "Arab Americans: Continuity and Change".