Telling Our Story

Telling Our Story is a rich visual and narrative collection celebrating the history, culture, and diversity of the Arab American community. The volume chronicles the founding of the Arab American National Museum from several viewpoints, and offers a detailed tour through its major exhibits. In the first section of Telling Our Story, three individuals who shared the vision to create the museum contribute essays on its founding. Ismael Ahmed, director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), offers an article about the role institution and capacity building continues to play in empowering the national Arab American community. Maha Freij, chief financial officer of ACCESS, discusses the critical need for building philanthropy within America's marginalized communities. Finally, Anan Ameri, director of the Arab American Museum, writes of the process of involving national Arab American organizations, community leaders, activists, artists, and scholars in creating the museum. The second section guides readers through the museum's three thematic installations in words and photographs. "Coming to America" examines the history of Arab American immigration from 1500 until the present, with an emphasis on immigration since the 1880s. "Living in America" focuses on the life of Arab Americans in the United States during different historical periods. Finally, "Making an Impact" tells the story of hundreds of Arab American individuals and organizations whose contributions have influenced our way of life. Readers interested in learning more about Arab American history will enjoy this colorful and informative volume.