VOA文化艺术2024--Museum Tells Stories of Arab Americans

Museum Tells Stories of Arab Americans

　　Arab Americans have long been a part of life in the United States. A small museum in Dearborn, Michigan is trying to tell their stories.

　　Called the Arab American National Museum, it has an exhibit about Joseph Haggar. He was a Lebanese immigrant who founded Haggar's clothing company in 1926.

　　Diana Abouali is the museum's director. Abouali said, "He settled in Texas, and he started this pant company that was extremely successful in the 20th century." She added, "He also revolutionized the way that pants and clothing were mass produced."

　　Haggar came up with the word "slacks" to describe pants that people would wear while relaxing. His slacks were worn by many American men including the 36th U.S. president, Lyndon Johnson.

　　Stories like Haggar's are important to the museum's mission to show how Arab Americans have been part of American life since the late 19th century.

　　"We communicate the American narrative¹ in the voices of Arab Americans. They express their experiences in their own words," Abouali said. "This provides people with a more authentic² and real representation of what it means to be Arab American."

　　The museum attempts to share the Arab American experience, including the path to America, home and work life, and service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

　　The offerings include an exhibit about the hundreds of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants in North Dakota between 1890 and World War I. Thousands of their descendants still live in the north central state today. Another exhibit includes lists of Arab American passengers on the Titanic³, which sank in 1912.

　　The museum also tries to change religious misunderstandings.

　　"Half of the Arab American community is Christian⁴," Abouali said. "And in fact, the earlier immigrants, who came in the late 19th century, early 20th century, were predominantly Christian."

　　A "wall of fame" shows other well-known Arab Americans. They include reporter Helen Thomas, known as the first woman to end a White House press conference by saying, "Thank you, Mr. President." Others are actress Kathy Najimy, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, and Candace Lightner, who founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 1980.

　　Stories of Arab immigrants are often misunderstood among Americans.

　　Jasmine Hawamdeh is the director of arts and culture at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. She said people often think of "the angry Arab, the terrorist Arab," or are "afraid of the Arab that comes from abroad." Another harmful idea, she said, is "the oppressed Arab woman."

　　The museum tries to correct these false narratives⁵ about Arab Americans. But Abouali said the museum also tries to present Arab Americans as "ourselves."

　　Although Arab Americans come from 22 countries, from northern Africa to western Asia, she said once they settle in the U.S., they become as American as they are Arab.

　　Words in This Story

　　exhibit –n. a presentation using models, pictures, screens, and other objects to tell about something

　　relax –v. to be at ease and to not do work

　　mission –n. a task or job that requires effort and skill

　　narrative –n. a story

　　authentic –adj. real, not false

　　descendant –n. someone who is related to by blood to an ancestor

　　predominantly –adv. mainly; for the most part

1 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 narratives   

记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分

参考例句：

• Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives, is still a great beginning. 结婚一向是许多小说的终点，然而也是一个伟大的开始。
• This is one of the narratives that children are fond of. 这是孩子们喜欢的故事之一。