In this episode of FARSIGHT Chats, host Farah Bala explores Arab American Heritage alongside guests Karen Kmeid, Jamil Khoury, Jumana Salamey, and Matt Jaber Stiffler. The discussion sheds light on the history, identity, and diversity of the Arab American community, covering topics such as migration stories, self-identification, intersectionality of religion, culture, and ethnicity, and the need for better representation and data. The episode emphasizes the significance of storytelling in understanding and preserving Arab heritage. The conversation was recorded before the tragic events of October 6th, 2023.

| KEY TOPICS |

Identity and Diversity:

• Arab identity spans 22 countries and encompasses various religions and cultures with a vast intersection of ethnicity, geography, religion, and language within the community.
• Arab Americans identify differently, some by national origin (e.g. Lebanese, Palestinian), and others as Arab-American.

Challenges and Misconception:

• Persistent stereotypes homogenize Arab communities, ignoring diversity.
• Participants discussed the erasure of distinct identities, conflating Arab-ness with religion (e.g., assuming all Arabs are Muslim) and overlooking non-Muslim Arabs, secular Arabs, and diverse religious traditions.

Storytelling and Representation:

• The importance of reclaiming narratives through oral histories, museums, theater, and community advocacy.
• Institutions like the Arab American National Museum and Silk Road Rising serve as platforms for sharing and preserving Arab American stories.

Intersectionality and Coalition Building:

• Discussions of shared experiences with other marginalized communities, including solidarity in struggles for representation and rights.
• The importance of allyship and acknowledging internal biases within the Arab community.

Systemic Issues and Advocacy:

• The need for better representation in the U.S. Census to address disparities in resource allocation and policy-making.
• The impact of whiteness, colorism, and anti-Blackness within the Arab and broader immigrant communities.

| SHOW NOTES |

00:00 Introduction to FARSIGHT Chats

00:29 Episode Overview: Arab American Heritage

02:02 Guest Introductions and Migration Stories

10:26 Exploring Arab Identity and Diversity

14:06 Intersection of Faith, Culture, and Identity

25:00 The Complexity of Arab Identity

31:41 Understanding MENA and SWANA

32:48 The Power of Storytelling

34:00 Creating Inclusive Workspaces

36:33 Museum's Role in Preserving Narratives

44:08 Challenges in Data Representation

47:22 Navigating Identity and Whiteness

50:04 Addressing Colorism and Anti-Blackness

01:02:12 Community Responsibility and Allyship

01:08:04 Concluding Thoughts and Future Conversations

Connect with our guests:

• Jamil Khoury | Founding Executive Artistic Director - Silk Road Rising
• Karen Kmeid | Senior Service Recovery Specialist & Global Lead, Arabs ERG - Airbnb
• Jumana Salamey, Au.D | Arab American National Museum Deputy Director and DEI committee chair - ACCESS 
• Matt Jaber Stiffler | Director, Center for Arab Narratives (CAN) 

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