Appropriate for: High School College/University
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Unique in post-September 11 America, TALES FROM ARAB DETROIT, is an intimate community portrait. A visiting Egyptian storyteller/bard provokes an inquiry into issues of Arab heritage and tradition in a quintessential American immigrant community. American born children-- a "7-11 girl", hiphop dancer and rapper among them-- reconcile social and cultural differences with Arab immigrant parents. Through music, poetry and the ironies of everyday life, young people face up to racial discrimination and other socio-political challenges. Co-Produced by Sally Howell and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services
An absolutely splendid film, a sensitive, elegantly edited gem. Watching it, we laughed and cried simultaneously.
Naomi Shihab Nye
poet, writer, anthologist, educator
I use it in teacher workshops. It deals with issues of identity, assimilation, racism and stereotyping with sensitivity and insight. It will help diversity trainers, human resource professionals, social workers, and multicultural program coordinators to sensitize others on how to honor the uniqueness of the Arab American community as well as the similarities it shares with immigrant and "minority" experiences.
Zeina Azzam Seikaly
Outreach Coordinator, CCAS, Georgetown University
The most significant documentary made about Arab Americans.
Pat Twair
The Washington Report on the Middle East
...an excursion with elements of ethnology, anthropology and musicology, composed with a terrific sense of humor and empathy.
Joe Stork, Deputy Director, Middle East program, Human Rights Watch; former editor-in-chief, Middle East Report (MERIP)
A versatile documentary with a potential for revealing broad issues in American history, its culture and immigrant communities. For use in social sciences, language arts, literature and humanities, to study the difference of views across generations.
Jonathan Friedlander, Director
Outreach Program, International Studies, UCLA
AWARDS & SCREENINGS:
- Award for Excellence, American Anthropological Association, Society for Visual Anthropology
- Hawaii International Film Festival
- Arizona International Film Festival Melbourne International Film Festival
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
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