DEARBORN — The Arab American Studies Association (AASA) held its inaugural triennial conference at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn last weekend, April 4-6.

Arab American studies scholars, graduates and undergraduates from all across the nation attended a series of lectures and discussions at the conference, which was titled “Beyond the Label: Arab American Faces, Places, and Traces.” The scholars also paid tribute to scholar of Arab American studies Dr. Alixa Naff, who passed away last year at the age of 93 in Bowie, Md. 

Themes that were discussed at the conference included Arab American feminist studies, early visions of Arabs in America, Arabs in the media, Arabs as ethnic minorities in America, religion, race, class, and transnationalism in Arab American identity. 

The AASA was founded to increase cooperation and facilitate correspondence between Arab American studies scholars through its conferences and discussions.

“The Association’s objectives are to stimulate academic research in Arab American studies and advance the study of Arabs in diaspora, including in the United States and North America,” states the AASA website.

The AASA will hold a conference every three years at the Arab American National Museum and sponsor panels at the yearly Middle East Studies Association (MESA) conference.

University of Michigan-Dearborn history professor Dr. Sally Howell said the conference was a “success.” She added that there was a “significant number” of students from local universities and attendance remained high throughout the weekend.

“The relatively small size of the conference worked to its advantage. Students got to meet senior scholars, ask questions and engage in the discussions,” she said. “The conference paid careful attention to current research and was tightly focused.”

Howell described the conference as a “safe space” for scholarly exchange of ideas.