DEARBORN — On the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, journalists from the community and across the country gathered to discuss the shift in perception and representation of Arab and Muslim Americans after the attacks. 

The town hall meeting, held at the Arab American National Museum in partnership with UNITY: Journalists for Diversity and several civil rights groups, focused on the impacts of media representation.

“The America I grew up in was a beautiful America; I never felt unwelcomed or targeted,” said Rashida Tlaib, campaign manager for Take on Hate. “After 9/11, though, that completely changed.”

At the meeting, a panel of media professionals discussed media coverage of the Arab and Muslim American communities. Russell Contreras, UNITY president and a reporter for The Associated Press, along with Margaret Holt of the Chicago Tribune, cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz and Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, led the discussion and answered questions from the audience. Joe Grimm, editor in residence at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism, was the moderator.

Contreras said one question that should be focused on is: How can we change the narrative that exists about these groups? 

Mike Young, a former broadcasting technician for Detroit Public Schools, gave a possible answer in his comment during the question and answer session.

“You have the tools at your hand to battle the perception and present the reality,” Young told the journalists. “And you never know when you have the opportunity to plant a seed in somebody’s mind that makes them doubt their preconceived notions about who and what you are.” 

Maya Younis, a creative writing graduate student at Wayne State University, attended the meeting to learn more about how she can write about Arab American identities and issues in the community without perpetuating stereotypes.

“We need to show how complex we are as a community, because if we keep delivering the same voices and sort of ignore the problems in our community, then nothing is going to be solved,” Younis said.