Five movies given “outdated cultural depiction” warning on new Disney+ service; “Aladdin” not one of them
November 14th, 20190 The new Disney+ streaming service officially launched on Tuesday, November 12, with popular animated movies such as the original “Aladdin”, “Bambi”, “Dumbo” and “Cinderella” among the titles included. The service racked up more than 10 million subscribers on its opening day alone, and estimates it will have between 60...
Dearborn based poet finds beauty in ruin in her poem “Thawra: a whatsapp message gone viral”
November 9th, 20190 DEARBORN —As the Lebanon protesters clash against elite institutions and moneyed influence in their country, local Lebanese expats have come together to bring fresh perspectives on the political storm unleashed across their homeland. Many have gathered in Dearborn’s most recognizable institutions, with its municipal buildings...
Museum exhibit “History is Not Here: Art and the Arab Imaginary” celebrates diversity of Arab culture
October 6th, 20190 MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Arab World consists of 22 different countries and boasts far more diversity of viewpoints, opinions, ethnicities and other aspects than it is often given credit for in the media, especially in the world of art. Now, a new fall exhibition at the Minnesota Museum of American Art is hoping to showcase aspects of...
Egyptian American artist uses digital medium to represent her spiritual journey
October 6th, 20190 Rowaida Omar, a 22-year-old Egyptian American artist, draws digital sketches she says are a reflection of what she sees in her life and surroundings. She said she’s been drawing since she was a young child. As she grew up, she turned to a digital medium for convenience of use and sharing her art online. “It just kind of grew...
New podcast from local journalist takes on Arab American cultural taboos, including “Dating While Arab”
September 29th, 20191 DETROIT — Arab American life is full of taboos surrounding issues including cultural and religious traditions, marriage, dating and more, but increased media coverage and social media alike have both helped to “lift the veil” on these topics in recent years. Zahra Huber, a 35-year-old Iraqi American journalist who grew up in New...
Dearborn-based comedy series “Not For Profit” debuts trailer
September 13th, 20190 DEARBORN — A new Dearborn-based comedy series, “Not For Profit”, debuted its preview trailer Saturday evening at the Arab American National Museum. Iman Saleh, co-creator, writer and actor in the series, told The Arab American News that the “mockumentary” follows the story of three Arab American, Muslim women working at a...
Arab American Cultural Society to host third annual Arab Texas Festival
August 31st, 20190 PARKER, TX — On Saturday, August 31, the Arab Cultural Society (AACS) is hosting the third annual Arab Texas Festival at Southfork Ranch. The AACS is a nonprofit organization that serves to strengthen and support the Arab American interests in the United States. Moreover, the organization aims to promote a more positive cultural...
Michigan Culture and Diversity Festival disputes Dearborn Heights Police fine
August 31st, 20191 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — HYPE Athletic Center's Michigan Culture and Diversity Festival that took place from Aug. 22 to Aug. 25 was ticketed by the city police for being too loud, despite having a valid permit and complying with the noise ordinance, according to festival coordinator Ali Sayed. The festival featured more than 16 countries...
Departing Lebanese counsel general plants cedar trees in Dearborn and Birmingham as gift of resilience, friendship
August 31st, 20190 DEARBORN — In the spirit of giving, appreciation and the rooted historic Lebanese presence in the United States of America, Suzan Mouzi-Yassine, the Michigan-based Lebanese counsel general in the Midwest, decided to end her diplomatic service to the Lebanese Americans in Michigan by planting a cedar tree in Birmingham, where she...
Banana Republic questioned over portrayal of new line of hijabs
August 26th, 20191 NEW YORK - One of the most well known brands of clothing in the United States, Banana Republic, has been scrutinized by a popular Muslim fashion blogger following the release of its new line of hijabs. Melanie Elturk, the British-Moroccan model and influencer who founded lifestyle blog Haute Hijab, had the following to say after the...
Oscar winner Rami Malek reveals he walks around New York City in disguise to avoid run-ins with fans
August 23rd, 20190 NEW YORK CITY — Rami Malek, who won the Best Actor Academy Award for his role in the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” earlier this year, told GQ Magazine that he's been forced to walk around New York City in disguise due to the fame and overbearing attention that has resulted. Malek, 38, said he can't go out in public...
Netflix debuts original Lebanon-based drama, “Dollar”
August 20th, 20190 The Netflix original show “Dollar” debuted this month on the popular streaming service. The show, set in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, stars iconic Lebanese film veteran Adel Karam and Algerian-Lebanese actor Amal Bouchoucha. The series tells the story of an advertising world star named Tarek (played by Karam) who is tasked...
First best actor Oscar winner of Middle Eastern descent still going strong at age 79
August 9th, 20190 The landmark victory of Egyptian American actor Rami Malek for best actor at the 2019 Oscars came with much fanfare, but it also brought to light a little known piece of American film history that has mostly evaded mainstream media coverage: The story of the man believed to be the first Best Actor winner of Middle Eastern descent, F....
Miss Michigan World 2019 unapologetic after being stripped of title for racial and religiously charged comments
July 27th, 20190 Kathy Zhu, crowned Miss Michigan in 2019 by the Miss World America organization, was recently stripped of her title for social media posts deemed “offensive, insensitive and inappropriate” by the pageant’s state director, Laurie DeJack. Her remarks on Twitter targeted Muslims and African Americans. When the remarks came to...
Yemeni American high school soccer player earns scholarship to Division I Butler University
July 13th, 20190 DEARBORN — Edsel Ford High School senior Hammam Nasser is on his way to play soccer for the NCAA Division I Butler University in Indianapolis. Nasser, 17, who earned a scholarship to Butler, is the son of Mohamed Nasser, founder of the Michigan Yemen Sports Association (MYSA), who also organized many tournaments and programs for......
Muslims and Arabs in Hollywood: A century of vilifying a religion and culture
July 5th, 20191 It's been a long road to respect, equal rights, and fair, accurate representation for Arab American and Middle Eastern actors. And as late author Jack Shaheen's famous 2006 documentary "Reel Bad Arabs" demonstrated, Hollywood's culture has stacked the deck so strongly against Arab actors that oftentimes the situation seems...
2019’s best and worst places for Fourth of July celebrations
July 3rd, 20190 With the Fourth of July just days away, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2019's Best & Worst Places for 4th of July Celebrations on Tuesday, as well as accompanying videos to go along with interesting stats about the holiday in its 4th of July Facts & Figures infographic. To determine the best...
Muslim women changing American scenes with a clothing line at Macy’s
June 30th, 20190 DEARBORN— Designer and Muslim convert Lisa Vogl, who launched her Verona Collection in February 2015, brought it to Macy's at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn this past spring. Vogl and Verona Collection Co-Designer and Co-Director Alaa Ammuss launched the brand out Vogl’s apartment. “We launched our brand to help make modest...
Let’s talk about the new “Bollywood” Aladdin
June 13th, 20190 A remake of Disney’s Aladdin movie has remedied a lot of its cultural mistakes from the 1992 animated musical film, but what’s with the Bollywood features that were supposed to be symbolic of a fictional Arab country called “Agraba?” From the characters' clothes, to the dance moves that are typical of Bollywood’s dancing......
Ramadan Suhoor Festival promotes unity and diversity among Muslims
June 10th, 20190 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Community members and many attendees from other towns celebrated the farewell weekend of the Ramadan Suhoor Festival, making its second appearance at the Hype Center on West Warren Avenue. Starting out as a pop-up festival, the Ramadan Suhoor Festival morphed into four weekends of food, celebration and unity...
Bab El Hara Ramadan festival proves to be a satisfying success
May 24th, 20190 DEARBORN – Ali Hachem, owner of Dearborn’s Cheat Treats and purveyor of guilt-free, protein-rich baked goods, is proud of the city of Dearborn and its residents for organizing around this year’s Ramadan festivities. Hachem, a self-trained baker, organized a successful Ramadan festival of his own this year, in front of his......
From Peddling to Prophecy: Arab American journalism history told in a photo exhibition
April 26th, 20190 DETROIT – On Friday, April 12, the Lebanese Consulate in Detroit hosted an exhibition featuring journalists' works entitled "From Peddling to Prophecy.” It was organized by U.N. journalist Samar Nader in collaboration with the two universities in Lebanon — The Holy Spirit and the Lady of Luiza. The exhibition was held at the...
Ramy Youssef creates conversations with Muslim, Arab comedy on Hulu
April 26th, 20190 BIRMINGHAM — Ramy Youssef, Egyptian American writer and actor, joined comedian David Merheje for an interview with the AANews on Tuesday April 23. 28-year-old Youssef created the new, self-titled Hulu comedy series “Ramy”, which was released on Friday April 19. He said using his name and face for the character makes the......
