In the aftermath of Sept. 11 the entire nation’s attention was transfixed upon the middle-eastern part of the world. Americans have questioned in this constantly changing and complex political time, “Who are the Arabs?”
Fairfield hosted the first of a four part series on Thursday night called “The Arab-American Experience.” This series is sponsored by the Fairfield Humanities Institute, the American and Women’s Studies programs, and the History department.
Fairfield University history professor Dr. Ralph Coury introduced the two poets, Natalya Handle, of Palestinian origin, and D.H. Melhem, of Lebanese-Syrian and Greek origin, both of whom read selected works.
“The love of poetry and the capacity to produce remarkable creations in this field was strong among the first wave of Arab immigrants to the US, as it was among their fellows in the Arab homeland,” said Coury.
“Within Arab culture there is a love for beautiful and rich language,” he explained. “Before the rise of Islam, in a culture that was largely nomadic, poetry was the greatest art, and it retained its centrality in the highly sophisticated Arab urban societies that later developed.”
Nathalie Handal was born in Palestine, but moved with her family to France and the Northeastern United States.
She has an MA in English from Simmons College and a MFA in creative writing from Bennington College. She teaches at Hunter College and is the Director of The Summer Literary Seminars in the Dominican Republic.
Handal’s first poem, The Conflict, recollected her childhood in Palestine. Another poem depicted post war Iraq. She also read a poem called Even, which she said was a poem for peace.
D.H. Melhem was born in Brooklyn, New York. She has a BA from New York University, a MA at City College, and a PhD at the City University of New York. She has published over 50 essays, five books of poetry, a musical drama, two memoirs, a book and a novel.
The first poem Melhem read was called Gulf War, written about the first conflict in Iraq, which she was invited to read at Alan Ginsberg’s teach in against war. She also read poetry about her mother.
Three more parts of this series will also be held throughout the semester, on Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Room.
The next lecture is on Oct. 2 given by Abdeen Jabara, Esq., a civil liberties attorney. He is set to speak on the civil rights of Arabs in America after Sept 11.
Jabara, who received his law degree from Wayne State University, is the founder and past president of the Association of Arab American University Graduates.
On Oct. 16, there will be a concert by Simon Shaheen and members of the Qantara Ensemble. They will play both traditional Arab and fusion music. Shaheen has performed throughout North America and is featured on the soundtracks of “Sheltering Sky” and “Malcolm X.”
On Thursday, Nov. 13, there will be a screening of the Film “Caught in the Crossfire”. The producer, Brad Liechtenstein, will be present afterwards for discussion. This film follows the lives of four Arab-American individuals after Sept 11; a policeman, a Lutheran minister, and an international journalist. According to Dr Coury, this shows an “Arab perspective not on American culture, but on political views that dominate the media.”
“I hope that the series will introduce people to the richness and diversity of Arab American culture and help to overcome negative stereotypes,” said Dr. Coury.
For more information about the upcoing programs, contact Dr. Ralph Coury at x2110.
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