As an ethnic museum representing a community that is often maligned and/or misrepresented by the media and popular culture, we are always cognizant of the potential pitfalls of accidentally reinforcing a stereotype while presenting exhibitions. Unfortunately, common misconceptions of Arabs and the Arab world focus on backwards and unfriendly people living in an inhospitable environment [...]
My colleague Khaliph created a great short video on how to make Arabic coffee for the forthcoming exhibit, From Mocha to Latte: Coffee, the Arab World and the $4 Cup, at the Arab American National Museum. This small exhibit opens to the public this Thursday, January 28, and runs through August 15, 2010. If you [...]
Christina over at poor man’s hobby recently wrote a list of 30 Photographic Goals for 2010. I’ve decided to borrow a few of her goals and make them mine as well. Here goes: Don’t leave your camera. I miss the days when I worked as a photojournalist. My camera was always glued to my side. [...]
What do 3,639 people have in common? The answer is an interest in teaching the children of Detroit how to read. Back in December the Detroit Free Press, in partnership with Detroit Public Schools, made a call for citizens to volunteer 100,000 hours collectively to tutor reading in the DPS. The public has responded. Yesterday [...]
I was recently asked by the fine folks at Museum Identity to write a short (300 word) piece on how the Arab American National Museum uses social media. My write-up will be included in a forthcoming article on the ways that social media is being used by museums. Here is what I submitted for inclusion. [...]