Qatar National Library, in celebration of the Qatar-USA Year of Culture 2021, will inaugurate the exhibition “Arab Immigrants in the US: Pursuing the American Dream” with a virtual discussion on 22 December 2021. The exhibition will be open for public viewing until 17 March 2022.
During the inaugural online session, speakers Dr. Akram Khater, Professor of History in North Carolina State University and Director of the Khayrallah Center of Lebanese Diaspora Studies; Dr. Wail S. Hassan, Director at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Professor of Comparative Literature and English, University of Illinois; and Laila Lalami, an Arab American novelist, will explore the journey of Arab immigrants who began moving to the US in the early 19th century.
On the occasion, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Minister of State, Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, said, “Arab immigration to America is one of the largest diasporas in history, reflecting the successful integration of the two regions over the years. This exhibition offers a deeper understanding of the literary work inspired by the movement, its cultural aspects and the role of the Arab press in the US during the 19th century. We believe our community will learn more about the journey some of their ancestors embarked on, their struggle and how they successfully established their presence and identity in American society through hard work and commitment. The legacy of Arab American heritage lives on today through the works of authors available in our Library. We hope the exhibition will inspire members to explore a movement that is an integral part of both Arab and American history.”
Maryam Al Mutawa, Head of Collection Access at Qatar National Library further added, “This exhibition celebrates the Qatar-USA Year of Culture and will educate our communities about the socio-economic, political and cultural aspects of the diaspora and Arab American literature. The exhibition highlights how the Arab community was able to adapt to its new society while preserving its culture and literature, and showcases the enriching impact of Arab literature on its American counterpart. It will also shed light on the distinct phases of the diaspora from the early 19th century until around 1965, highlighting the evolution of Arab society in the US over the given period.”
The three waves of the movement primarily included Arabs from Syria and Lebanon. The exhibition also explores the causes of immigration and the conditions of the first migrants during inclusion and adaptation.
To learn more about our ongoing events and exhibitions, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (https://www.qnl.qa/en/events).
