Dearborn native Mike Mosallam, who wrote and directed Breaking Fast, says he wanted to avoid the familiar narrative of a gay Arab Muslim man or any gay man of any culture or faith who is not accepted by his family.
Instead, his lead character, Mo, is surrounded by supportive relatives, especially his hilariously outspoken mom, whose only concern is that he be happy.
In one scene, Mo finds out that she has posted on social media: “I have failed as a mother. My son eats alone every night.”
The movie unfolds during the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Besides being a love story, it s also a movie about the mouthwatering dishes served at nightly iftars, the traditional meal eaten after sunset.
Image from arabamericannews.com
As an institution that values individuals of all backgrounds and identities, heritage months are important opportunities to learn more about the communities around us and how we can celebrate and uplift them.
Because of the important work of advocacy groups like the Arab American Institute and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, for the first time, the U.S. Department of State has announced April as Arab American Heritage Month. The month is a time to reflect on the history of Arab Americans and to commemorate the numerous contributions this diverse population has made to the United States.
A look at some of the most significant artifacts inside Dearborn’s one of a kind Arab American National Museum
First and only Arab American museum nationwide located in Metro Detroit
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Here is a closer look at some of the nationally known museum’s most meaningful artifacts.
The AANM has been closed to the public since the pandemic began. Inside are vital records and belongings that document the journey of so many starting a new chapter in America.
“It’s important for us to know our history,” said Diana Abouali, director of the AANM. It’s the only museum of its kind in the country.
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April 1, 2021
Michigan is celebrated for having one of the most vibrant Arab communities in the U.S. In fact, metro Detroit’s Arab population is among the largest outside the Middle East itself, and while Dearborn is undoubtedly the heart of local Middle Eastern culture, communities have also blossomed in West Bloomfield, Troy, Hamtramck, and beyond.
While people of Arab descent are not officially recognized as a racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Census, estimates place the population in Michigan somewhere between 409,000 and 490,000, according to the website Arab America.
The earliest groups of Lebanese and Syrian merchants began making their way to Detroit in the 1880s, with a much larger influx from these countries, as well as immigrants from Yemen, arriving in the early 20th century to take jobs in the city’s thriving auto industry. Many families began to live in or near Dearborn, which was close to Ford’s River Rouge complex. In more recent decades, immigrants from c