Exhibit explores tales of early Syrian immigrants
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The challenges faced by early Syrian immigrants to Michigan and their importance are among the topics of an exhibit coming to the Arab American National Museum.
The Dearborn museum on Saturday debuts "From Syria to Michigan: Flint and Highland Park Pioneers in the Arab American Journey." The exhibit curated by University of Michigan-Dearborn professor Hani Bawardi runs through April 20 in the museum's library.
Bawardi developed the exhibit from the manuscripts and papers of Ameen Farah, an immigrant from Nazareth who lived from 1888 to 1975. The collection includes letters from writers and political leaders including Ameen Rihani, Mikhail Naimy and Ameen Al-Husseini.
The exhibit explores how and when the Greater Syrian immigrants and their descendants became Arab Americans and what formed their identity.
