Navigating the Ethnic Cultures: The Complexity of Arab American Identity in Literature

Bahir Ibrahim Taha

Bahir Ibrahim Taha General Directorate of Salahuddin Education, Ministry of Education, Iraq

Keywords: Crescent, Arab American Identity, Ethnicity, Borderlands

Abstract

This paper explores the underrepresentation of Arab American literature in the ethnic canon and the ambiguous racial classification of Arab Americans in the US. Caught between white and minority racial categories, Arab Americans are often isolated from both. To address this issue, the concept of the ethnic borderland, as defined by Gloria Anzaldúa, provides a space for dialogue and interaction between diverse communities of color. Diana Abu-Jaber's novel Crescent exemplifies this borderland by depicting multiple minority groups coexisting in the same ethnic and geographical territory. Arab American writers offer a unique and nuanced perspective on the multifaceted nature of identity within the ethnic borderland through their literary works. Their texts provide a rich understanding of the complexities of Arab American experiences, challenging simplistic and narrow views of identity. Creating meaningful connections that foster inclusivity and reject ethnic stereotypes is essential for bridging the divide between diverse communities within the ethnic borderland. Works such as This Bridge Called My Back and this bridge we call home encourage more expansive and inclusive expressions of the self, making the ethnic borderland a more inclusive and welcoming space. Successfully bridging ethnic borderlands requires an in-depth understanding of the intricate dynamics of individual and relational identity, as well as a concerted effort to confront and dismantle the exclusionary boundaries that marginalize and separate communities. By working towards more inclusive and equitable communities, we can create a more hospitable and accepting society.

References

1. Abu-Jaber, D. (2003). Crescent: A Novel. Norton.
2. Abdelrazek, A. T. (2007). Contemporary Arab American women writers: Hyphenated identities and border crossings. Cambria Press.
3. Abdulhadi, R., Alsultany, E., & Naber, N. (Eds.). (2011). Arab & Arab American feminisms: Gender, violence, & belonging. Syracus University Press.
4. Anzaldúa, G. (1987). Borderlands/la frontera: The new mestiza. Aunt Lute Books.
5. Anzaldúa, G., & Keating, A. (Eds.). (2002). This bridge we call home: Radical visions for transformation. Routledge.
6. Bayoumi, M. (2009). How does it feel to be a problem? Being young and Arab in America. Penguin.
7. Brady, M. P. (2002). Extinct lands, temporal geographies: Chicana literature and the urgency of space. Duke University Press.
8. Castillo, A. (1997). Massacre of the dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma. Plume.
9. Cavalcanti, H. B. (2018). Owing, owning, belonging: Real estate and the materiality of Arab American community formation. Social Text, 36(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-4296305
10. Espiritu, Y. L. (2014). Body counts: The Vietnam War and militarized refugees. University of California Press.
11. Friedman, S. S. (2007). Mappings: Feminism and the cultural geographies of encounter. Princeton University Press.
12. Jamal, A., & Naber, N. (Eds.). (2008). Race and Arab Americans before and after 9/11: From invisible citizens to visible subjects. Syracuse University Press.
13. Johnson, B., & Michaelsen, S. (1997). Border theory: The limits of cultural politics. University of Minnesota Press.
14. Keating, A. L. (2000). Interviews/entrevistas. Routledge.
15. Majaj, L. S. (2000). Arab-American ethnicity: Locations, coalitions, and cultural negotiations. In M. Suleiman (Ed.), Arabs in America: Building a new future (pp. 320-336). Temple University Press.
16. Naber, N. (2008). Introduction: Arab Americans and U.S. racial formations. In A. Jamal & N. Naber (Eds.), Race and Arab Americans before and after 9/11 (pp. 1-45). Syracuse University Press.
17. Naber, N. (2012). Arab America: Gender, cultural politics, and activism. NYU Press.
18. Rosaldo, R. (1997). Cultural citizenship, inequality, and multiculturalism. In W. V. Flores & R. Benmayor (Eds.), Latino cultural citizenship (pp. 27-38). Beacon Press.
19. Saliba, T. (1999). Resisting invisibility: Arab Americans in academia and activism. In M. Suleiman (Ed.), Arabs in America: Building a new future (pp. 304-319). Temple University Press.
20. Samhan, H. H. (2001). Who are Arab Americans? Arab American Institute. https://www.arabamerica.com/who-are-arab-americans/
21. Tehranian, J. (2009). Whitewashed: America's invisible Middle Eastern minority. NYU Press.