MBN marks Arab-American Heritage Month
Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa highlighted Arab-American Heritage Month with a variety of programs and reports showcasing the accomplishments of Arab-Americans throughout the month of April. Alhurra’s Almajalla featured profiles of Arab-Americans who are realizing their dreams in the U.S. including:
- Moroccan kick-boxing champion Amine Ballafrikh, who came to the U.S. to receive state of the art physical and mental training to make him the champion he is today.
- Algerian singer/songwriter Kamel Zennia, who combines Algerian, French and Bereber music for audiences in the Washington, D.C. area.
- Iraqi painter Shakir Alusi, who left Iraq for the U.S. He talked about how his paintings reflect the life and colors of Iraq.
- A profile of Amani Al Khatahtbeh, the founding editor of MuslimGirl.net, a blog aimed at eliminating stereotypes surrounding Islam and promoting the place of Muslim women in Western societies.
- Palestinian dancer Pierre Dulaine, who is one of the premier ballroom dancers and uses his method of teaching dance as a vehicle to change lives of children and families.
Alhurra examined how the month is being celebrated in Washington, D.C. It also profiled the American Task Force for Lebanon’s annual gala, as well as an interfaith community in Washington that is speaking out to counter hate speech against Muslims on the campaign trail. The network also reported on a Town Hall Meeting held in DC that looked to build bridges and have a better understanding of American Muslims.
Several documentaries were aired to commemorate Arab-Americans including America Bel Araby, Fordson: Faith, Fasting and Football, Arabeekee, Arab-American Stories and a reprisal of the Alhurra original documentary series Americans II: Arab-Americans.
Alhurra.com did an interactive piece that explained the significance of Arab-American Heritage month and the important role of Arab immigrants in the U.S.
Radio Sawa featured several stories on Arab-Americans including a story how Arab-Americans in Maryland are commemorating the month. The radio network also interviewed prominent Arab-Americans such as inventor Sami Jadallah and Egyptian-American singer Liza Said. Radio Sawa examined how frustrated Muslims who are tired of the rhetoric on the campaign trail are turning to political activism.