The Arab-American History Month Munch and Learn focused on introducing students to person-centered activism. By discussing the relationship between religion and perceptions of Arab-Americans, the event educated attendees on navigating activism by learning personal stories.
G. Carole Woodall, associate professor of history, focused the event on activism and moving into a space of radical compassion. One of the ways she drew participants into that space was an activity focusing on when to use Arabic versus Arabian versus Arabia, and Islamic versus Muslim. She emphasized the importance of understanding a person and their story instead of stereotyping a category of people.
Woodall began the event reading poems by Palestinian-American authors Fady Joudah and Mosab Abu Toha. She asked the participants to identify where in their body they felt the poems, having them engage with how emotion shows up physically. “Recognizing those feelings as we work through it is actually really important in terms of how we move from a space of silence into a space of radical compassion,” she said.
After a participant discussed the resilience shown in Joudah’s work, Woodall responded with a question: “This notion of resilience comes with the question of why they must be resilient. Why must Muslim Americans and Palestinian-Americans be resilient in this country? Or pro-Palestinian activists, why must we be resilient?”
Woodall focused on the importance of person-centered history. “We start with a name. What comes with a name? A history. We do not start with a religion. Religion is reductive,” she said. “You start with a name, not a category. If you start with a category, that is dehumanizing.”
Woodall focused on removing the shame of the word “ignorance” by using the language of “not knowing” to invite participants into a space of learning about other cultures. “We are going to get it wrong in the process of becoming better informed and moving into a space of [knowing],” she said.
Woodall encouraged participants to continue their learning about Arab-American history year-round and invited them to reach out to her if they are ever interested in further discussing the topic.
At the end of the event, Woodall shared information about knowing your rights as an immigrant and shared national online events for Higher Ed Day of Action on April 17.
The event took place on April 17 with nine participants. A librarian from KFL provided a book display related to Arab-American Heritage Month, and free food was provided to participants.
For those interested in more history and context on the Palestinian and Israeli conflict, Woodall hosted two Palestine/Israel Teach-Ins in November 2023 and February 2024. More information about Arab American Heritage Month and celebrating Arab American Culture, can be found at the Inclusive Care and Belonging resources page.
Graphic courtesy of Mountain Lion Connect.