American Arab Clip 1: Hijab

An excerpt from AMERICAN ARAB, an in-progress Kartemquin Films documentary by Usama Alshaibi. Music by Rainbow Arabia.

What does it mean to be an Arab in America?

Ethnicity is complex. As with other groups, Arab Americans both self identify and are defined by others. The documentary American Arab investigates this tension and sheds light on the state of multiculturalism in America today.

In American Arab, director Usama Alshaibi explores his own life experiences and introduces us to a diversity of other Arabs -- Muslims, Christians and atheists, recent immigrants and those who have lived in the United States their entire lives. Arab-American identity is as varied and complex as America itself, especially for the younger generation.

Born in Baghdad in 1969, Alshaibi and his family moved to Iowa City in 1974. His struggle with identity has been an undercurrent at every moment of his life. The political has been personal, from the nightly news to the big screen.

The chorus of external voices who seek to define what it means to be Arab has never been louder.

We join Alshaibi and his subjects as they open their lives to the lens.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Ktq
• Kartemquin
• Kartemquin films
• documentary
• Usama Alshaibi
• American Arab
• Arab American
• Arab documentary
• Arab women
• nuns
• hijab
• babooshka
• niqab
• bonnet
• abaya
• burqa
• mantilla
• Muslim girls
• feminism
• race
• tolerance
• social issue documentary
• tie hijab
• hijab tutorial

[whatutalkin1]

@Colourslover1 what i say about muslim is truth. you not want hear truth... then turn computer off and go bed.

muslim crazy. everyone know it. muslim only to blow up everything and shoot machine gun.

[whatutalkin1]

@Colourslover1 how you know what my religion is dumb dumb? maybe i not have religion. but you say you respect before you know... that prove you lying. you in egypt. i hear what egypt do to christian copts. you treat copts very bad. it not possible to build new christian church in egypt. that how you show respect for other religion?

look dumb dumb muslim, you not even understand how fucked up you own religion is. you just little brainwash kid. go back play with dolls.

[Colourslover1]

@whatutalkin1 , Are u kidding me look we respect your Religion so respect ours, and we never forced anyone to be muslim, infact my best friend is not muslim btw and i love her and i respect her Religion and she respect me and my Religion .. why are u saying this we want peace and plz dont say that about muslims!!!!!!!!

[whatutalkin1]

this funny. little girl show that muslim hate west non-muslim people. it true... i promise. muslim hate hate hate west, and hate non-muslim.

you american so dumb to let muslim in your country. you dumb american think muslim want to be american? LOL... open eyes dumb dumb. they not want be like you... they want change you laws so be islam. that 100% truth.

maybe if you american dumb for long time it happen. you wake up one and america islam. then you all have to wear stupid sheet on head.

[Abercrombie10112]

@NewbieMuslimah and I'm a blue Muslim D: ..

[lailarocks95]

great

[NewbieMuslimah]

But I'm a white Muslim.. :(

[daddyknows11]

that was hilarious!! the little girl said "english people are not allowed to see it" ha ha

[carries90]

I love the color of your scarves !

[chas54]

So what's the point besides interviewing a pretty young girl?As many scriptures suggest,

Babooskas,bonnets,etc. cover the head . How does it equate to burqa or niquab that cover over 1/2 of the face?