Arab Americans have long been a part of life in the United States .
A small museum in Dearborn , Michigan is trying to tell their stories .
Called the Arab American National Museum , it has an exhibit about Joseph Haggar .
He was a Lebanese immigrant who founded Haggar's clothing company in 1926 .
Diana Abouali is the museum's director .
Abouali said , “He settled in Texas , and he started this pant company that was extremely successful in the 20th century .”
She added , “He also revolutionized the way that pants and clothing were mass produced .”
Haggar came up with the word “slacks ” to describe pants that people would wear while relaxing .
His slacks were worn by many American men including the 36th U.S . president , Lyndon Johnson .
Stories like Haggar's are important to the museum's mission to show how Arab Americans have been part of American life since the late 19th century .
“We communicate the American narrative in the voices of Arab Americans .
They express their experiences in their own words ,” Abouali said .
“This provides people with a more authentic and real representation of what it means to be Arab American .”
The museum attempts to share the Arab American experience , including the path to America , home and work life , and service in the U.S . Armed Forces .
The offerings include an exhibit about the hundreds of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants in North Dakota between 1890 and World War I .
Thousands of their descendants still live in the north central state today .
Another exhibit includes lists of Arab American passengers on the Titanic , which sank in 1912 .
The museum also tries to change religious misunderstandings .
“Half of the Arab American community is Christian ,” Abouali said .
“And in fact , the earlier immigrants , who came in the late 19th century , early 20th century , were predominantly Christian .”
A “wall of fame ” shows other well-known Arab Americans .
They include reporter Helen Thomas , known as the first woman to end a White House press conference by saying , “Thank you , Mr . President .”
Stories of Arab immigrants are often misunderstood among Americans .
Another harmful idea , she said , is “the oppressed Arab woman .”
The museum tries to correct these false narratives about Arab Americans .
But Abouali said the museum also tries to present Arab Americans as “ourselves .”