Museum Tells Stories of Arab Americans

Arab Americans have long been a part of life in the United States.

Warga Amerika keturunan Arab sudah lama menjadi bagian dari kehidupan di Amerika Serikat.

A small museum in Dearborn, Michigan is trying to tell their stories.

Sebuah museum kecil di Dearborn, Michigan, berupaya menceritakan kisah mereka.

Called the Arab American National Museum, it has an exhibit about Joseph Haggar.

Bernama Museum Nasional Arab Amerika, museum ini memiliki pameran tentang Joseph Haggar.

He was a Lebanese immigrant who founded Haggar's clothing company in 1926.

Ia adalah imigran Lebanon yang mendirikan perusahaan pakaian Haggar pada 1926.

Diana Abouali is the museum's director.

Diana Abouali adalah direktur museum itu.

Abouali said, “He settled in Texas, and he started this pant company that was extremely successful in the 20th century.”

Abouali mengatakan, “Ia menetap di Texas dan mendirikan perusahaan celana ini yang sangat sukses pada abad ke-20.”

She added, “He also revolutionized the way that pants and clothing were mass produced.”

Ia menambahkan, “Ia juga merevolusi cara celana dan pakaian diproduksi secara massal.”

Haggar came up with the word “slacks” to describe pants that people would wear while relaxing.

Haggar menciptakan kata “slacks” untuk menyebut celana yang dipakai orang saat bersantai.

His slacks were worn by many American men including the 36th U.S. president, Lyndon Johnson.

Celananya dipakai banyak pria Amerika, termasuk presiden AS ke-36, 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.

Kisah seperti milik Haggar penting bagi misi museum untuk menunjukkan bahwa warga Amerika keturunan Arab telah menjadi bagian kehidupan Amerika sejak akhir abad ke-19.

“We communicate the American narrative in the voices of Arab Americans.

“Kami menyampaikan kisah Amerika melalui suara warga Amerika keturunan Arab.

They express their experiences in their own words,” Abouali said.

Mereka mengungkapkan pengalaman mereka dengan kata-kata mereka sendiri,” kata Abouali.

“This provides people with a more authentic and real representation of what it means to be Arab American.”

“Ini memberi orang gambaran yang lebih autentik dan nyata tentang arti menjadi warga Amerika keturunan Arab.”

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.

Museum ini berupaya membagikan pengalaman warga Amerika keturunan Arab, termasuk perjalanan ke Amerika, kehidupan rumah tangga dan pekerjaan, serta pengabdian di Angkatan Bersenjata AS.

The offerings include an exhibit about the hundreds of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants in North Dakota between 1890 and World War I.

Pamerannya mencakup kisah ratusan imigran Suriah dan Lebanon di North Dakota antara tahun 1890 dan Perang Dunia I.

Thousands of their descendants still live in the north central state today.

Ribuan keturunan mereka masih tinggal di negara bagian di wilayah utara-tengah itu hingga kini.

Another exhibit includes lists of Arab American passengers on the Titanic, which sank in 1912.

Pameran lain menampilkan daftar penumpang Arab Amerika di kapal Titanic, yang tenggelam pada 1912.

The museum also tries to change religious misunderstandings.

Museum ini juga berupaya meluruskan kesalahpahaman tentang agama.

“Half of the Arab American community is Christian,” Abouali said.

“Separuh komunitas Arab Amerika beragama Kristen,” kata Abouali.

“And in fact, the earlier immigrants, who came in the late 19th century, early 20th century, were predominantly Christian.”

“Dan faktanya, para imigran awal yang datang pada akhir abad ke-19 dan awal abad ke-20 sebagian besar beragama Kristen.”

A “wall of fame” shows other well-known Arab Americans.

Sebuah “dinding ketenaran” menampilkan warga Amerika keturunan Arab terkenal lainnya.

They include reporter Helen Thomas, known as the first woman to end a White House press conference by saying, “Thank you, Mr. President.”

Di antaranya adalah wartawan Helen Thomas, yang dikenal sebagai perempuan pertama yang menutup konferensi pers Gedung Putih dengan mengucapkan, “Terima kasih, Tuan Presiden.”

Stories of Arab immigrants are often misunderstood among Americans.

Kisah para imigran Arab sering disalahpahami oleh warga Amerika.

Another harmful idea, she said, is “the oppressed Arab woman.”

Gagasan merugikan lainnya, katanya, adalah “perempuan Arab yang tertindas.”

The museum tries to correct these false narratives about Arab Americans.

Museum ini berupaya meluruskan narasi keliru tentang warga Amerika keturunan Arab.

But Abouali said the museum also tries to present Arab Americans as “ourselves.”

Namun Abouali mengatakan museum ini juga berupaya menampilkan warga Amerika keturunan Arab sebagai “diri kami sendiri.”