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Jonathan Curiel's new book "Al' America: Travels Through America's Arab and Islamic Roots" traces America’s cultural landscapes and highlights in the process the profound influence Muslims and Arabs have had on shaping America's most cherished cultural institutions. These cultural influences include, but are not limited to, the ice cream cone, blues music, and architecture — cultural mainstays that Americans encounter and interact with in profound ways everyday.
The San Francisco Chronicle writer's newest contribution to the national discussion concerning the place and roots of Muslims in America's social fabric is both timely and optimistic, highlighting the parallels and shared values that exist among Americans, Arabs and Muslims around the world, including those here in the U.S.
Recognizing that Muslim and Arab culture is often viewed by many in the U.S. through the prism of 9/11, Curiel writes that his book is as much about Arab and Muslim influence on American culture as it is about showing the links and interwoven nature of all three. Curiel makes the point that because cultures are so interdependent and interwoven, it is difficult to create dichotomies of "us" and "them," "their culture" and "our culture." Instead, the cultural history of America is one of blended and interwoven cultural ideas and institutions; something Curiel calls a "continuous pattern of give-and-take between America and the Arab-Muslim world..."
For more information about Curiel’s book, please click here.
Posted on December 19, 2008
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