I AM AN ARAB: December 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Ca-li-forn-ia Girl/She's undeniable

I've been MIA. The holidays, among other things, have kept me sidetracked. I did, however, put some vacay time from work to good I AM AN ARAB use. I'm back with several new photo shoots underway and ready to be shared.

The holiday season means family time. Family time always brings visitors. And while I've tried limiting the amount of family I include in this project, I had to take advantage of another particular cousin.

Palestinian ethnicity, born and bred in California, with many family ties in Syria, this blonde-haired, blue-eyed cutie is the perfect person to revive the blog.

THE PROJECT

People often ask me where I’m from. This is usually after hearing my name. So, I answer. I wait for the look of bewilderment on their faces that, by now, I know will quickly follow. Arab? Palestinian? Huh? They’re usually surprised. They think I’m either Caucasian, half-white/half something else, Hispanic, Italian, not an Arab. Even fellow Arabs, sometimes, mention that I “don’t really look like it.”

Not all Arabs have dark skin. Some Arabs have colored eyes. Not all Arabs are Muslim. Not all Muslims are Arabs. Some Arabs are black. Others are pale with freckles. Not all Arab men have beards. Not all Arab women cover their faces.

Using only pictures and no words, these are some of the statements I would like to make with my project, a photo documentary titled I AM AN ARAB.

I am capturing images of Arabs, young and old, with origins from all Arab countries, who defy the prototypical Arabic look, and hope to publish these photos in one thick book.

This book is not meant to be religious or political. It’s a lighthearted means of education meant to challenge the poor portrayal of Arabs in the media, break stereotypes of what Arabs look like and bring a smile to the faces of those who already know.