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A Community of Many Worlds

© Aida Hasan

"I believe in you, and I believe in your destiny. I believe that you are contributors to this new civilization. I believe that you have inherited from your forefathers an ancient dream, a song, a prophecy, which you can proudly lay as a gift of gratitude upon the lap of America."

These inspiring words written by Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran were published in the first issue of "Syrian World" newspaper back in 1926. The Syrian World publication was the New York Arab community's first English language newspaper. This very newspaper issue with Gibrans words are currently on display in the exhibit "A Community of Many Worlds: Arab Americans in New York City" at The Museum of the City of New York. Gibran's message to young Syrian Americans in the 1920's is a wonderfully historic and fitting item to display in any exhibit on Arab Americans, but it is especially fitting for this one in this city. Although the exhibit was not borne out of the tragedy of 9-11 and the ensuing backlash against Arab Americans, it could not have come at a better time.

A major goal of the exhibit is to display the ways in which Arab-American New Yorkers have contributed to and become part of American society, as many other ethnic groups have. The exhibit had actually been in the planning phase for four years prior to its opening on March 2nd of this year. Following September 11, it became even more important to have the exhibit.

Since its opening, the exhibit has received international attention and drawn many visitors, including such notables as former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, who is herself of Arab ancestry and the ambassador from the United Arab Emirates. The several sections of the museum displays cover a variety of themes including the history of Arab immigration to New York, Arab identity, religion, culture, family life and work and public life through photos, clothing items, documents, literature and books, furniture and various other household items.

Of special interest to historians are the photos of the first Arab immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. Also on display is a portrait of Ahmed Bin Nauman Bin Muhsin Al-Kabi Al-Bahraini who is reported to be one of the first Arabs to visit New York. In 1839, the ruler of Oman ordered his ship "The Sultana" to set sail for America on a spice trade mission. The Sultana reached port in New York on April 30, 1840. Al-Bahraini's exotic appearance seemed to interest the New Yorkers. His visit was commemorated with the commissioning of his portrait by New York city officials. (see portrait at: http://www.muslimsinamerica.org/Ahmed.ht... Since then the portrait has been hanging on a wall in New York's City Hall.