Museum Reflection.... By: Meseret Ghirmai

A Community Between Two Worlds: Arab Americans in Greater Detroit

“At the Airport in 1995, the Kulaib family greets a son who waited eight years for his green card from immigration officials.”
-Courtesy of Millard Berry-

This picture struck me because I couldn’t believe that this guy had to wait eight years for his green card, because I thought it took way longer but I’m glad to see he is happy and ready to become a resident of the U.S. He probably still keeps his cultural practices by doing dances, speaking his native language, playing sports and celebrates special holidays. He is influenced by the American culture because he celebrates the American holidays and eats American food.

“In Dearborn, a Muezzin, or Muslim crier calls the faithful to prayer, 1980. Devout Muslims observe the requirement to pray 5 times each day.”
-Courtesy of Millard Berry-

This picture struck me because the guy was just kneeling down praying and when I read the description I was surprised. He is a Muslim who is required to pray 5 times each day but it gets you wondering about what happens if you don’t? This picture clearly tells you how he still practices his culture like praying 5 times a day. That’s more with religion but it still is being done here in the U.S. from his home country. He is influenced by the American culture because he is in America and he probably celebrates the American holidays.


Immigration and Caricature: Ethnic Images from the Appel Society

The Anti Chinese Wall
Puck, n.d.
“Although the ugliest and most racist caricatures are probably those of Chinese, here caricature is utilized sympathetically, showing the irony of European immigrants helping Uncle Sam to prohibit immigration from China.”

I found this caricature interesting because I saw different people setting down boxes with words like; prejudice, stereotype, disgrace, etc. because that’s how Chinese felt and that’s why they wanted to stop immigration. I learned that Americans treated other foreigners rudely and not welcoming them to America. Americans judged a lot of Chinese back then and so that’s why Chinese had a lot of problems like coming to America through Ellis Island but then there was the “Chinese Exclusion Act.”

Welcome to All
Puck, April 28, 1880.
“The cartoon reflects the welcome extended to immigrants of the 1880’s and the concept of America as a land of refuge.”

I liked this caricature because it welcomed everybody to America through the “U.S. Ark of Refuge.” This gives you a clear understanding of when immigrants started coming to America and around that ark that they came through there were three words; education, opportunities, and freedom. I learned that Americans changed the way they acted towards other foreigners and they welcomed them through the ark which was nice. They didn’t really treat a particular group of people a certain way, they treated everyone the same, nice and respectful.