Art exhibition features Michigan Bangladeshis
Dear Readers,
In this week’s edition of Saa Nasta, learn about a fiber art exhibition in Ann Arbor, updates about the Israel and Palestine conflict, and how voters are feeling about the upcoming presidential election.
Sincerely,
Nargis Rahman
Saa Nasta Newsletter
‘Bangladeshis in Michigan’ showcases immigrant stories in embroidered portraits
Bangladeshi fiber artist Fatema Haque will showcase fiber art created from community portraits at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. “Bangladeshis in Michigan” features 11 portraits of people sharing stories of Bangladeshi Americans. Haque says the artwork displays the vibrant community, its history and the growing diaspora.
“During the course of this project, I learned so much about what life was like for early Bangladeshi Michiganders,” Haque says, who supplemented the work with oral histories.
The exhibition will be featured at the Shapiro Library Gallery Commons from November 30-December 20. The opening night reception is November 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Streetlight Detroit newsletter focuses on community policing and safety
Outlier Media’s media collaboration created a newsletter earlier this year focusing on creating new dialogues about policing and safety - from environmental justice to community safety protocols. Miriam Marini, the editor of Streetlight Detroit, told me for WDET that the newsletter covers a range of topics including technology in policing and advocacy.
In this week’s edition Marini asks readers not to be desensatized to the news that impacts people globally, and Americans locally.
“I implore you to not desensitize yourself, to hold our leaders accountable for their complicity, to not allow yourself to think what’s happening overseas doesn’t impact you and communities here.
Our hope, here in Detroit and across the globe, is for people to be safe from harm. The harm we tolerate for others inevitably becomes the standard for all,” Marini says.
Governor Whitmer asks for update about Americans in Gaza
This week Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to Secretary Anthony Blinken to ask for an update about Michigan people stuck in Gaza. At the time, an estimated 600 Americans were stuck in Gaza. The Rafah border has opened up to allow some foreigners outside, and some Palestinians who need medical care, which is chaotic for some. Over 9,000 people have been killed in Palestine.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s support in Arab Americans and Muslim voters is dwindling. The Arab American Institute conducted a special poll surveying 500 Arab Americans in the U.S. about their political leanings in October, after the Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip began. Support for Biden’s 2024 has dropped 40 percent since 2020 across Arab Americans, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
Community News:
Warren residents are voting for a new mayor and city council members. Learn more about who’s running here. Bangladeshi American candidate Mo Islam was taken off the ballot after losing during the primary election, however he’s encouraging people to vote for him as a write-in candidate.
Hamtramck is hosting a rally at Veteran’s Park Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.