Mo Amer visits Dearborn ahead of Detroit show
Dear Readers,
This week we’re looking at a community meet-and-greet for a comedian featured on Netflix. We’re also taking a look at Ekushi February and its origins, along with community news — including an upcoming mobile consular service weekend coming in April.
Stay tuned,
Nargis
Arab American National Museum welcomes Mo Amer for its 20th anniversary
If you haven’t seen the Netflix series “Mo” Season 2, there’s a lot to unpack in the season. From border crossing to being detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the story follows Mo as he goes on a journey to become a citizen while navigating his Palestinian identity.
Palestinian American stand-up comedian Mohammed “Mo” Amer visited the Arab American National Museum for a meet-and-greet earlier today for the museum’s 20th anniversary, ahead of Mo’s show in Detroit tonight.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said he’s grateful that somebody who has a strong connection to the community made a stop in Dearborn.
“What he has done on an international scale really just elevates the community standing provides a narrative that is oftentimes missing in the mainstream media, and he's done it so beautifully,” Hammoud says.
In opening remarks, the Arab American National Museum’s Director Diana Abouali said the community is proud to have Amer at the museum and in Dearborn.
“I want to thank you, Mo, especially for the work you've done, for the work you've done promoting Arab representation on TV, in the media, and not just representation, but representation in all its fullness,” she said.
Abouali said Amer represents characters with complexity.
“They're relatable, and not just Arabs, but also Palestinians. I think we need to acknowledge that,” she said.
“You tell stories as an immigrant, as an asylum seeker, the United States representing other immigrant stories. There's always a search for home. As Palestinians, it's a little elusive to us, but it's there. We're struggling for it, and we will one day liberate Palestine and go home. Welcome you to this home, and you will always have a home here in Dearborn, Michigan at the Arab American National Museum.”
Hammoud presented Amer with a special proclamation, “to you, Mohammed, just recognizing all that you've done.”
Amer said he was interested in standup comedy since he was a 9-year-old kid.
“It really started to evolve for me pretty rapidly once I saw that there was no Arab American stories on television, certainly not Palestinian stories on American television, or anywhere outside of the Middle East,” he said. “And it's amazing how the divine will put you in areas and situations where you can collaborate and create something that's so beautiful and for the world to see.”
Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said she feels seen and heard through Amer’s work.
“You've been able to use amazing humor to give so much of us, like, so much pride. I mean, I feel completely seen and heard like, even if they don't know anything about who we are as a community been here generations in the United States, you've been able to, like, shine light to our struggle and our pain, but you did it with laughter.”
Ekushi February marks ‘Mother Language Day’
International Mother Language Day is to “preserve linguistic diversity and promote mother tongues,” according to the United Nations. People often observe this day with poetry, plays, and remembrance of native languages around the world.
In Bangladesh, it is also known as Ekushe February, or February 21. UNESCO first recognized the observance in 1999, which has been globally observed since 2000. Bangladesh first introduced the initiative to UNESCO.
Ekushe February is observed across Bengali communities to remember and honor language martyrs who died on February 21, 1952, while protesting West Pakistani officials who mandated that Urdu be spoken as the official language in East Pakistan, where people primarily or only spoke Bangla.
Later Bangladesh became an independent country in 1971, to preserve language and culture.
Bangla is one of the top 10 languages spoken in the world.
Other Headlines:
The Embassy of Bangladesh will visit Michigan on April 12-13 for mobile consular services. The venue will be announced later.
A statewide program is offering $25,000 to first-generation homeowners.
Michigan chief medical director says guns are now the number one cause of death for children, gun locks could help with prevention
The Islamic Scholarship Fund offers several scholarships to college students. Deadline is March 22.
Miftaah is offering a Ramadan Immersion series. #RamadanProgramming
Zaytuna Institute has weekly Ramadan series beginning March 8th, and a free guidebook. Check it out here. #RamadanProgramming
