ArabtinosArabtinos

A LOOK INTO THE HYBRID ARAB AND HISPANIC CULTURE IN A LOOK INTO THE HYBRID ARAB AND HISPANIC CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATESTHE UNITED STATES

Danyel RiosDanyel Rios Advisor: Dr Ann JordanAdvisor: Dr Ann Jordan

ArabtinosArabtinos Relatively new termRelatively new term

• The Daily Show With The Daily Show With John StewartJohn Stewart

Hispanic and ArabHispanic and Arab• Both cultural and Both cultural and

linguistic termslinguistic terms Who is included?Who is included?

• Ethnic Arab/HispanicsEthnic Arab/Hispanics• People involved in a People involved in a

Arab/Hispanic relationshipArab/Hispanic relationship Who is not included?Who is not included?

• Hispanic Muslim ConvertsHispanic Muslim Converts

• Not racialNot racial• Not religiousNot religious• They are from 42 different countries They are from 42 different countries

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESRESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES InitialInitial

• Understand Understand customs and customs and traditions of the traditions of the separate cultures separate cultures respectively.respectively.

• How the two How the two cultures blend cultures blend together?together? PatternsPatterns

•Social/CulturalSocial/Cultural•LinguisticLinguistic

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESRESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESLiteratureLiterature

Arab Culture, Hispanic Culture, and Multi-Arab Culture, Hispanic Culture, and Multi-Racial/Ethnic issues.Racial/Ethnic issues.

¡Punto Final! Understanding Other’s Culture¡Punto Final! Understanding Other’s Culture Antonio Medina-Rivera 2003Antonio Medina-Rivera 2003• ““Folklorization”Folklorization”

““Look at yourself…Try to understand your culture first”Look at yourself…Try to understand your culture first” ““Understand the differences”Understand the differences” ““Participate in the other culture”Participate in the other culture” ““Evaluate your interactions”Evaluate your interactions” ““Celebrate with the ‘other’”Celebrate with the ‘other’”

Latino Attitudes and Actualities: As reported by the Latino Attitudes and Actualities: As reported by the Pew Hispanic CenterPew Hispanic CenterFrank DiMaria 2004Frank DiMaria 2004• IdentityIdentity• Various issues with family closenessVarious issues with family closeness• Statistics on different levels of discriminationStatistics on different levels of discrimination• Educational issuesEducational issues

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESRESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESLiteratureLiterature

Some Younger U.S. Arabs Reassert EthnicitySome Younger U.S. Arabs Reassert Ethnicity Lynette Clemeston 2004Lynette Clemeston 2004• Arabs have no official ethnic classification Arabs have no official ethnic classification • In the 2000 census Arab Americans were counted only In the 2000 census Arab Americans were counted only

by race.by race.The Arabs of HondurasThe Arabs of Honduras

Larry LuxnerLarry Luxner• Over seven million Arabs in Latin America and the Over seven million Arabs in Latin America and the

CaribbeanCaribbean• The biggest communities in Brazil (1.5 million) and The biggest communities in Brazil (1.5 million) and

Argentina (1 million).Argentina (1 million).• Prominent leaders of Arab descent include two former Prominent leaders of Arab descent include two former

Ecuadoran presidents, the present prime minister of Ecuadoran presidents, the present prime minister of Belize, and the minister of education of El Salvador.Belize, and the minister of education of El Salvador.

• In Mexico City, the Centra Cultural Islámico de México is In Mexico City, the Centra Cultural Islámico de México is both a mosque and a translation centerboth a mosque and a translation center

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES cont.cont. FieldworkFieldwork

• MethodologyMethodology Participant ObservationParticipant Observation Open ended/Semi-Structured InterviewOpen ended/Semi-Structured Interview Overall Qualitative Overall Qualitative

• Interview various Arabtino familiesInterview various Arabtino families The initial couple (if possible)The initial couple (if possible) The children of Arab/Hispanic The children of Arab/Hispanic

backgroundbackground

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUESRESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES•Examples of questionsExamples of questions

•Mixed BackgroundMixed Background

•Tell me about your background.Tell me about your background.

•What is it like?What is it like?

•Tell me about your family.Tell me about your family.

•Parents Parents

•SiblingsSiblings

•Extended FamilyExtended Family

•RelationshipRelationship

•Tell me about your background.Tell me about your background.

•When did you meet X…When did you meet X…

•What is it like being in this relationship?What is it like being in this relationship?

•Religion Religion

•EducationEducation

•FamilyFamily

RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES cont.RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUES cont.TO DATE:TO DATE:

• Contacting various Arab and Hispanic Contacting various Arab and Hispanic orgs.orgs.

Explain what thesis is aboutExplain what thesis is about Ask for potential contacts for interviews.Ask for potential contacts for interviews.

• Contacts through UNT faculty mailing listsContacts through UNT faculty mailing lists• Contacts through word of mouthContacts through word of mouth

FinalizationFinalization

FinalFinal• Analyze DataAnalyze Data

Find PatternsFind Patterns How do the cultures mix?How do the cultures mix?

OutcomesOutcomes• Academic paper for possible publication.Academic paper for possible publication.• Article for popular pressArticle for popular press• Use the words and experiences of my subjects Use the words and experiences of my subjects

to eventually make a documentary for the to eventually make a documentary for the general public.general public.

Famous ArabtinosFamous Arabtinos

Emilio Estefan

Shakira

Salma Hayek

Jim Avila

Contact infoContact info

Arabhispanicresearch@yahoo.comArabhispanicresearch@yahoo.com