Turath aw Hadara

From archives to community building this video engages US histories of racialization and objectification through and documentation of discussions and participation with the ArabMuslim community of Dearborn and Detroit Michigan As a videocollaboration between Qais Assali and Jose Luis Benavides created for the exhibit Costume Party at the Moslem Temple at MSU Union Gallery 2019 this work culls various collections original footage and conversations with an exPlayboy Bunny and community activist as well to chart the often overlooked history of orientalism Islamophobia and minstrel brownfacing or Arabfacing inherent though invisible to our discussions of American racism in order to question the limits of our awareness and our true understanding of culture and civilization