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UNITY JOURNALISTS OF COLOR coming to Chicago but without agenda to help Arab Americans
But I am very disappointed that UNITY: Journalists of Color have failed to act to help other minorities, like Arab Americans, who are victimized by the mainstream and mainstream Americans. UNITY is an organization that represents Black journalists, Hispanic Journalists, Asian Journalists and Native American journalists. The concept is a good one. Bring journalists "of color" together to address issues of discrimination and racism that contradict the fundamental principles of the journalism industry. They only meet once every four years. I contacted UNITY three years ago, as an active member of the Society of Professional Journalists (the major mainstream journalism organization) and the Asian American Journalists Association, which has recognized the needs of Arab American journalists, and as a member of the National Arab American Journalists Association. I and other members of NAAJA reached out to UNITY and asked them to give Arab Americans a role at UNITY's convention this July 23-28, 2008. It is being held in Chicago and we have a strong NAAJA chapter in Chicago. (NAAJA, as you may know, is not a formal organization but rather a networking system that brings journalisst together in a non-political manner. It is very much unlike the other Arab and Middle Eastern journalism associations that go beyond the Arab identity and that also embrace politics.) For three yearsm, the head of UNITY and some of its representatives have politely acknowledged us, listened (somewhat) and promised to look into it. They invited us to submit a proposal to organize a panel discussion that would address Arab American issues. Several weeks ago, we learned that NAAJA was organizing a panel on Arab American issues, that apparently goes beyond Arab Americans to include Muslims, non-Arab Middle Eastern journalists and others. They never spoke to us, although they did take the proposal we sent to UNITY and to AAJA as the foundation for the panel. We're glad they are having a panel that at least includes a few Arab Americans. But we are saddened that UNITY reflects the ignorance that plagues mainstream American society and mainstream American journalism that views "Arabs" and "Muslims" as being one and the same. That views "Arabs" and "Middle East" journalists as being one and the same. They're not. Arab Americans come from a very proud culture, despite the defamation that takes place against our community by mainstream Americans and journalists. Part of the problem is that Arab Americans, to quote a supporter and friend and longtime media professional Jack Shaheen, "are easy targets." We are easy targets because instead of coming together, Arab Americans have adapted the Arab World cultural trait of having been oppressed by dictators and tyrants (set up by the West) who rule by keeping their societies divided. We brought those divisions to the shores of this country instead of leaving them behind. So even though we live in a society that is relatively free, we still discriminate against each other. We divide ourselves as Palestinians, Jordanians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Syrians, Muslims, Christians and even by the various political sub-divisions in each. That is ourtragedy as Arab Americans. UNITY, which should see past that because divisions are a problem faced by all minorities exploited and abused and discriminated against in this country, instead has chosen to exploit those Arab American divisions. Rather than bringing UNITY to minority journalists of color, UNITY has brought the beginnings of "disUNITY." There are some in our community who say, "Don't complain. Just role with the punches." But there are a few who recognize that the failure to stand up to injustice only creates more injustice. WHile it does cause hardships for those courageous few willing to risk the challenges by confronting discrimination and bigotry, we can look ourselves in the mirror and be proud that we fought and will fight to defend our rights as Arab Americans. (Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist, author and radio talk show host based in Chicago. He can be reached at www.RadioChicagoland.com. Offered by the Arab American Writers Group Syndicate. www.ArabWritersGroup.com. He is the publisher of the National Arab American Times.) (To read more of Ray's columns, visit www.hanania.com.)
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