Detroit - Arab Capital of North America

by Habeeb Salloum

"Imagine! When I first came to Detroit, I thought that I was still in the Arab world." Muhammad, once a Lebanese, but now an American, remarked when I asked him if he felt a longing for his homeland. He went on, "In fact, this city is much better than southern Lebanon where we were continually dodging bombs and waiting for the next Israeli incursion. Here, I live in an almost Arab city. There are more Arab things to do in this town than in my country."

Smiling, he pointed to the Arab retail establishments along Warren Avenue in Dearborn, the heart of Arab Detroit. "See! These are some of Detroit 's Arab bookstores, grocery outlets, restaurants and sweet shops. We have Arabic language schools and Arabic entertainment, from nightclubs to radio and television programs, and even our political parties have branches in this city - and all this without fear of the daily Israeli attacks."

Everywhere I looked, shops proclaimed their products and names in both Arabic and English. Women in head scarves mingled with others dressed in the most modern style. Pedestrians passed by speaking loudly in Arabic as they greeted each other in a hospitable and friendly fashion. It was a scene that could easily be replicated in Beirut or Sidon.

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