Entertainment Archives

New Arab American play Layalina explores dealing with love in turbulent times

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

New Arab American play Layalina explores dealing with love in turbulent times DEBUT “FUTURE LABS” READING—LAYALINA BY MARTIN YOUSIF ZEBARI—TO STREAM JANUARY 30, FREE ***THE NEWEST OF GOODMAN THEATRE’S ARTISTIC PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP NEW PLAYS, “FUTURE LABS” SEEKS BOLD, IMAGINATIVE WORKS BY PLAYWRIGHTS OF COLOR*** Layalina by Martin Yousif Zebari, the first play of Goodman Theatre’s…

American Arabs, Culture, Entertainment, mainstream, News, Spotlight

New Book: Empower a Refugee: Peace of Thread & the Backyard Humanity Movement

November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 rayhanania 1 Comment

New Book: Empower a Refugee: Peace of Thread & the Backyard Humanity Movement Refugees who have fled famine and violence and resettled in the US too often are isolated, disconnected, living in despair. They typically have housing, food, clothing. Yet they miss the large inter-connected families, the all-embracing social fabric of their previous homes. They yearn…

Book Review, Culture, Entertainment, Features, News, refugees

Rachel Corrie Foundation hosts Olympia Washington ArabFest

September 20, 2020September 20, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Rachel Corrie Foundation hosts Olympia Washington ArabFest Oct 5 – 30, 2020 Month long virtual online festival will begin October 5 through Oct. 30 with new events each day from 8 AM until 5 PM. Check out their website at https://rachelcorriefoundation.org/ Since 2012, the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice has provided a biennial…

American Arabs, Civil Rights, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Food, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

“Ramy” is entertaining, but does little to dispel Arab stereotypes

June 24, 2020June 24, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

“Ramy” is entertaining, but does little to dispel Arab stereotypes The Hulu comedy series “Ramy,” now in its second season, is entertaining, but it stops short of tackling the challenges most Arabs and Muslims face in America. The series still presents Arabs as all Muslim and in the context of a religious struggle rather than…

Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Egypt, Entertainment, Features, Humor, Middle East, Opinion, Satire, Television

Netflix fuels war on truth in new season of Fauda

May 10, 2020May 10, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Netflix fuels war on truth in new season of Fauda Netflix fuels war on truth in its new series “Fauda,” which purports to show the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a distortion that waters down Israel’s oppressive brutality while exaggerating the threat from the Palestinians. The 3 season series is so disgusting I am…

American Arabs, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Israel, mainstream, Middle East, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, racism, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, Television, Terrorism

Muslims applaud Spongebob Square Pants Ramadan Mubarak message

April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 rayhanania 1 Comment

Muslims applaud Spongebob Square Pants Ramadan Mubarak message Popular American children’s cartoon offers Ramadan Greeting to Muslim worshipers in a first from popular American culture for children and young people Today, the television show that has brought smiles to so many, brings smiles to Muslims across the globe with an Instagram post depicting the show’s…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Culture, Entertainment, Features, mainstream, News, religion, Television

Profile: Hanania argues American Arabs need more networking and greater involvement in local society

April 10, 2020September 28, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Profile: Hanania argues American Arabs need more networking and greater involvement in local society Freelance writer Thabet al-Arabi profiles Ray Hanania, an Op-Ed columnist, former Chicago City Hall political reporter, and radio talk show host. The profile explores Hanania’s life from wanting to study medicine to turning to journalism, communications and standup comedy to challenge…

American Arabs, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Guest Columnist, Journalism, mainstream, Palestine & Jordan, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Our Arab identity is being smothered by our religion

January 9, 2020January 15, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Our Arab identity is being smothered by our religion Arab Christians are marginalized, ignored and pushed aside by everyone even though we can play a critical role in trying to bring the East and the West, the Christian and Muslim Worlds, together towards understanding. This issue surfaces all the time and most recently when the…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Chaldean, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Humor, Media Bias, Opinion, racism, Spotlight, Terrorism

Islamophobia or fun? Golden Globe winner Youssef suggests he was profiled during airport security check

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Islamophobia or fun? Golden Globe winner Youssef suggests he was profiled during airport security check Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef videotapes his experience passing through Los Angeles Airport security with his Golden Globe Award carried in a special box as it passes through security, is opened and then wiped down. Afterwards, the TSA Agent jokes…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Entertainment, mainstream, Middle East, Movies, News, Spotlight, Terrorism, Travel

Video: ‘Gaza Fights for Freedom’: An antidote to Israel’s criminal propaganda

November 26, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Video: ‘Gaza Fights for Freedom’: An antidote to Israel’s criminal propaganda A new film by Abby Martin documents a people seeking dignity and basic rights, and ends with an appeal for BDS. Source Palestine Updates This debut feature film by journalist Abby Martin began while reporting in Palestine, where she was denied entry into Gaza by…

Arab World, Civil Rights, Entertainment, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Video

B’Tselem-produced documentary “Of Land and Bread” premieres at IDFA

November 24, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

B’Tselem-produced documentary “Of Land and Bread” premieres at IDFA The first full-length documentary film produced by B’Tselem, “Of Land and Bread,” directed by the head of the organization’s video department, Ehab Tarabieh, premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA) Sunday Nov. 24, 2019. The world premiere included additional screenings scheduled later this…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Entertainment, Israel, Movies, News, Palestine & Jordan, Video

Gaza hosts Edward Said Institute for Music Education festival

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Gaza hosts Edward Said Institute for Music Education festival A photo array of performances at the Edward Said Institute for Music Education in the Gaza Strip held in October 2019. By Tarek Masaud Palestinian Photographer The Edward Said Institute for Music Education, in conjunction with a youth organization, launches activities throughout the Gaza Strip to…

Arab World, Culture, Entertainment, Features, Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Tarek Masood

Museum of the Palestinian People banquet Oct. 3, 2019

September 23, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Museum of the Palestinian People banquet Oct. 3, 2019 Join us for our second annual fundraising reception at the Tabard Inn! This year’s theme is “Stepping into the Future Together”. We will be celebrating the enormous milestone of our inaugural opening in Washington, DC this year that took place on June 15th 2019 and exploring…

Entertainment, Event, Events, Features, Palestine & Jordan

Syrian refugees must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22 to keep status

September 23, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Syrian refugees must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22 to keep status U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation who want to maintain their status through March 31, 2021, must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22, 2019. Re-registration procedures, including how…

Civil Rights, Entertainment, Features, News, refugees, Syria

Iraqi American Woman Wins IndieFEST International Film Awards

May 18, 2019June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Iraqi American Woman Wins IndieFEST International Film Awards Iraqi born filmmaker Weam Namou wins a prestigious Award of Excellence from the IndieFEST Film Awards (women filmmaker category) for her latest production with and Eric Hoffer, the award-winning author of 13 books. The award will be given for Weam Namou’s exciting feature documentary, The Great American…

American Arabs, Entertainment, Features, Iraq, mainstream, Middle East, Movies, News, Video, Women's rights

Book Review: A Darkly humorous saga set in Post 9/11 America and the Middle East

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Book Review: A Darkly humorous saga set in Post 9/11 America and the Middle East When All Else Fails by author Rayyan Al-Shawaf begins on September 12th, 2001. It is the story of Hunayn, a luckless and lovelorn Iraqi college student living in Orlando, Florida, after having graduated from high school in Beirut. Hunayn’s life is…

Arab World, Book Review, Entertainment, Features, mainstream

Elected officials celebrate Arab Heritage Month, April

April 12, 2019March 12, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Elected officials celebrate Arab Heritage Month, April More than 100 elected officials and Arab American community leaders came together on April 10 to celebrate the revival of Arab American Heritage month, April. The commemoration of Arab American contributions to this country and their culture was codified in a state law introduced by Illinois House Speaker…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Entertainment, Features, News

New documentary “Jihadists” explores extremist movement

April 9, 2019April 9, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

New documentary “Jihadists” explores extremist movement New documentary “Jihadists” travels deep into Jihadi controlled territory to reveal the inner workings of extremist Islam, on DVD & Digital April 2, Directed by François Margolin & Lemine Ould Salem While the impending defeat of Islamic State’s caliphate is being celebrated by media pundits, the ideology of Islamic extremism that…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Entertainment, Features, Gulf States, Middle East, Movies, News, religion, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Terrorism, Video