Arab American Public History

Edward E. Curtis IV is a community-engaged scholar of Black, Muslim, and Arab American history and life. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books, including Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest, which received the 2023 Evelyn Shakir book prize from the Arab American National Museum. The winner of two regional Emmys as executive producer and cowriter of Arab Indianapolis: A Hidden History, Curtis has also been awarded Mellon, Fulbright, Carnegie, and National Endowment for the Humanities grants and fellowships. He serves as the William M. and Gail M. Plater Chair of the Liberal Arts and Director of the Arabic Studies Program at Indiana University, Indianapolis.

"Arab American Public History is both a call to expand the practice of Arab American public history and a resource for scholars and community members engaged in collaborative historical work. It documents how Arab Americans have preserved and interpreted their histories beyond academic settings. By highlighting projects grounded in public-facing work, from family archives and neighborhood tours to museum exhibitions and educational initiatives, this collection offers practical guidance and critical reflection on how public history can challenge erasure and make Arab American experiences more visible and accessible. As the first volume to bring together Arab American public history practitioners, it sets a new standard for how scholars and communities can co-create and sustain Arab American historical narratives."—Danielle Haque, Professor of English at Minnesota State University, Mankato"This book makes a landmark contribution to the fields of Arab American studies and public history. It bridges academic research and public engagement, offering a clear and practical framework for pursuing public history inquiries through the study of Arab American experiences, challenges, and modes of resilience. Rich with personal narratives, community initiatives, and public practices, it serves as an inspiration for future research. Thoughtfully written and structured, this work delivers an intimate and compelling account of Arab American publics."—Dr. Waleed F. Mahdi, Codirector of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma