Summary Of Laila Halaby's Once In A Promised Land

In terms of literature, Arab Americans also produced works with unprecedented resonance. Poetry became the sole personal voice that searched for warmth and consistency. Short stories and novels appeared in a large number, giving birth to what was later termed Post-9/11 Arab American literature. In such a context, Anglophone Arab literary responses to 9/11 have to be earth-shattering as the event itself was. Nadine Naber thought that one of the most effective ways to dismantle the virulent generalizations of Arab Americans is to humanize the people that are subject to them (1). In this case, offering lesser heard narratives and carving a space in the literary arena would definitely contribute to the humanization of Arab Americans and would also break down the vicious circle of the common stereotypes that target and represent a deteriorating image of the Arab people. In addition to the age-old stereotyping

She pleads to the reader to come closer and examine the intrinsic nature of Arab Americans, so that they can derive a clear understanding about them apart from American mainstream media. She explicitly

Having experienced living within an American society, her attempt is to invite a new readership; one that could understand the situation of Arab Americans with no bias or indifference. Arab American writers have genuine intentions to negotiate with the American culture, yet they request the American people to listen to their real voice and to explore their real Americanness as well as Arabness. More importantly, Laila Halaby in her novel asks them to shed off the deteriorating perceptions they already have about Arabs. She requests them