(Un)Intentional Marginalization
By: Bashar Salame
Tags: Life Lessons, Politics, Life, Racism, Islam

The process

In speaking to those coordinating the event and interviews, I asked if they or their network reached out to members of the community from the list of banned countries, and was reassured they in fact scheduled segments with someone from Syria, Yemen, and Iraq similar to what I would be doing.

Perfect.

I arrived at The Arab American Museum where interviews were held, a gorgeous building in the heart of Dearborn. It was reassuring and reflective to film here, an ideal place that championed the stories of the immigrant experience, specifically Arab Americans (five of the seven countries on the Muslim ban speak Arabic, and are thus Arab countries).

Finally, our voices would come from a source and place loved and revered. America will understand us. Who we are. Where we came from. How much we love and respect a country that, once upon a time, welcomed us, and in return, we gave it everything. We built businesses, institutions, and legacies our new home would be proud of.

My comfort and excitement were interrupted by a hurried producer who quickly introduced herself and began preparing me for what came next.

Here’s our exchange:

Producer, “Hi Bashar, thanks for doing this, ever been on camera, or interviewed for a news segment like this?”

Me, “I did a local spot for my book, is it similar?”

Producer, “Yes, you’ll sit right here (pointing to a stool), our reporter will be across from you, just pretend the camera isn’t even here and have a conversation, he’ll ask you questions, we’re looking for about five minutes or so, just have a conversation, cool?”

Me, “Yes, sure, where is he?”

Producer, “They’ll be here in a minute, we had some field interviews.”

Field interviews, I thought that’s the reason I’m here. Isn’t that why you asked others to come in? What the heck are these field interviews?

The minute their reporter walked through the door and shook my hand I recognized him as a wartime correspondent from a few stories he had done over the years. I found it slightly odd he was tasked with this segment. We’re not at war here, are we?

Interview

Seated across from each other, camera rolling, he begins:

Reporter, “What’s your experience been like since Trump took office?”

Me, “It hasn’t affected Dearborn or the Detroit area much, there’s a familiarity with Arabs and Muslims who have lived in this area for over a century...”

Reporter, (Interjects) “How do you feel about The Muslim Ban?”

Me, “I don’t understand how it makes us safer as opposed to dealing with hate groups we have right here in America.”

Reporter, “Are you scared?”

Me, (He caught me off guard with that question) “Well, me, personally, no, but I can’t imagine what it would be like for a female who wears a headscarf (hijab) for example.”

Reporter, “Thank you for your time”

He stands up, the producer approaches, and they complement each other on a job well done.

I stand, slightly confused, and ask the reporter, “That’s it? We’re done? I thought you wanted to address tolerance and acceptance, isn’t that why I was contacted to speak in the first place?”

The producer and reporter look back towards me, ask a couple of off-camera questions and assure me they have what they need.

Great. “When will it air?”, I ask.

“Tonight, between 7 and 8”, the producer replied.

I contact family and friends, excitedly notifying them of the interviews, segment, station, and showtime. It should be good, I thought, the few questions I answered were not the standard angry minority trope we’re used to seeing on major networks.

I would be proved wrong on all accounts.