‘The Danger of a Single Story’ is theme to MLK event in Birmingham
Jay Grossman
Hometownlife, part of the USA Today Network
The theme to Monday’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast in Birmingham was “the danger of a single story.”
The point of the message is to encourage people not to jump to conclusions when meeting someone from a different culture or background. It’s a concern that has troubled panelist John Akouri throughout the years.
Akouri is President and CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce, and a trusted speaker on Middle East issues. At one time, he was the only Arab American staffer working in Congress in Washington, DC.
Yet, when he decided to run for local office years ago in Farmington Hills, several primary opponents from his own party outwardly accused of being a friend to terrorists and Middle East dictators.
Even worse, no one else in his party stepped up to defend him when those accusations were made.
“I was born in America,” Akouri told the audience. “My grandmother came here at the turn of the last century. I don’t know how long I have to live in America before I’m considered an American.”
Hosted by the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force, the 24th annual MLK breakfast was held at The Community House. In addition to the speakers and a TED talk video, the Baldwin Public Library brought in a display of books on race and diversity issues.
Task Force member Nichole Pardo moderated the panel discussion, which included Akouri, Cranbrook Schools students Maya Zreik and Sufia Ahmed, clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Young and Michigan Department of Civil Rights executive director Agustin Arbulu.
Each speaker had a unique to share. Young recalls when he was only one of three black students attending Detroit Country Day School, and how his parents were once asked if he planned on pursuing an athletic career — despite the fact he was one of the top academic students in his class.
Nichole Pardo with the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force served as the moderator for Monday’s MLK discussion. (Photo: Gigi Nichols)
Later in life, Young was confronted by the fact that several of his clients were apprehensive about working with him after assuming they were talking to a white person on the phone, only to find out he was black.
“When people feel threatened, whether it’s real or imagined, that in part is what escalates racism,” Young said to the audience.
Arbulu said he’s dealt with prejudice on a number of levels: He grew up in Peru and one side of his family is Chinese, while the other side is African American. Plus, he’s Jewish.
For her part, Zreik said she holds bittersweet memories of her mom — who is a physician — having a difficult time landing a job because she wore a traditional head scarf.
Birmingham City Commissioners Pierre Boutros (left) and Carroll DeWeese with Deb Macon of the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force. (Photo: Gigi Nichols)
At the same time, each of the speakers shared examples where they were supported by different cultures and races. Akouri recalled how his parents were living in Detroit during the 1968 riots and how a black neighbor came to their house to make sure they were safe. He also spoke of the support he received from Birmingham officials when he organized a Lebanese festival at Shain Park.
The theme to Monday’s MLK breakfast in Birmingham was “The Danger of a Single Story.” (Photo: Gigi Nichols)
Young said it’s part of human biology to categorize, but the trick is to find similarities.
“You have to bring the volume down and the only way you can do that is by finding empathy for the other person,” he said. “Find it in yourself to show empathy.”
Source: www.hometownlife.com