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In an era of suspicion and paranoia, what does it mean to be an Arab in America today? With intelligence, humor, and drama, American Arab explores the diverse ways Arab-Americans self-identify and are identified by others. Iraqi-born director Usama Alshaibi weaves his own "coming of Arab" experiences into the life stories of his subjects, who each face different obstacles. From Chicago to small towns in Illinois and Iowa, American Arab constructs a poignant and moving portrait of a proud but defensive community as it seeks to define itself beyond stereotypes, religion, and national origin.