Caty Borum Chattoo has made a career not only telling stories herself, but talking about how storytelling works and how it can effect real social change. Her book, “A Comedian and an Activist Walk Into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice” is out now from the University of California Press. She’s […]
What’s the Word: Humor
We’re all trying to stay positive right now, and for some, the old adage “laughter is the best medicine” is ringing a little truer than usual. This week on “What’s the Word,” Adam Schuster takes us through the history of humor and its role in society, from Ancient Greece to the jesters of the Renaissance, […]
The Political and Cultural Power of Comedy with Hari Kondabolu
They say laughter is the best medicine—and if that’s true, stand-up comic Hari Kondabolu is here to heal a sick society. Today, he joins Esty in the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about the political and cultural significance of comedy. They talk about when it’s okay to joke about sensitive topics, what it means to […]
Arab Mascot Comes Under Fire In California High School
This week your host Sabi Atteyih presents poetry by revered Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, a report on the controversy surround the California high school ‘Arab’ mascot, and the documentary “Reel Bad Arabs” written by Jack Shaheen. Sabi also reports on the settlement of a religious discrimination lawsuit in Albuquerque and the retirement of the former […]
Reuters Poll Ranks Plight of Women in Middle East
This week your host Sabi Atteyih plays from Abdel Halim Hafez’s “The Cup Reader.” Arab-American news updates include the “Burqa Bandit” in San Diego, Rashida Tlaib‘s run for Michigan state senate in 2014, Thomson Reuters Foundation’s survey on the state of women in the Middle East and an update on Damascus. Sabi also covers “Detroit […]
Salamat Celebrates Islamic New Year
This week your host Sabi Atteyih celebrates the sixth day of the Islamic New Year and explains its significance. He also reports on the Jewish Voice For Peace, Bedouin resistance to an Israeli relocation plan, the U.S. arrest of a 65-year-old Palestinian woman Rasmea Odeh, and vandalism by Jewish settlers against Palestinian property in the […]
