The Arab American Book Award , established in 2006, is an annual literary award to celebrate and support the research of, and the written work of, Arab Americans and their culture. The Arab American Book Award encourages the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans. The purpose of the Award is to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect and understanding of the Arab American culture.
62-577: The Arab American Book Award was brought about by the Arab American National Museum and faculty members of the nearby University of Toledo . The winning titles are chosen by groups of selected readers including respected authors, university professors, artists and AANM staff. The Awards are given during an invitation only event in the Fall of the award year. The AANM first gave these awards in 2007 for books published in 2006; for 2007,
124-404: A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Harvard in 1958. Nader identified with libertarian philosophy in his youth, but gradually shifted away in his early 20s. Although Nader acknowledged that he "didn't like public housing because it disadvantaged landlords unfairly", his viewpoint changed when he "saw the slums and what landlords did". After graduating from Harvard, Nader served in the U.S. Army as
186-541: A Bachelor of Arts from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1955 after completing a senior thesis titled "Lebanese Agriculture". After graduating from Princeton, Nader enrolled at Harvard Law School , though he quickly became bored by his courses. While at Harvard, Nader would frequently skip classes to hitchhike across the U.S. where he would engage in field research on Native American issues and migrant worker rights. He earned
248-683: A Board Member Emerita for the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), parent organization of the Arab American National Museum. Dr. A. Adnan Aswad is Professor Emeritus of Engineering at the University of Michigan–Dearborn . The Aswads, now based in Los Angeles, were inspired to make the gift after the inaugural Book Award ceremony in Fall 2007. In 2011, the non-fiction prize
310-504: A backlash from General Motors (GM), which attempted to discredit Nader . GM tapped Nader's phone in an attempt to obtain salacious information and, when that failed, GM hired prostitutes in an attempt to catch him in a compromising situation. Nader, by then working as an unpaid consultant to United States Senator Abe Ribicoff , reported to the senator that he suspected he was being followed. Ribicoff convened an inquiry that called GM CEO James Roche who admitted, when placed under oath, that
372-697: A cook and was posted to Fort Dix . In 1959, Nader was admitted to the bar and began practice as a lawyer in Hartford, Connecticut , while also lecturing at the University of Hartford and traveling to the Soviet Union , Chile, and Cuba , where he filed dispatches for the Christian Science Monitor and The Nation . In 1964, he moved to Washington, D.C., taking a position as a consultant to Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan . Nader gained national attention with
434-472: A front-page article in Esquire magazine in 1971. Nader declined the advances. In 1973, Ralph Nader was plaintiff in the case against acting attorney general Robert Bork , who under orders of President Richard Nixon had fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox in the so-called Saturday Night Massacre , an action that was ultimately ruled illegal by federal judge Gerhard Gesell . In 1974, he received
496-627: A front-page article in Esquire magazine in 1971. Psychologist Alan Rockway organized a "draft Ralph Nader for President" campaign in Florida on the New Party's behalf. Nader declined their offer to run that year; the New Party ultimately joined with the People's Party in running Benjamin Spock in the 1972 presidential election . Spock had hoped Nader in particular would run, getting "some of
558-531: A highly influential critique of the safety record of American automobile manufacturers focusing on General Motors' (GM's) Corvair automobile in particular. Following the publication of Unsafe at Any Speed , Nader led a group of volunteer law students—dubbed "Nader's Raiders"—in an investigation of the Federal Trade Commission , leading directly to that agency's overhaul and reform. In the 1970s, Nader leveraged his growing popularity to establish
620-543: A legend in his own time and an idol of millions of Americans". Ralph Nader's name appeared in the press as a potential candidate for president for the first time in 1971, when he was offered the opportunity to run as the presidential candidate for the New Party , a progressive split-off from the Democratic Party . Chief among his advocates was author Gore Vidal , who touted a 1972 Nader presidential campaign in
682-524: A newspaper delivery boy for the local paper, the Winsted Register Citizen . Nader graduated from The Gilbert School in 1951, going on to attend Princeton University . Though he was offered a scholarship to Princeton, his father forced him to decline it on the grounds that the family was able to pay Nader's tuition and the funds should go to a student who could not afford it. Nader graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with
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#1732775588433744-923: A number of advocacy and watchdog groups including the Public Interest Research Group , the Center for Auto Safety , and Public Citizen . Two of Nader's most notable targets were the Chevy Corvair and the Ford Pinto . Nader made four bids to become President of the United States, running with the Green Party in 1996 and 2000 , the Reform Party in 2004 , and as an independent in 2008 . In each campaign, Nader said he sought to highlight under-reported issues and
806-425: A perceived need for electoral reform. He received nearly three million votes during his 2000 candidacy , but also stirred controversy over allegations that his campaign helped Republican candidate George W. Bush win a close election against Democratic candidate Al Gore . In 2006, The Atlantic Monthly listed Nader as one of the hundred most influential Americans in history. A two-time Nieman Fellow , Nader
868-470: A preference for Democratic candidates. They were therefore likely to vote for Gore over Bush in the absence of Nader's candidacy. A study by Harvard Professor B.C. Burden in 2005 showed Nader did "play a pivotal role in determining who would become president following the 2000 election", but that: Contrary to Democrats' complaints, Nader was not intentionally trying to throw the election. A spoiler strategy would have caused him to focus disproportionately on
930-505: A wide range of issues impacting Arab Americans. DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts is now a part of MOVE. DIWAN unites Arab American artists, scholars and performers representing myriad academic fields and artistic genres for a weekend dialogue that reinforces the AANM's commitment to providing a place for community members and artists to meet, exchange ideas and exhibit their work. Notable presenters at
992-525: Is in the White House." In the 2000 presidential election in Florida , George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 537 votes. Nader received 97,421 votes, which led to claims that he was responsible for Gore's defeat. Nader disputes that he helped Bush win. A 2003 study found that Nader's candidacy was a critical factor in Bush's victory. A 2004 study found that Nader voters had the profile of likely voters with
1054-416: Is the author or co-author of more than two dozen books and was the subject of a documentary film on his life and work, An Unreasonable Man , which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival . He has been repeatedly named to lists of the "100 Most Influential Americans", including those published by Life , Time , and The Atlantic . The New York Times described him as a "dissident". Ralph Nader
1116-400: Is the first, and largest, museum in the world devoted to Arab American history and culture. It is a division of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) , and a Smithsonian Affiliate . The museum's roots lie in an arts and culture division established by parent organization ACCESS in the 1980s. A small museum soon opened in the organization's headquarters, but by
1178-610: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The group's ensuing report, which criticized the body as "ineffective" and "passive" led to an American Bar Association investigation of the FTC. Based on the results of that second study, Richard Nixon revitalized the agency and sent it on a path of vigorous consumer protection and antitrust enforcement for the rest of the 1970s. Nader's Raiders became involved in such issues as nuclear safety, international trade, regulation of insecticides, meat processing, pension reform, land use, and banking. Following
1240-806: The Rockefeller Foundation , and the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar . In February 2019, the leader of ACCESS announced Diana Abouali as the new director of the AANM. The museum's first floor explores the history and contributions of ancient Arab civilization such as science , medicine, mathematics, architecture, and the decorative arts. The second floor focuses on the Arab experience in America, with galleries dedicated to migration, everyday life and culture, and prominent Arab-Americans such as Ralph Nader and Helen Thomas . Documents and artifacts from Arab Americans related to immigration and
1302-838: The Vermont Progressive Party nominated Nader, giving him ballot access in the state. On August 12, the United Citizens Party of South Carolina chose Ralph Nader as its presidential nominee, giving him a ballot line in the state. In October 2000, at the largest Super Rally of his campaign, held in New York City's Madison Square Garden , 15,000 people paid $ 20 each to hear Nader speak. Nader's campaign rejected both parties as institutions dominated by corporate interests, stating that Al Gore and George W. Bush were " Tweedledee and Tweedledum ". A long list of notable celebrities spoke and performed at
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#17327755884331364-476: The 170,333 Democratic votes and 3,258 of the 177,970 Republican votes cast. He was also a candidate in the 1992 Massachusetts Democratic Primary. Nader was drafted as a candidate for President of the United States on the Green Party ticket during the 1996 presidential election . He was not formally nominated by the Green Party USA , which was, at the time, the largest national Green group; instead he
1426-415: The 1965 publication of his journalistic exposé Unsafe at Any Speed . The book, critical of the automotive industry, argued that many American automobiles were generally unsafe to operate. For the book, Nader researched case files from more than a hundred lawsuits then pending against General Motors ' Chevrolet Corvair to support his assertions. The book became an immediate bestseller, but also prompted
1488-429: The 2009 DIWAN conference include writer Najla Said , poet Suheir Hammad , artist Wafaa Bilal , and poet Remi Kanazi . Global Fridays is a periodic music program at the AANM that promotes World Music. Though Global Fridays is held at the Arab American National Museum the music is a diverse mix from Mexican American roots music to Chinese Classical and Rock. Arab Film Festival is an annual film festival put on by
1550-520: The 5 percent needed to qualify the Green Party for federally distributed public funding in the next election, yet qualifying the party for ballot status in many states. Nader often openly expressed his hope for Bush's victory over Gore, saying it "would mobilize us", and that environmental and consumer regulatory agencies would fare better under Bush than Gore. When asked which of the two he'd vote for if forced, Nader answered "Bush ... If you want
1612-449: The AANM that showcases a number of Arab and Arab American films over a weekend. Past festivals have celebrated the career of a particular Arab filmmaker or director. The 2008 Arab Film Festival honored the work of Egyptian film director Youssef Chahine and showed his films The Cairo Station and The Destiny . The festival also features short films such as Kemo Sabe the story of Yussef, a six-year-old Arab-American boy who dreams of being
1674-626: The Arab American community to connect, learn and exchange ideas. MOVE 2017, produced by ACCESS and its three national institutions – the Arab American National Museum, the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) and the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) – will Mobilize , Organize , Vocalize , and Empower attendees as they explore intersectionality in a safe environment and have critical conversations about
1736-512: The Cowboy instead of the Indian on the playground. The Arab American Book Award was established in 2006 to celebrate and support the research of and the written work of Arab Americans and their culture. The Arab American Book Award encourages the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating
1798-544: The Green Party's nomination for president in 2004, but did not rule out running as an independent candidate . Ralph Nader and Democratic candidate John Kerry held a widely publicized meeting early in the 2004 presidential campaign. Nader said that John Kerry wanted to work to win Nader's support and the support of Nader's voters, prompting Nader to provide Kerry more than 20 pages of issues that he felt were important. According to Nader, he asked John Kerry to choose any three of
1860-415: The S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen. In the 1970s, Nader turned his attention to environmental activism, becoming a key leader in the antinuclear power movement , described by one observer as the "titular head of opposition to nuclear energy". The Critical Mass Energy Project was formed by Nader in 1974 as a national anti-nuclear umbrella group, growing to become
1922-602: The United States House of Representatives John William McCormack said the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was brought about by the "crusading spirit of one individual who believed he could do something: Ralph Nader". In 1968, Nader recruited seven volunteer law students, dubbed "Nader's Raiders" by the Washington press corps, to evaluate the efficacy and operation of
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1984-514: The automotive industry for its safety record, helped lead to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966. The son of Lebanese immigrants to the United States, Nader attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School . Nader quickly developed an interest in vehicle designs that were hazardous and contributed to elevated levels of car accidents and fatalities. Published in 1965, Unsafe at Any Speed became
2046-478: The award in collaboration with the Arab American National Museum. In 2009, The Arab American Book Award Committee changed the name of the '2008 Arab American Book Award' to the '2009 Arab American Book Award' in order to reflect the true award date instead of the publication date of the winning books. All dates in the previous Award years were also changed retroactively. While the date within the Award name has changed,
2108-461: The company had hired a private detective agency to investigate Nader. Nader sued GM for invasion of privacy , settling the case for $ 425,000 and using the proceeds to found the activist organization known as the Center for the Study of Responsive Law. A year following the publication of Unsafe at Any Speed , Congress unanimously enacted the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act . Speaker of
2170-606: The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act , Foreign Corrupt Practices Act , Clean Water Act , Consumer Product Safety Act , and Whistleblower Protection Act . In the late 1990s, Nader accused Microsoft of being a monopoly and organized a conference featuring Microsoft's critics from the tech world. In 1999, Nader was unsuccessfully approached by Nike to appear in an advertisement. The firm offered Nader $ 25,000 to say "another shameless attempt by Nike to sell shoes" while holding Air 120 sneakers. After Nader turned down
2232-494: The event including Susan Sarandon , Ani DiFranco , Ben Harper , Tim Robbins , Michael Moore , Eddie Vedder and Patti Smith . The campaign also had some prominent union help: The California Nurses Association and the United Electrical Workers endorsed his candidacy and campaigned for him. Nader and LaDuke received 2,883,105 votes, for 2.74 percent of the popular vote (third place overall), missing
2294-440: The immigration process are displayed, and stories of Arab Americans are portrayed in video or audio recordings. The AANM also includes two large gallery spaces for temporary art exhibits. Complementing its regular lineup of solo and group exhibitions of art from the Arab world and its American diaspora, the museum holds a permanent collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, and installation art, displayed throughout
2356-840: The issues and highlight them in his campaign; should Kerry meet these conditions Nader would not contest the election. On February 22, 2004, having not heard back from Kerry, Nader announced that he would run for president as an independent. Due to concerns about a possible spoiler effect , many Democrats urged Nader to abandon his 2004 candidacy. Terry McAuliffe stated that Nader had a "distinguished career, fighting for working families", and that McAuliffe "would hate to see part of his legacy being that he got us eight years of George Bush". Theresa Amato , Nader's national campaign manager in 2000 and 2004, later alleged that McAuliffe offered to pay off Nader if he would not campaign in certain states, an allegation confirmed by Nader and undisputed by McAuliffe. Nader received 463,655 votes, for 0.38 percent of
2418-629: The largest national anti-nuclear group in the United States , with several hundred local affiliates and an estimated 200,000 supporters. The organization's main efforts were directed at lobbying activities and providing local groups with scientific and other resources to campaign against nuclear power. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, through his ongoing work with Public Citizen, Nader continued to be involved in issues of consumer rights and public accountability. His work testifying before Congress, drafting model legislation, and organizing citizen letter-writing and protest efforts, earned him direct credit for
2480-635: The late 1990s, they sought to establish a larger, standalone museum; as such, a fundraising campaign was launched in 2000 to fund the construction of a new museum. Following the September 11 attacks , the community saw a more urgent need to tell their story and dispel myths about Arab Americans. The museum, located on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn's East Downtown, opened to the public on May 5, 2005. Construction cost $ 15 million, funded largely by donations; major donors included Chrysler , General Motors ,
2542-427: The loudest applause of the evening" when mentioning him at the University of Alabama . Spock went on to try to recruit Nader for the party among over 100 others, and indicated he would be "delighted" to be replaced by any of them even after he accepted the nomination himself. Nader received one vote for the vice-presidential nomination at the 1972 Democratic National Convention . In the 1980 Presidential Election ,
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2604-413: The most competitive states and markets with the hopes of being a key player in the outcome. There is no evidence that his appearances responded to closeness. He did, apparently, pursue voter support, however, in a quest to receive 5% of the popular vote. However, Jonathan Chait of The American Prospect and The New Republic notes that Nader did indeed focus on swing states disproportionately during
2666-482: The museum. Artists represented in this collection include Emily Jacir , Julienne Jabara Johnson , Mary Tuma, Sama Alshaibi , Hani Zurob , Helen Zughaib , John Halaka , Samia Halaby , Kamal Boullata , Doris Bittar, Sumayyah Samaha, Afaf Zurayk , Leila Kubba Kawash , Athir Shayota, Wafer Shayota, and Adnan Charara. MOVE is a first-of-its-kind national gathering that provides a space for artists, activists, scholars, philanthropists, organizations and others from
2728-633: The number of submissions more than doubled from the inaugural year. To help ensure the continuity of the Arab American Book Award a special endowment fund has been launched with a $ 10,000 gift from Drs. A. Adnan and Barbara C. Aswad. Dr. Barbara C. Aswad is Professor Emerita of Anthropology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and a past president of the Middle Eastern Studies Association and
2790-421: The offer, the corporation hired filmmaker Spike Lee . Ralph Nader's name appeared in the press as a potential candidate for president for the first time in 1971, when he was offered the opportunity to run as the presidential candidate for the New Party , a progressive split-off from the Democratic Party in 1972. Chief among his advocates was author Gore Vidal , who touted a 1972 Nader presidential campaign in
2852-481: The parties to diverge from one another, have Bush win." As to whether he would feel regret if he caused Gore's defeat, Nader replied "I would not—not at all. I'd rather have a provocateur than an anesthetizer in the White House." On another occasion, Nader answered this question with: "No, not at all ... There may be a cold shower for four years that would help the Democratic Party ... It doesn't matter who
2914-466: The party. He refused to raise or spend more than $ 5,000 on his campaign, presumably to avoid meeting the threshold for Federal Elections Commission reporting requirements. The unofficial Draft Nader committee could (and did) spend more than that, but the committee was legally prevented from coordinating in any way with Nader himself. Nader received some criticism from gay rights supporters for calling gay rights " gonadal politics" and stating that he
2976-475: The petitions that got you on the ballot in many states. You pledged you would not campaign as a spoiler and would avoid the swing states. Your recent campaign rhetoric and campaign schedule make it clear that you have broken this pledge ... Please accept that I, and the overwhelming majority of the environmental movement in this country, genuinely believe that your strategy is flawed, dangerous and reckless. Nader announced on December 23, 2003, that he would not seek
3038-469: The popular vote, placing him in third place overall. In February 2007, Nader criticized Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton as "a panderer and a flatterer," later describing her as someone who had "no political fortitude." During a February 2008 appearance on Meet the Press , Nader announced his intention to run for president as an independent, later naming Matt Gonzalez as his running-mate. Nader
3100-404: The progressive-oriented Citizens Party approached Nader with the prospect of running as their Presidential Nominee. Nader declined their offer stating "I will never run for president". The party ended up nominating biologist Barry Commoner instead. Nader stood in as a write-in for "none of the above" in both the 1992 New Hampshire Democratic and Republican Primaries and received 3,054 of
3162-438: The publication of the report, Nader founded the watchdog group Public Citizen in 1971 to engage in public interest lobbying and activism on issues of consumer rights. He also served on its board of directors until 1980. By the early 1970s Nader had established himself as a household name. In a critical memo written by Lewis Powell to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , Powell warned business representatives that Nader "has become
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#17327755884333224-549: The rules regarding the publication dates for eligible submissions have not. Prior to 2011, this award was referred to primarily as the Non-Fiction Award. Arab American National Museum The Arab American National Museum ( AANM , Arabic : المتحف الوطني العربي الأمريكي ) is a museum in Dearborn, Michigan , highlighting the history, experiences, and contributions of Arab Americans . Established in 2005, it
3286-450: The thought of voting Nader without fear of aiding Bush – offered the richest harvest of potential votes. But, Martin writes, Nader – who emerges from this account as the house radical of his own campaign – insisted on spending the final days of the campaign on a whirlwind tour of battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Florida. In other words, he chose to go where the votes were scarcest, jeopardizing his own chances of winning 5 percent of
3348-487: The thoughts and lives of Arab Americans. The purpose of the Award is to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect and understanding of the Arab American culture. Ralph Nader Ralph Nader ( / ˈ n eɪ d ər / ; born February 27, 1934) is an American political activist involved in consumer protection , environmentalism , and government reform causes. He is a perennial presidential candidate . His 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed , which criticized
3410-583: The vote, which he needed to gain federal funds in 2004. When Nader, in a letter to environmentalists, attacked Gore for "his role as broker of environmental voters for corporate cash," and "the prototype for the bankable, Green corporate politician," and what he called a string of broken promises to the environmental movement , Sierra Club president Carl Pope sent an open letter to Nader, dated October 27, 2000, defending Al Gore's environmental record and calling Nader's strategy "irresponsible." He wrote: You have also broken your word to your followers who signed
3472-400: The waning days of the campaign, and by doing so jeopardized his own chances of achieving the 5% of the vote he was aiming for. Then there was the debate within the Nader campaign over where to travel in the waning days of the campaign. Some Nader advisers urged him to spend his time in uncontested states such as New York and California. These states – where liberals and leftists could entertain
3534-669: Was born on February 27, 1934, in Winsted, Connecticut , to Rose (née Bouziane) and Nathra Nader, both of whom were Antiochian Greek Christians immigrants from Mount Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley in Southeastern Lebanon . After settling in Connecticut, Nathra Nader worked in a textile mill before opening a bakery and restaurant. Ralph Nader occasionally helped at his father's restaurant, as well as worked as
3596-605: Was endorsed by Howard Zinn , Jesse Ventura , Justin Jeffre , Tom Morello , Val Kilmer , Rocky Anderson , James Abourezk , Patti Smith , and Jello Biafra . The Nader campaign raised $ 4.3 million in campaign funds, primarily from small, individual donations. Nader/Gonzalez earned 738,475 votes and a third-place finish in the 2008 United States presidential election . (0.56%) Independent Party of Delaware Ecology Party of Florida Natural Law Party Peace and Freedom Party Socialist Alternative Nader founded
3658-475: Was nominated independently by various state Green parties (in some states, he appeared on the ballot as an independent). However, many activists in the Green Party USA worked actively to campaign for Nader that year. Nader qualified for ballot status in 22 states, garnering 685,297 votes or 0.71% of the popular vote (fourth place overall), although the effort did make significant organizational gains for
3720-459: Was not interested in dealing with such matters. In July 2004, however, he publicly stated that he supported same-sex marriage . His 1996 running mates included: Anne Goeke (nine states), Deborah Howes (Oregon), Muriel Tillinghast (New York), Krista Paradise (Colorado), Madelyn Hoffman (New Jersey), Bill Boteler (Washington, D.C.), and Winona LaDuke (California and Texas). In the 2006 documentary An Unreasonable Man , Nader described how he
3782-441: Was renamed to honor the legacy and contributions to Arab American scholarship of Evelyn Shakir , who died of breast cancer in 2010. In addition to winning the Arab American Book Award for Fiction in 2008, Professor Shakir extensively researched the history of Arab women and wrote the groundbreaking work Bint Arab: Arab and Arab American Women in the United States in 1997. Evelyn's longtime partner, poet George Ellenbogen, established
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#17327755884333844-733: Was unable to get the views of his public-interest groups heard in Washington, even by the Clinton Administration . Nader cited this as one of the primary reasons why he decided to actively run in the 2000 election as candidate of the Green Party , which had been formed in the wake of his 1996 campaign. In June 2000, The Association of State Green Parties (ASGP) organized the national nominating convention that took place in Denver, Colorado, at which Green Party delegates nominated Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke to be their party's candidates for president and vice president. On July 9,
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