MURFREESBORO — An
MTSU professor will facilitate a program to familiarize the public with the
history, faith and cultures of Muslims.
Dr. Kari Neely, assistant professor of Arabic and Middle
East Studies at MTSU, will guide “Muslim Journeys: Points of View,” a five-part
reading and discussion program sponsored by Humanities Tennessee.
The program will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Thursday
from Sept. 12 to Nov. 7 at Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pike
in Nashville.
The series features literature by and/or about individuals
of majority-Muslim nations in order to show the diversity within the Muslim
community. The books are:
- “In the Country of Men” by
Hisham Matar (Libya)
- “Persepolis: The Story of
a Childhood” by Marjane Satrapi (Iran)
- “House of Stone” by
Anthony Shadid (Lebanon)
- “Broken Verses” by Kamila
Shamsie (Pakistan)
- “Dreams of Trespass” by
Fatima Mernissi (Morocco)
“We hope that exploring various points of view will help
promote a broader understanding of what it means to be Muslim and to humanize
that experience beyond sound bites and news reports,” said Neely.
Neely said she hopes the ideas that spring forth from the
books will promote discussion even among people who have not read them.
“Muslim Journeys: Points of View,” which is free and open to
the public, is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities and the American Library Association.
Humanities Tennessee is a nonprofit organization that
“nurtures the mutual respect and understanding to community by enabling
Tennesseans to examine and critically reflect upon the narratives, traditions,
beliefs and ideas — as expressed through the arts and letters — that define us
as individuals and participants in community life.”
Space is limited. For more information or to reserve a
space, call 615-880-3957, extension 227.
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