The TV Arab

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Summary: Arab Portrayal in Media
Review: No doubt political correctness has gone too far in many cases. But in his book The TV Arab, Dr. Jack G. Shaheen describes his own two children's reaction to "bad Arabs" on TV and his attempt to assuage their concerns-telling them about notables like Danny Thomas, Paul Anka and others. Before you jump to the conclusion that Shaheen, himself the offspring of Lebanese immigrants, is hysterical, take a look at examples he sites in his well-documented book. And things haven't gotten any better since the book's publication in 1984. Indeed, it's worse as entertainment and news media continue to portray the Middle Easterner as terrorist and criminal-especially since the Gulf War. Shaheen does a brilliant job in showing the double standard that exists today between minorities that are "in" and those that are "out." The TV Arab is a quick and easy read for anyone looking for a primer on the subject. It's worth your time.