Code,345003
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Subject,Abdullah (Abby) Mina
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Date,7-Jun-16
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Interviewer,Rania Assily 
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Abstract,"Abdullah (Abby) Mina, is a radio host for the Arabic program on Cleveland State University's WCSB 89.3. He has served as the past president of C.A.M.E.O. (Cleveland American Middle East Organization) for twelve years.  Abby immigrated to America in 1956 to Richmond, VA and later migrated to Cleveland, OH after marriage to his wife, Mona. He proudly devoted his life in America helping to assimilate and assist Arab immigrants into American society."
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Tags,"Kefraya, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, Arab immigrants, Cleveland State University, radio, voting, citizenship, C.A.M.E.O."
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Minutes,0:37:15
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0,Introduction
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1,"Abby explains how he got the nickname ""Abby"". His father named him Abdullah, according to the story, he explains, ""My father, at that time, as a matter of fact, he told me he had a dream. My mother was expecting with me, that he was holding a little kid by his hand walking around and someone said 'hey what's the name of your  boy?' He said, Abdullah. so he said I want to name him Abdullah if we have a boy, so that wherever he goes, Allah [God] is with him."""
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2,"Abby comes from a family of ten (officially eleven since one of them he didn't know, his sister passed away before he was born) seven girls and three boys. He grew up in Kefraya in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. He went to the local village school and attended Muslim, Catholic, Presbyterian, non-sectarian schools and a southern Baptist university. "
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3,"Abdullah explains that in his village they did not teach French, and English was rarely taught. Arabic was the predominant language. He says that in almost 60 years in America, his Arabic is still very good. He immigrated to America in 1956 when Eisenhower was president. "
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4,"Abby explains his teenage years as ambitious, nice and bashful. He was always hoping to come to America. He had two uncles on his father's side who lived in Virginia. One of his uncles sponsored him to come to America as a student in 1956. He describes Virginia as hospitable, and helpful in school with his broken English. "
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5,"Abby explains that he had good feelings toward America before coming. He got involved in school activities. He became the editor-and-chief of the weekly magazine at the university. He was involved in student government, he was the president of the history society, and president of the theologian society. He jokes, ""I lost my accent in Virginia, but I regained it in Cleveland""."
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6,"Abby recognizes and understands the cultural differences between the North and South in the United States. The University of Richmond, VA at the time of his immigrating had very few foreign students and African-American students. "
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7,"""We had another kid from Lebanon, one student from Jordan, and the rest of them some oriental students, no black students whatsover. Of course now the black students are about 20% of the campus and the president of the univerity is an African American person, which things are changing so much for the better in many cases. ""  What brought him to Cleveland was his wife, Mona. He met her in Lebanon. Her grandfather is Abby's godfather. When she came to America in 1954, she was a baby. After a couple of years, they met in Cleveland. "
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8,"The families knew of each other. Once the families know each other, there is no problem. What they are afraid of overseas is that you end up in a bad marriage and this is why they are overprotective of the girls."
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9,"After marriage, Abby wanted to go back to Virginia since he didn't like the snow here in Cleveland. His wife, asked him to give it some time and he eventually ended up liking Cleveland. "
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10,"Abby doesn't believe that he had culture shock when he immigrated, but the differences between the Lebanese culture and American culture was language and customs. ""Overseas the kids are, for instance, very respectful of their teachers.  Here, even though in the South they were kind of respectful of their teachers, now probably the teachers are afraid of the kids. In Lebanon, theye were very respectful of the teachers, okay? Very respectful of their elders. If somebody older than you are, even if you don't know them, you call them uncle 'umo', this and that, out of respect. Here, you don't see that."""
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11,"Abby mentions that one thing that stays in his mind is the phrase ""that's how we do it in America"". He laughs, ""You mean 200 million people, whatever it was at that time did think the same thing in America?"""
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12,Abby argues that 'understanding of outsiders' is quite neglectful in America. Americans have a superficial understanding of their own history as well as the Middle East. They have very little time to learn these things.
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13,"Continued…In the past nobody wanted to learn Arabic, the immigrants didn't want to teach their kids Arabic, because they were bashful and ashamed in order to fit into American society. Lots of immigrants stuck together because they felt comfortable around each other because of the language barrier.  They wanted to marry their own kind. ""If the kid got married to an American girl and they spoke in Arabic, the girl might think that they are talking about her. So that it why alot of people stuck together."""
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14,"Abdullah explains he is not a scientist, engineer,  or mathmatician-- but he describes himself as a social and socially-active guy. He was asked many times to translate papers for many immigrants."
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15,He because involved in many clubs. He likes to empower Arab immigrants here. He became a member of C.A.M.E.O. (Cleveland American Middle East Organization which was founded in 1970)  in the early 1980s. He believes in the credibility of organizations and citizens. 
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16,He was president of C.A.M.E.O. for 12 years and he is still on the board.  He is most proud of having taught Arab immigrants how to vote. Before C.A.M.E.O. Abby used to teach them on his radio program how to become a citizen in both Arabic and English. 
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17,"continued…he explained that once they become citizens, they need to register and vote. He suspected that some people don't vote because they are embarassed that they don't know how. Some one rented a voting machine. They would hold picnics, and have the voting booth and teach people how to use it. "
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18,"In addition to that, his radio show helped to teach them Arabic and English and encouraging people to become citizens. Many times he would help immigrants with their papers, translating their papers and taking them downtown to the immigration office for free. He taught them the laws and answered their questions. He also would take immigrants to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to help them get a driving license. "
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19,continued…his father had a great influence on him. His father used to tell him how nicely his penmanship was. He would write for members of his family. 
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20,Sometimes he would have people request something at the last minute. He wants time before helping people so that he isn't rushed. 
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21,Abby believes that few to little Arab Americans or Americans are helping the Arab immigrant population today.  
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22,"continued…He argues that the virus of Arabic culture is disunity. Arabs often don't trust each other. ""I have some people who don't believe that my radio program is free and that it costs me money. They think I get paid for it."""
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23,"Abby never got trained for radio. One day, he was traveling on Prospect Ave. in the 1970s, and there was an ethnic radio station WZAK--Hungarian, Irish-- and when he asked them if there was an Arabic program, they said no. At that time, it was a 'for profit' station. He went to management, and he bought one hour of programming. He stayed there for ten years, and then they sold the station. "
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24,"In around 1997, there was an opening at Cleveland State and his friend had a program. Before leaving to Florida, his friend handed the program to Abby. It is an expense hobby in time and commitment. His program airs on Saturdays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. It started out as a variety show involving history, social issues, and teaching Arabic and English language and culture. "
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25,"continued…Abby enjoys his radio show, but not as much as before. Many people still call in to thank him and request music. "
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26,"Because of the internet, he receives feedback from people in Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe. He hosted a segment for the immigrants. He had the director of immigration of Ohio and Kentucky on his program and would have him answer questions from his listeners. After Sept. 11, no one asks questions like they used to on his program."
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27,He prefers to keep his program local and interview local politicians and social activists.
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28,People still call him 2-3 times a week and he continues to assist many people with immigrant questions and concerns. 
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29,He says that he now stays away from religion and politics. He used to have good interfaith interviews and discussions on his radio program. 
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30,He discusses C.A.M.E.O. and its efforts in bridging religious and social issues with various groups of Arabs.
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31,His advice to Arab immigrants is to discover America and keep your heritage and culture too. He is very proud of his Arabic heritage. 
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32,"He explains that learning Arabic history is important, and it will enrich their American experience, but also embrace America. He mentions that he has a son and a daughter."
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33,His family is physically and emotionally very close to him. Abby believes himself to have served as an extended addition to many immigrant families who needed and still need assistance. 
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34,He wishes that there would be some kind of unity because the Arab-Americans have a lot to offer. They tend to bring their disunity from overseas with them. 
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35,"He says, ""If you are able to help your fellow man, or human beings, your immigrants, do it. Do the best you can. Love this country, and be a good person, generally speaking, whatever your faith is. There is no faith that I know of that taught us to hate each other."" Abby explains that the Arab immigrant group is very enterprising."
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36,Abby gets emotional when he thinks about going back to Lebanon. He remembers his family when they were kids. 
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37,End of interview.
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56,"[Add more rows as neededÉ add ""end of interview"" at the end of the final row/minute]"