Arab American Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 11 (2017) Winner
Steven Salaita
スティーヴン・サライタ
Sutīvun Saraita
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1975-09-15 （Bluefield, West Virginia, United States）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Bluefield, West Virginia (born) → Virginia (education, early career) → Oklahoma (doctoral studies) → Virginia (Virginia Tech faculty) → Illinois (University of Illinois controversy) → Beirut, Lebanon (American University of Beirut) → Cairo, Egypt (American University in Cairo)
Career
- Occupations
- Professor, Author, Public speaker, Former school-bus driver
- Active Years
- 2003-
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (English faculty), Virginia Tech (associate professor; later tenured), American University of Beirut (Edward W. Said Chair), American University in Cairo (Professor, English & Comparative Literature)
- Memberships
- US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI)
- Influenced By
- Edward Said, Native American studies scholars (e.g., Vine Deloria Jr.)
- Influenced
- Younger scholars and activists working on colonialism and decoloniality
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford University | — | Political Science (BA); English (MA) | BA, MA | 1993–1999 | United States |
| University of Oklahoma | — | Native American Studies (literature emphasis) | PhD | 1999–2003 | United States |
Radford University
Political Science (BA); English (MA)
Degree:
BA, MA
Period:
1993–1999
Year of Graduation:
1999
Country:
United States
Received BA in 1997 and MA in 1999
University of Oklahoma
Native American Studies (literature emphasis)
Degree:
PhD
Period:
1999–2003
Year of Graduation:
2003
Country:
United States
Doctoral dissertation comparing Native American literature and Palestine studies
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award (Outstanding Book) | Anti-Arab Racism in the USA: Where it Comes From and What it Means for Politics | — | Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights | winner |
Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award (Outstanding Book)
2007
Work:
Anti-Arab Racism in the USA: Where it Comes From and What it Means for Politics
Organization:
Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Anti-Arab Racism in the USA: Where it Comes From and What it Means for Politics
2006 Non-fiction, social criticismAn analysis of anti-Arab sentiment in the United States, its origins and political consequences, discussing structures of prejudice and means of resistance.
anti-Arab racismracismpolitics
The Holy Land in Transit: Colonialism and the Quest for Canaan
2006 Scholarly, comparative literatureA comparative study juxtaposing Palestinian and Native American literatures to examine colonialism and narratives of land reclamation.
colonialismcomparative literatureland and belonging
Inter/Nationalism: Decolonizing Native America and Palestine
2016 Scholarly, political theoryA work that cross-examines Native American and Palestinian struggles, discussing decolonization and solidarity across movements.
decolonizationsolidaritycomparative politics
An Honest Living: A Memoir of Peculiar Itineraries
2024 MemoirA memoir recounting his academic journey, political controversies, and personal history.
autobiographyacademia and politicsidentity
Daughter, Son, Assassin
2024 Novel (political thriller)A fictional political thriller exploring political tensions and personal conflicts; his first long-form novel.
politicsviolencefamily
Bibliography
- Anti-Arab Racism in the USA: Where it Comes From and What it Means for Politics (2006)
- The Holy Land in Transit: Colonialism and the Quest for Canaan (2006)
- Arab American Literary Fictions Cultures and Politics (2007)
- The Uncultured Wars (2008)
- Modern Arab American Fiction: A Reader's Guide (2011)
- Israel's Dead Soul (2011)
- Uncivil Rites (2015)
- Inter/Nationalism: Decolonizing Native America and Palestine (2016)
- An Honest Living: A Memoir of Peculiar Itineraries (2024)
- Daughter, Son, Assassin (2024)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- scholarly and dialectical argumentationdirect, provocative polemical stylecomparative literary approach
- Recurring Motifs
- decolonizationjuxtaposition of Native American and Palestinian strugglesrace and exclusion
Legacy
Steven Salaita is known for his comparative perspective linking Native American studies and Palestine, and is remembered as a central figure in debates over academic freedom and free expression. His writings have influenced discussions on colonialism and decolonization.
Academic Societies
- US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI)
Quotes
-
If you're defending #Israel right now you're an awful human being.
Source: Tweet (2014) (2014) -
It is important to examine Native American and Palestinian issues in relation to one another from a decolonizing perspective.
Source: Inter/Nationalism (2016) (2016)
Trivia
- His tenured job offer at the University of Illinois was rescinded after controversy over tweets in 2014; the university settled in 2015 for $875,000.
- Reported in 2019 to have worked as a school-bus driver to make ends meet.
- Published the novel 'Daughter, Son, Assassin' in 2024.