Dorrah Alharbi, an Iraqi American history graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago, has launched The Little Palestine Project to document the history of Arab settlement in Chicago through family artifacts and oral histories. The project aims to preserve the rich heritage of Arab communities, particularly in the southwest suburbs known as Little Palestine, which includes Bridgeview, Palos, and Orland Park.
Preserving Community Stories
Alharbi told Arab News that Arab Americans need to tell their stories to help the public better understand their identity and preserve a history that dates back two centuries. The project focuses on objects that immigrants brought with them, such as family photographs, key chains, wedding memorabilia, immigration documents, clothing, and embroidery. So far, she has documented 15 stories and artifacts, including a 1921 driver's license from Palestine.
“The Little Palestine Project is an object-based oral history initiative where I ask people who have immigrated from any Arab country, it doesn’t have to be specifically from Palestine, and ask them what items they decided to bring with them on their journey here to Chicago,” Alharbi explained.
Building Trust and Overcoming Challenges
Alharbi faced initial resistance when she posted flyers around the neighborhood. Some business owners declined to participate, saying they were not interested. However, she persisted, building trust with families by focusing on personal objects. Her background as an art historian helps her understand the material culture behind the objects and the stories they carry.
“Through their storytelling, we’re able to uncover more and more history that isn’t really narrativized,” Alharbi said.
Little Palestine Designation and Community Growth
Bridgeview was officially designated as Little Palestine earlier this year, with decorative street signs and banners. The region is home to the largest concentration of Palestinian Arabs in the United States and has become a hub for political activism. Alharbi’s family moved from Chicago’s North Side to the southwest suburbs in the 1990s, following the community's shift. She notes that while many neighbors are Palestinian, the area also includes Iraqis, Lebanese, Yemenis, and other Arabs.
“My family decided to move to the southwest suburbs known as ‘Little Palestine,’ including Bridgeview, Palos and Orland Park. We've been here ever since, and I am one of the very few Iraqis in the southwest suburbs. A lot of my neighbors are Palestinian,” Alharbi said.
Digital Archive and Future Plans
Alharbi has created an Instagram account, @LittlePalestineProject, to feature the objects and stories she has collected. She plans to launch a bilingual website to make the archive more accessible. The project aims to give a voice to the vibrant Arab communities in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, similar to other ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown, Greek Town, and Little Village.
“We all have something to benefit in terms of understanding one another; the same way that we can easily go to Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown, Greek Town, Little Italy or Little Village, a haven for Hispanics in Chicago. There are so many vibrant communities in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. I want to give them a voice to the people and to their stories,” Alharbi concluded.
