I began this project in 2007 after Jet Blue and TSA prevented an American citizen from boarding an airplane because he was wearing a t shirt with Arabic on it. I chose the text, “الكلمات في هذا التي شيرت مكتوبة باللغة العربية” = “The words on this T shirt are written in the Arabic language” because it is simple and non-threatening.

My goal is to explore the political and social ramifications of America’s response to Arabic, not to intimidate anyone or to hassle TSA agents. I hope that people’s curiosity and possible discomfort about the T-shirts will create conversation.

Although my original idea was to wear the T-shirt while traveling, I have learned that participants have interesting experiences whenever they wear the T shirt.

This project is inspired by the experience of Raed Jarrar.

Jarrar wearing the "We will not be silent" T Shirt

Jarrar, an American citizen of Arab descent, was traveling from JFK to his home in California. He was wearing a T-shirt that reads in Arabic and in English, ” We will not be silent.” He was stopped and was not allowed to board his airplane until he covered his T-shirt with another shirt.