Final Thoughts
This is not to say, however, that Ms. O'Keefe's account has no value. On the contrary, her oral history of the Arab-American experience is a deeply personal look into the development of and struggles associated with being a member of the Arab-American immigrant community amidst expectations of assimilation and acculturation. Her testimony, combined with research on the general situation of Arab-American immigrants, serves to demonstrate the ways that historical trends impact the lives of those who experience them. Ms. O'Keefe's unique perspective is thus extremely valuable from any historical standpoint in understanding attitudes of the time.
I would like to conclude by reiterating our gratitude for Jackie O'Keefe's time and willingness to be interviewed. Without her this project would not have been possible, and we hope to have done her narrative justice. We are also thankful for the work of the Arab-American Project, which has underpinned this project's work from its inception.