Cedars in the Pines: History of the Lebanese in North Carolina (2012)

The documentary, Cedars in the Pines, narrates the lives of Lebanese immigrants who have journeyed from Lebanon to North Carolina and labored here to build new homes, raise families and enrich the state with their culture and hard work. It tells of a legacy that is as much about great accomplishments as it rests in the quiet and unassuming. A singular doctor in a small mountain town or a car mechanic at a Piedmont crossroads become vital threads in the fabric of this state: Lebanese cedars among the pines of North Carolina.

About the filmmaker

Dr. Akram Khater is a Lebanese-born American professor, historian, and author. He is a University Faculty Scholar, Professor of History, and the Khayrallah Chair in Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University, where he also serves as the Director of the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies.

Born 1960 in Lebanon, he earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, and holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and University of California, Berkeley, respectively. He specializes in the history of Lebanon, Lebanese studies and diaspora, Middle Eastern history, and Arab relations.