Novi author keeps family's experiences during the Armenian genocide alive with new book
Ariana Kabodian holds her book she has written titled Forget Me Not: Armenian Genocide Recollections about her relatives' recollections during the Armenian genocide in 1915-1923 while sitting at Novi Coffee & Tea in Novi on .
RYAN GARZA, DETROIT FREE PRESS
NOUR RAHAL | DETROIT FREE PRESS
Ariana Kabodian learned a lot about the Holocaust while growing up but not much about her own ancestors' genocide.
In commemoration of the 106th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and in honor of her family's history, the 28-year-old Armenian author interviewed her relatives and wrote a book called "Forget Me Not: Armenian Genocide Recollections."
The book was published this month by Chapbook Press Schuler Books. Printed on the cover is the official symbol of the Armenian genocide — the forget-me-not flower.
"I knew that the Holocaust was very well known in our community as well as nationally and internationally but unfortunately, the Armenian genocide did not have the same 'well-known factor,'" Kabodian said.
It was when her sister handed her a book about the Holocaust, to read last summer, that she felt inspired enough to share her family's history as well.
Kabodian's mother is first-generation Armenian American, while her father is second generation. She was born in Royal Oak and raised in Novi.
Being Catholic and Armenian Orthodox, Kabodian attended Mercy High School in Farmington Hills and Sunday school at St. John's Armenian Church in Southfield.
"I think it is important to my family to have an understanding of religion," she said. "And to have it be a focus throughout my life and education has kind of just helped me to stay informed with my faith, and with the community as well."
Armenia is located near the Mediterranean Sea in west Asia. Nearly 3 million Armenians currently reside there. The nation was the first to declare Christianity as its official religion in the year 301.
Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were annihilated or exiled by the Ottoman Empire — known as modern-day Turkey. This led to Armenians being dispersed throughout the world, according to Kabodian's book. Many migrated to the United States — especially Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston and Philadelphia.
In this 1915 file photo, Armenians marched long distances and said to have been massacred in Turkey. The Nazi genocide of European Jews is widely commemorated in Israel and etched deeply into the psyche of a country founded in its aftermath. But when it comes to the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I, which historians have called the "first genocide of the 20th century," Israel has largely stayed silent. Fearing repercussions from its former ally Turkey and wary of breaking ranks with American policy, Israel has refrained from calling the mass killings a genocide.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Michigan is home to about 50,000 residents of Armenian descent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Alex and Marie Manoogian were some of the most influential Armenians in Michigan. Alex Manoogian patented the first washerless single-handle faucet, the Delta faucet, and founded Masco Corp., a manufacturer for the home improvement and new home construction markets. The couple donated the Manoogian Mansion to the city of Detroit, which uses it as the official mayoral residence.
Former Michigan Gov. George W. Romney first recognized the Armenian genocide in the state on April 24, 1967, according to the Armenian National Committee of America. Since then, several governors and state legislators have formally recognized the Armenian genocide as well.
Most recently, the cities of Novi, Livonia and Southfield issued proclamations this month recognizing the Armenian genocide in commemoration of the upcoming anniversary.
More: Local Indigenous author's debut novel receives national attention, Netflix series
"The proclamations are a result of the work of the (Armenian National Committee) of Michigan and its activists’ grassroots efforts to reaffirm and recognize the Armenian Genocide especially in light of the Azerbaijani and Turkish attacks on Artsakh last year," stated the news release.
Turkey has historically denied any responsibility for the Armenian genocide, but in 2019 the U.S. Congress voted to officially recognize the genocide and formally reject all forms of denial accusations, according to "Armenian Genocide Recollections."
Kabodian's book features about 20 of her family members, she said. Each section is devoted to one particular family member's experience during the Armenian genocide and the Istanbul pogrom.
Originally, the book was intended to stay within the family, but Kabodian said she "realized that it's really important to educate people about things in history, and this would be a great way to do that."
"I really wanted to just try to preserve my family's history," Kabodian said. "I wasn't really sure what exactly the book would turn into but I quickly realized that there are a lot more stories in my family that I wasn't aware of. And so as I was beginning to develop the book and move along in the process of it, I realized that it'd be important for people outside of my family to know about the book as well."
All profits from Kabodian's book will be donated to help children in Armenia through her partnership with the nonprofit Paros Foundation.
RYAN GARZA, DETROIT FREE PRESS
Kabodian received her undergraduate degree in sustainable business from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and is currently obtaining her Master of Business Administration at Wayne State University.
She also works in higher education sales as a digital account manager at XanEDU in Ann Arbor. Balancing work, school and the book took a lot of time management and effort, she said.
"This was a 'pandemic project' she has been working on over the past year," said Kabodian's father, Armen Kabodian. He is "proud and touched" that his daughter would take the time to do this for their family.
"The stories are disappearing. The people are dying," said Armen Kabodian. "And for her to think about how important it is to remember, and not forget what happened, and then to take the action and the time to capture all that information … I'm really quite impressed."
Armen Kabodian's grandparents came to the United States around the early 1920s, he said.
"My grandparents came here through Ellis Island with pretty much nothing, and to think about all that we are blessed with now — that is really a result of their sacrifice and their endurance and having to go through what they had to," he said. "I feel so fortunate and so blessed that they decided to fight and that they survived. God bless them for that."
Contact Nour Rahal: and follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.