April Heritage & Cultural Highlight: Arab American Heritage Month  

About 

Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated in acknowledgment of the contributions, achievements, and influence of the estimated 3.7 million Americans in the United States with Arab roots. National Media Organization, Arab America and The Arab America Foundation launched this initiative in 2017, with just a handful of states recognizing the initiative, and in 2023, President Biden became the first U.S. president to declare April as National Arab American Heritage Month. Whether you identify as an Arab American or as an ally, join us in activities to connect, learn, and do in honor and celebration of Arab Americans this month.

Equitable Well-Being Recommended Activities 

This month you should locally check out the family friendly 24th Annual Triangle Lebanese Festival in Raleigh, April 20-21st. Also, practice your Arabic, whether you are a beginner or master your fluency, in the Master Arabic | ArRazzaq Islamic Center classes! Check out cool activities directly from your home or office by visiting the Museum of the Palestinian People Virtual Museum, or the Arab American Heritage Month online exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute, or even the Arab American Heritage Month activities and resources presented by PBS.

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Connecting  

You can connect with local organizations such as the NC State University Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies, the Triangle Lebanese-American Center, the Duke University Middle East Studies Center, and the oldest mosque in North Carolina, the ArRazzaq Islamic Center.

Learning 

Depending on how they are counted, there are between 19 and 22 countries counted in the “Arab World” where the population is of Arab origin and/or speaks Arabic as a primary language. Note that this is different from both the “Middle East” and “Muslim” countries. The Arab World is incredibly diverse, with a range of ethnicities, genetics, languages, religions, and customs. We encourage you to engage with some of our recommended activities (above) and our doing activities (below) to test your knowledge and assumptions about Arab Americans. Perhaps you will be very brave and learn Arabic at the ArRazzaq Islamic Center!

Doing 

To begin, diving into the literature written by Arab American authors is a great place to start. Ayad Akhtar’s “The Homeland Elegies” and Laila Lalami’s “The Other Americans” offer insightful perspectives on the Arab American experience.  “When We Were Arabs: A Jewish Family’s Forgotten History” by Massoud and “The Arabs in America: Building a New Future”by Suleimon are also valuable resources for understanding the diverse and intersectional experiences of Arab Americans. Love podcasts and playlists? Spotify – Arab and Arabic Music - Apple Music has curated playlists and podcasts from Arab artists, leaders and influencers.

You could also watch movies like “American Arab” (2016), “The Visitor” (2007), and “Reel Bad Arab: How Hollywood Vilifies a People” (2006) shed light on the nuanced portrayals of Arab Americans in cinema. To explore the intersectionality of Arab American and Women’s History, consider watching “Wadjda” (2012) and “Ms. Marvel” on Disney+. For those interested in connecting with other resources and leaders in the Arab American community, the National Network for Arab American Communities page is an excellent place to start. This organization offers valuable information, resources, and opportunities to engage with others in the community.

Conversation Starters 

Here are some questions to start conversations with others about Arab American History Month. For leaders, try building in time in supervisions or team meetings to prompt staff conversations about Arab American History Month. Options could include: 

  • Did you learn anything new about Arab American History this month?  

  • Have you made any new personal or professional connections this month that can help you support Arab Americans? 

  • Did you learn anything new about Arab American’s History or the experience of Arab American people this month? 

  • How did you participate in Arab American Heritage Month?  

  • How can things you learned or did for Arab American Heritage Month impact how you do your job?