Arab American Heritage Month
Did you know that since 2017, April has been recognized as National Arab American Heritage Month? There are nearly four million Arab Americans living in the United States today, and this month of recognition provides a time to celebrate Arab American’s unique history, culture, achievements, and contributions. When National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) began, only a few states participated. But in 2021, President Joe Biden, along with 45 state governors, issued proclamations officially honoring NAAHM. Today, it is formally recognized in 26 states. Here, btw takes a closer look at the Arab American experience and why it is important to honor and reflect on it today.
Why Celebrate?
The Arab American community has made important contributions in science, culture, the arts, and more. NAAHM recognizes and reflects on this and raises awareness of the unique challenges faced by Arab American. Learning more about the Arab American experience can help to reduce stigma and challenge potentially harmful stereotypes.
NAAHM is also important for bringing the Arab American community together. It is important to recognize that the Arab American population is very diverse. It is represented by more than 1,500 political, religious, and ethnic organizations. Not all Arabs are Muslim, and Arab Americans come from 22 countries located in the Middle East and Africa. However, Arab Americans are connected by the shared Arabic language and a shared history within the United States.
A Rich History
Arab American immigration to the U.S. occurred in several time periods. From the 1880s to 1924, an estimated 95,000 Arab speakers from around the world arrived in the United States, mostly from modern day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. By 1924, roughly 200,000 Arab immigrants were living in the U.S. The number of new immigrants declined drastically after World War I, when anti-immigrant sentiment gave rise to policies like the 1921 Quota Act and the Immigration Act of 1924. These laws placed restrictions on the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country who weren’t from northern or western Europe.
The passage of the 1965 Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act began to reverse this history. A new wave of immigrants from the Middle East, including many educated professionals and students who were eager to begin a new life in the U.S. began arriving in the late 1960s and through the 1970s. Another wave of immigration occurred in the 1990s, when political unrest in many Arab nations caused people to seek asylum in the U.S. as refugees.
Learn More!
Several museums and institutions in the United States have been established to celebrate and preserve the Arab American experience. The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is one such U.S. museum with this mission. It is located in Dearborn, Michigan: the city with the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the U.S. The museum, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., houses original art and film, historical documents and artifacts, and community meeting spaces.
The Arab America Foundation (AAF) is an organization that plays an important role in supporting Arab American history and culture. The AAF was established as a nonprofit in 2019 to celebrate Arab heritage, educate Americans about the Arab identity, and provide opportunities for empowerment and connection within the Arab American community. The AAF launched National Arab American Heritage Month in 2017. It holds regular summits and provides state and local governments, school districts, and non-profit organizations with tools and resources to gain a better understanding of Arab American heritage.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is another important resource for Arab Americans. It contains an original collection of oral histories, artifacts, and materials that tell the story of the Arab American immigrant experience. Dr. Alixa Naff began the collection by gathering oral histories of Arab American in the early 1960s. Dr. Naff donated her materials to the museum. These materials became the backbone of the museum’s collection and are unique because they contain many firsthand accounts (people telling the stories of their experiences in their own words). The initial tapes, from 1962, contain 81 hours of interviews with 87 people. Naff continued to collect oral histories from Arab American immigrants until the mid-1990s.
Other Ways to Celebrate
Visiting one of these museums isn’t the only way to honor NAAHM. You can celebrate in your own home or school–by reading a book or watching a film by an Arab American artist. You can visit a Middle Eastern or North African restaurant to try a traditional dish. Finally, check with your local library or go online to see if there are any Arab American Heritage Month events happening near you.