Arab American Heritage Month

Overview

April is Arab American Heritage Month! This celebration honors the achievements of Arab Americans throughout our country’s past and present. It also serves as a time to challenge anti-Arab stereotypes and prejudices.

Since it was first celebrated in April 2017, Arab American Heritage Month has grown from an occasion observed by only a few cities and states to an event recognized on a national scale by President Joe Biden throughout his administration.

The Arab American community, which numbers roughly 3.7 million people today, has deep historical roots in our nation. Since the first people from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are believed to have arrived to the land that would one day become the United States, there have been several waves of Arab American immigration.

The first wave began in the 19th century, as Arab Christians fled from the Ottoman Empire to escape religious persecution and economic insecurity. This ended as immigration policies in the US became more strict and placed harsh quotas on the number of people allowed into the country from the “Asiatic Barred Zone,” which was made up of many Asian and Arab countries.

As policies shifted again, new laws passed in 1965 brought another wave of Arab immigrants who came to the US in search of humanitarian protection from political instability in their native countries, economic and educational opportunities, and family reunification in the US.

Today, the still-growing Arab American population is connected by their primary language, Arabic, as well as by their shared history and culture. It is also a very diverse community, made up of individuals with roots in 22 countries located in the MENA region of different races, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and faiths—despite a common misconception, not all Arabs are Muslim.

New York City has a rich Arab American history in its own right: when the first major wave of Arab immigrants began coming to the United States in the late 1800s, many of them arrived and settled in New York. In fact, from the 1870s until the 1940s, the center of Arab life in the United States could be found in “Little Syria,” a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan concentrated on Washington Street and Rector Street. By the year 1900, nearly 2,000 Syrians lived and worked there. Some of the best-known Arab writers of their time also resided in Little Syria, including Kahlil Gibran. Together, they formed the (also known as the Pen League), sparking a movement in Arab literature.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood of Little Syria had all but disappeared by the mid-20th century. Many residents were forced to leave the area in the 1940s because of plans to build the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. The few that remained were not able to stay for long: the construction of the World Trade Center in the 1960s pushed the rest of the community out of their homes.

In more recent years, Arab New Yorkers continue to face increased racism and persecution, particularly in the aftermath the September 11, 2001, attacks and international conflicts in the MENA region in the decades since. However, in spite of this discrimination their community faces, however, Arab Americans still have a strong presence in New York state. Over 300,000 New Yorkers reported MENA descent in the 2020 census, which was the first census to specifically record such data.

Throughout April, and all year long, we encourage you to learn and teach more about Arab American history by checking out the resources below, which include exhibitions, lesson plans, recommended reading, and more, for use both in and out of the classroom.

Events and Exhibitions

• The Arab American National Museum is located in Dearborn, Michigan, but you can access their virtual tours from home! There are resources related to their core galleries along with supplemental materials for educators. Galleries include Contributions from Contributions from the Arab World, Coming to America, Living in America, and Making an Impact.
• 1001 Inventions partnered with Google Classroom to provide digital access to interactive stories about lesser-known pioneer men and women, primarily from the Arab world, to help spark young people’s interest in science while promoting diversity and inclusion in their online exhibitions.
• Visit St. George's Syrian Catholic Church, one of the few remaining buildings that made up “Little Syria.” It was originally built in 1812, and by 1850 was used as a boarding house for Syrian immigrants arriving in New York City at the time. Check out “What’s Left of New York’s Little Syria: A Short but Rich Tour” to learn more about what remains of Little Syria today.
• Join the New York Public Library for events at various branches across the city throughout April being held in celebration of Arab American Heritage Month. From poetry readings, book discussions, and film screenings to language classes, crafts, and more, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy!
• For more, Arab America shares upcoming events throughout the year that are happening near you.

Many of these books are readily available through the citywide Digital Library on Sora, which provides free access to hundreds of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also check out  the Arab American Heritage Collection on Sora for even more great recommendations.

Video and Audio Resources

• PBS has a large collection of documentaries that they recommend for Arab American Heritage Month.
• Discover the influence that the Arabic language has had on other languages around the world in this video from 1001 Inventions.
• Learn more about the lost neighborhood of Little Syria, where immigrants once lived in Lower Manhattan; check out video episodes from Now This and Al Jazeera, as well as the Bowery Boys Podcast episodes which tell this important local story.
• Arts and music play a huge role in Arab culture; learn more with Understanding Arabic Music with Simon Shaheen & Qantara, a lecture from the Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning.

Educator Resources

• The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan has a wide range of educator resources, including a collection of lesson plans for all grade levels, and access to their digital collections.
• The museum has also put together a helpful resource about the history of the Arab American community, including information about immigration, culture, and more.
• To learn more about Arab scientists, inventors, and innovators throughout history, check out the 1001 Inventions Education Pack.
• The Teach Mideast Arab American Heritage Month Resource Guide has materials that teach students about the past and present of the Arab American community, including sections on early immigration, music, culture, literature, and media, present-day advocacy, and more. For even more, check out the “Resources Guides” section of their website.
• The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has a lesson plan all about the life and work of Kahlil Gibran, a famous poet and writer who lived in the New York City neighborhood of Little Syria.
• In addition to Arab American Heritage Month, April is also National Poetry Month! Learn more about classic and contemporary Arab American poets like Gibran, and read some of their work, with resources from the Academy of American Poets.
• For teachers looking for more information about how to support their Arab students, particularly during the month of Ramadan, which often overlaps with Arab American Heritage Month, check out the NYCPS Instructional Guide about Eid al-Fitr, available to teachers on WeTeach NYC.
• Additional resources that may be helpful include an interview with an Arab American educator on the subject, as well as another resource guide for teachers from PBS called “Promoting Understanding: Islam” that provides further information.
• Check out the National Endowment for the Humanities Virtual Bookshelf for Arab American Heritage Month.
• Learning for Justice has collected resources for Arab American Heritage Month which celebrate Arab identity, counter negative stereotypes, teach about Arab history and cultures, and ensure an inclusive environment that supports Arab American students this month and throughout the year.

Hidden Voices

Hidden Voices began as a collaboration with the  Museum of the City of New York initiated to help New York City students learn about the countless individuals who are often “hidden” from traditional historical records. Each of the people highlighted in the series has made a positive impact on their communities while serving as outstanding examples of leadership, advocacy, and community service. There are several curriculum options that are especially relevant during Arab American Heritage Month, including:

• Hidden Voices: Untold Stories of New York City History, which includes a profile of Kahlil Gibran, a notable Arab American writer who lived in the Little Syria neighborhood of New York City while writing many of his most famous works.
• Hidden Voices: Stories of the Global African Diaspora, Vol. 1, which features the stories of Bilal ibn Rabah—best known as Islam’s first muezzin, the person who performs the call to prayer for Muslims—and Ahmad Baba, an Islamic scholar and teacher.
• Hidden Voices: Americans with Disabilities in United States History, which features a profile of Palestinian American comedian and activist Maysoon Zayid, whose identity as an Arab woman with cerebral palsy deeply influences her work. 
• Hidden Voices: Muslim Americans in United States History, Vol. 1, which features profiles of figures like Joseph Benenhaley (also known as Yusef ben Ali), who became the patriarch of the “Turks of Sumter County,” an ethnic enclave in South Carolina. 

In addition to these lessons, we regularly feature profiles on history-making individuals who could be considered “hidden voices.” During Arab American Heritage Month, check out our profiles on:

• Dr. Joanne Chory, a Lebanese American plant geneticist whose early work revolutionized botany and who dedicated her life to the global fight against climate change.

You can find more of our profiles throughout the year on our Hidden Voices webpage.