Commemorating Achievements of Arab American Communities

April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Arab Americans have contributed to various aspects of U.S. society since 1527.1 Arab American communities are diverse: their heritages are rooted in about 22 countries from the Middle East to North Africa and practice different religions. However, they have often been homogenously described. More importantly, their experiences have been masked because the U.S. census has categorized Arab Americans as racially white. Thus, Arab Americans have battled for an accurate representation of themselves as Arab Americans and of their diversity. In this movement, Arab American women have also played pivotal roles. Yet, these stories are seldom told.  

One way to celebrate Arab American heritage is to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of Arab Americans for their better representation in the U.S. In this Ally Tips episode, we highlight the recent changes in collecting racial demographic information of Arab American individuals in the U.S. This can lead us to understand the experiences of Arab American students, faculty, and staff in their own lives and in higher education. We will also share some of the resources to commemorate Arab American heritage and advocate for the intersectionality of Arab American women.

Did you know Arab Americans were racially white in the U.S. Census?

Since 1994, Arab Americans have been racially and ethnically categorized as white in the U.S. census. Such classification caused this group to face “a double-edged sword,” meaning that they're considered white on paper but not in the real world.2  The Arab American (or Middle Eastern or North African: MENA) communities experience disparities in a wide range of areas, such as health, housing, education, employment, and civic rights. However, their challenges have not been counted and portrayed accurately due to the absence of systemic tracking of their demographics in the U.S. This results in severely disproportionate funding allocations to improve the lives of Arab Americans.3  Moreover, the systemic erasure of Arab American identity on the federal level has hindered higher education institutions from providing appropriate support for the students, faculty, and staff who identify as MENA.4   

In March 2024, Arab Americans achieved their prolonged hope of being counted and represented correctly in the U.S. after 50 years of hard work to this end.5 They are finally given the option to choose their race and ethnicity as Middle Eastern or North African and indicate the specific country with which they identify, if they wish, in the U.S. Census. This change can allow higher education institutions to more accurately capture the experiences of Arab American members on campus .  

Other ways of celebrating the Arab American Heritage Month

In addition to celebrating the achievement of Arab Americans in changing the Census, we recommend that our allies and advocates take time to learn about the values, experiences, and cultures of Arab Americans with their families and peers by readingbooks by and about Arab Americans. The Arab American National Museum holds the annual Arab American Book Awards. USC Race and Equity Center listed children's books on Arab American history and individuals. These books can help us engage in more meaningful and nuanced conversations with our peers and students with MENA identities.

Arab American women we should know

As advocates and allies, it is also important to use an intersectional lens to understand and explicatethe experiences of Arab American women in academia.5  Furthermore, we can dedicate power and privilege to uplift Arab American women by advocating their contributions todiversity and excellence in U.S. society. While the list of Arab American women who made American history is extensive, the League of Women Voters  highlights Donna Shalala, Helen Thomas, and Charlene Mekled Elder and their profound roles in fostering American democracy.

Donna Shalala was the first Arab American to serve in a cabinet position. She was the Secretary of Health and Human Services for eight years, the longest period anyone has held this role to date.
Helen Thomas is an author and journalist who is known for her pioneering work as a woman, breaking gender barriers in journalism. 
Charlene Mekled Elder was the first Arab American Woman and Muslim judge in the U.S. She has been greatly influential in initiating the Domestic Violence Prevention Court. 

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Weekly Resources

  • Article: ‘Transformative’: US Census to add Middle Eastern, North African category –While highlighting the recent changes in the US Census, this article addresses continuous efforts to avoid undercounting the Arab American communities due to the absence of specific subcategories like Black Arabs.  

  • Video: Why We Need Arab American Heritage Month –This video well summarizes the invisible experiences of Arab Americans and what this heritage means to them.  

  • Book: Arab American Women: Representation and Refusal—The collected essays in this book illuminate the history and significance of Arab American women in regard to the issues of migration, transformation, and reformation. They explain how these women formed their identities as Arab American women and paved unique trajectories in US academia and society. 

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