Among the most educated groups in the nation, Arab Americans are active in politics, education, medicine and business, among other fields. The majority are Christian, but today Arab Muslims represent the fastest growing segment of this population. These events pay tribute to more than 3.7 million Americans of Arab ancestry, who hail from 22 countries, and who have come to the United States in several waves of immigration since the late 1800s. Universities and workplaces, including my employer Gannett, facilitated special events to learn about our diverse Arab communities. MTV released a Spotify playlist with trendy music in Arabic or featuring Arab American musicians. PBS shared films that are about or made by Arab Americans. Schools are not the only place where Arab heritage was on display this month. My teen has enjoyed learning about cultures and histories during months honoring African Americans and Asians. Never would I have imagined that the captivating songs of Algerian singer Khaled would echo through the classrooms in our schools. One morning, the school aired Arabic music on the intercom. Teachers showed a video and slideshow about the contributions of Arab Americans, featuring New Jersey’s own Maysoon Zayid, an actress, comedian and disability activist. She glimpsed posters about Arab American Heritage Month in the halls that had a code for online information. I did not foresee that my daughter would rush through the front door, drop her backpack and excitedly tell me that her high school had shone a spotlight on Arab Americans. This year, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation officially recognizing the month of April as a period to celebrate and honor Arab American heritage and contributions.Īt first, I was ambivalent, expecting a largely symbolic measure marked with political expressions of support and a smattering of events. Just a few days remain in National Arab American Heritage Month.

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