April is Arab American Heritage Month! The DOE website notes that it’s a time to “Celebrate Arab Americans throughout the past and present, and recognize their invaluable contributions to our country. It also serves as a time to combat Anti-Arab bigotry and to challenge stereotypes and prejudices.” For more information about the origins of Arab American Heritage month, click here.
“Today’s Arab American community is made up of individuals with roots in 22 countries
located in the Middle East and North Africa…In addition to the many nationalities represented, Arab Americans are also diverse in faith—despite a common misconception, not all Arabs are Muslim —as well as race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability. Within their diverse community, Arab Americans are united by their primary language, Arabic, as well as by their shared history and culture.”
Below please find some resources from the DOE and others where you can celebrate this month and learn more.
Events, Exhibits, Places to Visit
- Arab American National Museum – check out online exhibits and more on their website
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum – “Celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan at Brooklyn Children’s Museum! Enjoy a day of music, dance, food, and art that honors cultural traditions from across the Muslim world, presented in partnership with Council Member Shahana Hanif.”
- Museum of the City of New York – Hidden Voices of NYC: Arab American Heritage Month – “Students will learn about Arab American New Yorkers whose stories have too often been “hidden” from the traditional historical record, but whose lives and legacies continue to shape our collective history and identity in the city.” For grades 3-5
- Various events hosted by branches of the NY Public Library
- New York Arab Festival
- Other events in NYC
Arab-American Owned Businesses and Restaurants
Books
- The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story, by Aya Khalil; illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
- Salma the Syrian Chef, by Reem Faruqi; illustrated by Fahmida Azim
- The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story, by Aya Khali; illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
- The Cat Man of Aleppo, by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
- Eleven Words for Love: A Journey Through Arabic Expressions of Love, by Randa Abdel-Fattah; illustrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke
- Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers, by Uma Mishra-Newbery and Lina Al-Hathloul; illustrated by Rebecca Green
- Nour’s Secret Library, by Wafa’ Tarnowska; illustrated by Vali Mintzi
More Resources