How Your Association Can Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month

April is National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM), an observance relatively new to our country. The Arab America Foundation and Arab America kicked off this celebration just six years ago to highlight the cultural contributions of this group. Only a handful of states recognized NAAHM after its launch in 2017, but the movement is picking up steam with President Biden issuing a proclamation in 2023. 

With 22 countries and three main religions, there is no end to what we can learn about Arab American culture. Here are a few suggestions on how your association can celebrate NAAHM, promote an inclusive culture, and educate one another on Arab American heritage: 

 Learn

• Explore the virtual galleries offered by the Arab American National Museum. 
• Discover more about Arab customs, traditions, and culture.
• Gain a better understanding of the bias Muslim Americans face in the U.S.
• Read up on the push for the inclusion of the Middle East or North African (MENA) category in the U.S. Census.

Listen

• Pump yourself up with Spotify’s Arab party jams or this selection of iconic female Arab artists. 

Read

• Pick up one of the winners of the Arab American Book Awards or a recommendation from writer and educator Sahar Mustafah. 
• Hear from a panel of three authors at “An Evening Celebrating Arab American Authors.” 
• Attend a seminar with award-winning author, journalist, and educator Moustafa Bayoumi discussing his book, “How Does It Feel To Be a Problem?: Being Young and Arab in America.”

Watch

• Check out these films about Arab American communities and documentaries by Arab American filmmakers recommended by Public Broadcasting Service or these television shows and films with Arab American representation.

Celebrate

• Join a virtual tour of the National Arab American Heritage Museum. 
• Pick up a fun new project from A Crafty Arab with your family.
• Get inspired to try a new recipe with one of these cookbooks:
  • “The Kitchen Without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs” by The Eat Offbeat Chefs
  • “My Lebanese Cookbook” by Tariq Fallous 
  • “Eat, Habibi, Eat!: Fresh Recipes for Modern Egyptian Cooking” by Shahir Massoud 

Support

• Donate to Arab America Foundation, Arab American Institute, or the Center for Arab American Philanthropy. 
• Shop at Syrian American-owned Mint + Laurel for your bath and body needs, Lebanese American-owned Eat Offbeat for a tasty treat made by a diverse array of chefs, or Lebanese American-owned Shatila Food Products for delicious sweets. 

While this month is a time of celebration, Arab individuals have faced no shortage of struggles both within their home countries and after arriving in the U.S. It is important for us to do the work of understanding the diverse culture, examining our own biases and prejudices, and avoiding stereotypes in order to support our Arab American colleagues and members.

For more resources about National Arab American Heritage Month, visit the Arab America Foundation website.

Annie Davidson is in Corporate Marketing at Smithbucklin.