Emerson College Library: Arab American Heritage Month: Home

National Arab American Heritage Month

"During the month of April, the Arab America Foundation formally recognizes the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). Across the country, cultural institutions, school districts, municipalities, state legislatures, public servants, and non-profit organizations issue proclamations and engage in special events that celebrate our community’s rich heritage and numerous contributions to society."

Arab America Foundation's Statement on National Arab American Heritage Month

History of Arab American Heritage Month

2017- The process to designate the month of April as NAAHM began formally in 2017, although according to Warren and Dr. Amal David, celebrations of Arab American Heritage date back to the 1980s and earlier.
2018- Arab America received five proclamations and resolutions commemorating NAAHM from various school systems as well as the mayor’s, governor’s, and congressperson’s offices in Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, and California.
2019- The Arab America Foundation was launched, and NAAHM quickly gained official attention, garnering 109 proclamations and resolutions representing 26 U.S. states, an immense increase from the previous year.
2023- President of the United States Joe Biden Issues Historic Proclamation Recognizing National Arab American Heritage Month, 47 stage governors issued proclamations, and 5 states passed permanent legislation designating the month of April as NAAHM.

Learn More About the History and Culture of Arab Americans

National Arab American Demographics
A summary of the ethnic breakdown of the Arab-American community published by the Arab American Institute.
Arab American National Museum
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the Arab American National Museum (AANM) is the first and only museum of its kind in the United States devoted to recording the Arab American experience. It serves as a touchstone that connects communities to Arab American culture and experiences. Since opening in 2005, AANM’s goal has been to document, preserve and present the history, culture and contributions of Arab Americans.
Center for Arab American Studies
Located in Southeast Michigan, home to a thriving Arab American community, CAAS serves as a center for academic inquiry and creative expression for the investigation of the Arab American experience. In addition to offering a minor and a certificate in Arab American Studies, the center facilitates research, interdisciplinary education, public outreach, digital humanities projects, and cultural programs, as well as student mentorship and professional development.
National Arab American Heritage Month Educational Resources
Check out this list curated by Arab America for National Arab American Heritage Month for resources about Arab American culture, history, and more!

General Resources

Community Groups

Boston

American Arabic Benevolent Association
AABA’s focus is to promote charitable, educational, civic, cultural and benevolent endeavors including assistance and support of needy and impoverished people; establish, assist and support homes for the aged, orphanages, schools and charitable institutions with emphasis on providing such assistance and support to the needy, elderly, and otherwise deprived who are of Arabic descent but without discrimination as to race, nationality, color or creed and to do any and all other things necessary or desirable to carry out such purposes.
Center for Arabic Culture
The mission of the Center for Arabic Culture (CAC) is to promote Arabic Culture and the Arab-American experience through education and the arts.
New England Arab America Organization
NEAAO's goal is to have multiple hubs in different cities of New England to support Arabic-speaking people from many countries. Presently, NEAAO has two locations, in Westbrook and Portland.

Los Angeles

Arab American Civic Council
Established in 2011, the Arab American Civic Council is a grassroots 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that builds community by facilitating civic participation towards justice and equity. We envision an empowered Arab American community living with dignity in an America that is just and equitable for all.
Network of Arab American Professionals LA
Formed in 2005, NAAP-LA is a nonpartisan, volunteer based organization dedicated to the development of a prosperous and influential community connected through our national network. We work to connect, organize and empower the Southern California Arab-American community. Get

Films and Streaming Media

Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age
Muslim and Arab-American comedians describe how they use humor to take on stereotypes about their religion and politics, in the wake of 9/11.
Reel Bad Arabs
Throughout its history Hollywood has portrayed Arabs as buffoons or bandits. The video seeks to rectify this stereotyping by comparing it to other forms of racist imagery and by suggesting alternative narratives that treat the Arabs as human, not demons.
Detroit Unleaded
A fresh take on boy-meets-girl comedy set in Detroit. Sami (E.J. Assi) runs his immigrant family's gas station with his cousin Mike (Mike Batayeh, "Breaking Bad"), a charismatic hustler with dreams of expanding into an unleaded empire. More than just a pit stop for late-night gas and rolling papers, their station is where a steady stream of unforgettable and often hilarious customers flow through. When a gorgeous "up-do girl" named Najlah (Nada Shouhayib) comes to deliver cheap long-distance phone cards, Sami quickly falls for her from behind the bulletproof glass.
Towelhead
Jasira, a 13-year-old Lebanese-American girl, moves to suburban Houston to live with her extremely strict father.
Koran by Heart
In this 80-minute documentary, three 10-year-old children leave their native countries to participate in one of the Islamic world's most famous competitions, a test of memory and recitation known as The International Holy Koran Competition. Up against much older students, these youngsters have committed the 600 pages of the Koran to memory, and will put their skills to the test before the elite of the world's Muslim community in Cairo, Egypt. In the midst of this intense international competition, the three young competitors-two boys from Senegal and Tajikistan, and one girl from the Maldives -face uncertain futures at home, as they are caught between fundamentalist and moderate visions of Islam.
Feminists, Insha'allah! : The Story of Arab Feminism
The struggle for Muslim women's emancipation is often portrayed stereotypically as a showdown between Western and Islamic values, but Arab feminism has existed for more than a century. This groundbreaking documentary recounts Arab feminism's largely unknown story, from its taboo-shattering birth in Egypt by feminist pioneers up through viral Internet campaigns by today's tech-savvy young activists during the Arab Spring.

Arab American Heritage Month

Student Groups and Emerson Resources

Journals and Databases

News from Arab and Middle East Resources

National Arab American Heritage Month

History of Arab American Heritage Month

Learn More About the History and Culture of Arab Americans

General Resources

The Arab Americans

Arab-American Faces and Voices

Possible Histories

Becoming American?

Arab and Arab American Feminisms

How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?

Community Groups

Boston

Los Angeles

Films and Streaming Media