April is National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). This annual celebration highlights the culture, heritage, contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.
In the 1990s, school districts in various states began celebrating Arab American heritage sporadically at different times of the year. In 2017, a national initiative to coordinate all states under National Arab American Heritage Month began. In 2019 and 2020, a resolution to designate April as NAAHM was introduced in the House of Representatives but has not currently passed. However, in 2022, the U.S. President, U.S. State Department, 45 governors, and 100 municipalities, countries, and/or school districts issued proclamations observing this celebration. Specifically, Pierre Subeh, a Syrian immigrant and entrepreneur, advocated for the U.S. Department of State to recognize this commemoration.
To recognize and celebrate this month, CEHHS curated a list of resources centering Arab American voices and stories. These resources are available through the UT Library and online.
Arab American and Arabic-Speaking Voices
The resources below feature some Arab American voices through different media formats. Bolded resources signify those written/created by Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking people.
Arab & Arab American Feminism | E-Book – Rabab Abdulhadi, Evelyn Alsultany, & Nadine Christine Naber (Eds.)
Arab-American Faces and Voices | Physical Book – Elizabeth Boosahda
Beyond Memory: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Creative Nonfiction | Pauline Kaldas & Khaled Mattawa (Eds.)
Residential Patterns of Arab Americans | E-Book – Jennifer Leila Holsinger
All titles in this section are available in the Center for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Curated by Susan L. Groenke, PhD.
Cresent Moons and Pointed Minarets | Physical Book – Hena Khan
A Very Large Expanse of Sea | Physical Book – Tahereh Mafi
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers | Physical Book – Lina al-Hathloul (Author), Uma Mishra-Newbery (Author), & Rebecca Green (Illustrator)
Other Words for Home | Physical Book – Jasmine Warga
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family | Physical Book – Ibtihaj Muhammad (Author), S.K. Ali (Author), & Hetem Aly (Illustrator)
Sugar Comes from Arabic: A Beginner’s Guide to Arabic Letters and Words | Physical Book – Barbara Whitesides
The Cairo House | Memoir – Samia Sergeldin
Inclined to Speak | Poetry – Hayan Charara (Ed.)
Never in a Hurry | Essays – Naomi Shihad Nye
Sifting the Silence | Poetry – Etel Adnan
Amreeka | Movie
The Arab American Experience | Video
Arab American Stories: Traditions | Documentary (Episode)
Muslim Youth Voices | Short Film Collection
Arab American Heritage Month | Digital Special Collection – Arab American National Museum
Arab American History and Culture | Virtual Collection – Smithsonian
Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection | Archival Guide – Smithsonian Institution
Yalla Eat! | Instagram Takeover – Arab American National Museum
The Frightened Ones | Physical Book – Dīmah Wannūs
Hope & Other Dangerous Pursuits | Physical Book – Laila Lalami
How Does it Feel to Be a Problem? | Physical Book – Moustafa Bayoumi
The Thirty Names of Night | Physical Book – Zeyn Joukhadar
The Amreekies | Mohammad A., Ehab J. & Alla F.
The Queer Arabs | Alia, Ellie, Ahmed, Nadia & Adam
See Something Say Something | Ahmed Ali Akbar
Seen Jeem | Center for Arab American Studies
Curated April 2023 by Miranda N. Rutan, Doctoral Student, CEHHS DEI, UT Knoxville