April is National Arab American Heritage Month in the U.S. This month invites us to learn more about the histories, experiences, and contributions of people in the United States who are of Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian, and North African descent. It also calls us to address the injustices that people who identify as Arab have endured and to promote justice, equity, and well-being with and for Arab communities in the U.S. and beyond.
To help Christian communities lift up Arab American voices and stories during April and throughout the year, we at Building Faith have assembled a list of resources. This list includes new and recent books and reading lists, articles, resource hubs, podcasts, videos, and virtual exhibits. We hope that this list offers churches a starting point for gaining greater understanding of Arab American histories and cultures and for engaging in justice efforts with Arab American communities.
Books
Books for Adults
- Arab Worlds Beyond the Middle East and North Africa edited by Mariam F. Alkazemi and Claudia E. Youakim (Lexington Books, 2021)
- Beyond Memory: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Creative Nonfiction edited by Pauline Kaldas and Khaled Mattawa (University of Arkansas Press, 2020)
- Call and Commitment: A Journey of Faith from Nakba to Palestinian Liberation Theology by Naim Stifan Ateek (Wipf & Stock, 2023)
- Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami (Pantheon, 2020)
Reading Lists for Children, Youth, & Adults
- “Arab American Heritage Month,” NYC Public Schools – Book lists for early childhood, elementary children, and middle and high school youth
- “Arab American Heritage Month,” South San Francisco Redwood City Public Library – List for adults
- “Arab American Heritage Month for Children and Young Adults,” South San Francisco Redwood City Public Library – Reading list for children and youth
- “YA Books for Arab American Heritage Month,” Herrick District Library – List for middle and high school youth
Articles
- “Lessons in Hospitality during National Arab American Heritage Month” by Ryan LaHurd, ECLA Advocacy (Apr. 8, 2020)
- “Supporting Arab American Students in the Classroom” by Rania Saeb, Learning for Justice website (Apr. 15, 2021)
Resource Hubs
- “Arab American Heritage Month” by the Arab American Cultural Center, University of Illinois Chicago website – Follow the “Educational Resources” tab for reading lists, video and podcast recommendations, and more
- “A Guide to Arab American Heritage Month Created by Arab Youth,” Arab Resource and Organizing Center website – A downloadable PDF that includes stories, curriculum resources, book and other media lists, and more
Podcasts
- “The afikra Podcast, hosted by Mikey Muhanna” – A podcast that explores a range of topics with scholars, artists, and other guests in order to encourage curiosity and deepen understanding of Arab histories and cultures; episodes are about 1 hour long, with new episodes released weekly
- “Arab Talk with Jess and Jamal,” hosted by Jamal Dajani and Jess Ghannam – A podcast that offers Arab perspectives in discussing news about the Arab world; episodes are 50 – 60 minutes long, with new episodes released weekly
- “The Queer Arabs,” hosted by Alia, Ellie, Ahmed, Nadia, and Adam – A podcast that features conversations about Middle Eastern/Southwest Asian and North African as well as LGBTQ identities; episodes are 45 – 60 minutes long, with new episodes released about monthly and available in English and in Arabic
- “Seen Jeem,” hosted by Ghassan Abou-Zeineddine, Sally Howell, Matthew Jaber Stiffler, and Pauline Homsi Vinson – A podcast produced by the Center for Arab American Studies and the Arab American National Museum that showcases Arab American as well as Middle Eastern and North African diaspora writers; episodes are about 35 – 45 minutes long, with new episodes released weekly during their podcast season
Videos
- “Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month” by Beatrice Alvarez, PBS website (Mar. 31, 2022) – A collection of videos that highlight Arab Americans’ experiences
Virtual Exhibits
- Arab American National Museum – Digital resources available on the museum’s website include materials from their core galleries, a playlist of videos for the museum’s digital scrapbook project in 2019, and a free downloadable book on the history of Arab American immigration