So far, Americans have celebrated Black History Month in February, and Women’s History Month in March. April brings a season dedicated to Arab-Americans. According to the Arab American Institute Foundation, it’s estimated there are over 3.6 million Arab-Americans living in the U.S. These are individuals who can trace their roots back to a country in the Middle East, such as Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. Here are some famous Arab-Americans to learn more about this month, to understand those who are making a difference in America’s history.
Entertainers Who Have Arab Genes
Paula Abdul may have both Canadian and American ties, but her father is Syrian. Her first number one hit took 64 weeks on the Billboard Chart to reach the top, but with the success of “Forever Your Girl” in 1987, she’s gone on to become one of the greatest superstars in the music industry. Shakira, another major music icon, has Lebanese roots. Danny Thomas, who was one of the greatest comedians in the early days of television also is Lebanese. His daughter, Marlo Thomas starred as a single woman in “That Girl,” a program which was instrumental in giving women a voice of their own in the industry.
Tony Shaloub and Amy Yasbeck, both with Lebanese ties, made history in “Wings,” when two Arab-Americans were featured in the TV series. You may know Shaloub better as “Monk” and Yasbeck has been making a name in the movies, appearing in the “Men in Black” films. Most people remember Kathy Najimy, the beloved nun from “Sister Act,” who also has Lebanese parents. Callie Khouri, who won multiple awards, including an Oscar for the screenplay “Thelma and Louise,” grew up in Kentucky as the child of a Lebanese American doctor and a southern belle mother.
Art, Literature, Science, and Medicine
Houston surgeon, Dr. Michael Debakey developed the heart pump, making open-heart surgery possible. He was a pioneer in the field of heart and vascular medicine, and his parents were Lebanese immigrants who anglicized their name. Anyone who remembers 1986 cannot forget the horrible tragedy of the space shuttle Challenger. Serving as the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe had ties to Lebanon through her father.
In the art world, many Arab-Americans have contributed work to the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and the White House. Sam Maloof was a woodworker born to immigrants who had lived in the Ottoman Empire. He was known as the “Hemingway of Hardwood.” One very popular children’s author, Naomi Shihab Nye, who wrote “The Turtle of Oman” and “Habibi” has ties to the Palestine community.
Fashionistas have many Arab-Americans to thank for the beautiful designs and clothing that has come out of the industry. J.M. Haggar started Haggar Clothing Co. in 1926, after emigrating from Lebanon. Arab American Joseph Abboud won the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award for two years in a row, the first man to do so. The Farah Brothers and Maloof Brothers are both companies which produce multiple clothing lines and accessories for men and women, with ties to the Arab community.
Celebrate Arab Heritage
With all the rhetoric around the presidential campaign, Arab-Americans probably feel as if they don’t have a place in American history, but they do. We can’t blame the acts of a few as a reason to discriminate against the many. It’s almost like saying that because not all of them can sing as well as Paula Abdul, then their contribution isn’t worthy. Americans have to judge each person individually on their own character and role in the community. Take this month to read more about famous Arab Americans who have changed history in their own right. These men and women are just a few of the ones who made a difference in their own industries.