Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the advancements, contributions, and culture of Americans of Arab heritage.
According to the Arab American Institute, efforts to celebrate and honor Arab American heritage date back to the 1980s. The first resolution, however, to celebrate their vibrant community on a federal level came in April 2019. In 2022, Joe Biden became the first president to release a celebratory statement to Arab Americans, and in 2023, he issued an official proclamation highlighting the month.
Featured Notable People
- Having grown up in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and Cleaveland Heights, Ohio, Eman Quotah is the author of The Night is Not Right for You and Bride of the Sea. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Toast, The Establishment, Book Riot, Literary Hub, Electric Literature, and more. She has been awarded fellowships from MacDowell and Hedgebrooks. She has also received grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts and Humanities of Montgomery Country. Eman currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her family.
- An American racecar driver, Robert Woodward Rahal is a three-time IndyCar Champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner. Born in Medina, Ohio, Rahal formerly lived in New Albany, Ohio, and currently lives in Chicago. His 18-year career spanned Formula 1, Can-Am, Le Mans/IMSA, and CART. Rahal started 264 races for five teams, took 18 poles, and scored 24 wins over his career.
- An Egyptian American Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Ahmed Hassan Zewail is known as “the Father of Femtochemistry,” an area of physical chemistry that studies chemical reactions on extremely short timescales. In 1999, he became the first Egyptian and Arab to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific field.
Featured Page: Arabic Language Materials on CHPL.org
If you speak Arabic, CHPL.org has a webpage written in the language. Explore the webpage to find reliable information and discover the latest books,
Featured Books
Check out these staff-curated booklists to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month!
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month and SWANA Heritage Month with a dynamic collection of YA novels that uplift Arab and Southwest Asian/North African voices, stories, and lived experiences and amplify the richness and diversity of Arab and SWANA teen perspectives.
This booklist celebrates Arab American Heritage Month and SWANA Heritage Month by highlighting middle grade books that feature Arab and Southwest Asian and North African characters, cultures, and experiences. These stories invite readers to explore themes of identity, family, friendship, and belonging while learning about the diverse voices and perspectives within these communities.
This booklist celebrates Arab American Heritage Month and SWANA Heritage Month by highlighting picture books and early readers that introduce young children to the cultures, traditions, and everyday experiences of Arab and Southwest Asian and North African families. Through engaging stories and colorful illustrations, these books help kids build empathy, curiosity, and appreciation for diverse communities.
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