April is National Arab American Heritage Month. For educators committed to the cause of social justice, this time presents an important opportunity to ask ourselves: From the boardroom to the classroom, how are Arab American students — and their diverse Arab cultural heritages and legacies — represented with dignity throughout the curricula and the community? How are Arab American students’ voices and experiences centered, and not censored?

Representation in education is not just about visibility; it’s about identity and belonging. Arab American students, like all students, deserve to see their histories, stories and cultures that have been delicately woven into the fabric of American life. In Arabic, we say “Ahlan wa Sahlan” (“welcome”) to reflect the value of making guests feel like family. The word “Ahlan” derives from “Ahl,” meaning “family,” and “Sahlan” suggests “ease or comfort.” This saying reflects a key cultural principle that can be embraced in schools to foster inclusivity.

Arabs are a diverse Semitic group whose ancestry traces back to the 22 countries that span the region across Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). These countries have Arabic as their official language and are Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Arabs’ diversity is reflected in religious identities that include being Christian, Muslim, Jewish or non-religious, among others. However, they share a common linguistic and cultural heritage that spans millennia, long before the creation of modern nation-states.

The borders that define modern Arab countries were largely drawn in the sand during the colonial era by British and French powers and later through agreements like the Sykes-Picot Agreement. These arbitrary divisions fragmented indigenous, historically interwoven communities and created lasting crises that persist today.

Arab Americans have immigrated to the United States in distinct waves over the last century starting with the first wave in the 1880s as Christians from Greater Syria (a region in the Ottoman Empire) came to the U.S. seeking economic opportunities and became small business owners. The second wave started in 1948 through the 1960s as the U.S. opened its doors to STEM and medical professionals through a visa lottery in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. The third wave of immigration and the waves thereafter were shaped by refugees fleeing from their war-torn countries and displaced as a result of U.S. foreign policy.

Contributions to American life Arab Americans have contributed to the tapestry of American life in extraordinary ways. In science and medicine, trailblazers like Dr. Michael DeBakey revolutionized cardiovascular surgery and Dr. Elias Zerhouni served as the director of the National Institutes of Health where he advanced the field of magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. Scientists like Farouk El-Baz, who pioneered space photography, and Huda Zoghbi, a renowned neurological researcher, have a pivotal role in advancing STEM fields.

In academia, Arab American scholars have expanded global understanding through groundbreaking work in fields such as sociology, political science and literature. Scholars like Dr. Jack Shaheen have fought to dismantle the negative stereotypes of Arabs in the media by critiquing their portrayal in Hollywood. Dr. Evelyn Shakir helped preserve the stories of Arab American women through literature. The legacy of poets such as Kahlil Gibran and Mahmoud Darwish continues to inspire both worldwide readers and Arab poets in the U.S., with Darwish’s powerful verses articulating love, resistance, identity and belonging under exile.

The arts and entertainment world has also been deeply enriched by Arab Americans. Legendary singer and songwriter Paul Anka penned the English lyrics to “My Way,” which were immortalized by Frank Sinatra. Comedians like Ramy Youssef and Mo Amer explore identity and faith in fresh, nuanced ways, while actors like Rami Malek have taken center stage with Oscar-winning performances. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Shadid challenged stereotypes as he reported on the Arab region, bringing to life untold stories from war-torn areas.

In sports, athletes such as NBA player Alaa Abdelnaby, Olympian Sarah Attar, NHL’s Justin Abdelkader, NFL coach Robert Salah, MLB’s Sam Khalifa, and MLS player Justin Meram each illustrate excellence and sportsmanship through their Arab heritage.

Arab Americans have played a pivotal role in shaping the American economy through entrepreneurship. Brands like Haggar Clothing Co., Philz Coffee, BioSilk/CHI, and Kinko’s are just some of the companies started by Arab Americans. The iPod was invented by hardware engineer Tony Fadell, and Steve Jobs, of Syrian descent, co-founded the iPhone with him.

Arab Americans have long fought for justice and social equality. Helen Thomas advocated for Arab American rights as a previous White House correspondent. Former senator James Abourezk founded the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee to help combat harmful perspectives of Arabs. Rashida Tlaib continues to serve as the first Palestinian-American congresswoman.

Within the American food scene, culinary artists like Reem Assil, Fadi Kattan and Michael Rafidi have used food as a vehicle to share the rich history and cultural narratives of the Arab world. Traditional dishes like hummus (“chickpeas” in Arabic), falafel (originated in Egypt), and shawarma (“turning” in Arabic as the meat revolves around an open fire) have found their way into mainstream American dining, highlighting Arab American contributions to the nation’s diverse culinary landscape.

Confronting Orientalism and its harmful effects Despite these rich contributions, the dominant narratives about Arabs in the U.S. are often shaped by misunderstanding, fear and erasure as they face the effects of Orientalism, a term coined by Palestinian American scholar Edward Said. Orientalism refers to the Western portrayal of Eastern societies — particularly the Arab world — as exotic, backward, threatening and inferior. These negative stereotypes and often hostile portrayals have been embedded in literature and media for centuries, often painting Arabs as either villains, victims or caricatures.

For Arab heritage youth, these narratives do more than misinform — they harm. When students grow up rarely seeing themselves in their school curriculum, or worse, seeing only negative stereotypes, the impact can be profound. The combination of underrepresentation, racialized narratives, and media disinformation contributes to higher rates of anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation among Arab American students, impacting their academic engagement. When identity is either ignored or vilified, they are left to question their place, their worth and their future. Without intentional and accurate representation in the classroom, these students carry the silent weight of cultural invisibility.

This distortion of Arab culture and identity not only affects Arab American youth, but also affects families and educators of Arab heritage, who often face misjudgment, surveillance and exclusion. It affects educators, who may unknowingly perpetuate harmful stereotypes. It also affects communities, who are left out of civic and cultural discussions.

A call to action for educators Educators and schools who champion social justice, access and equity have a responsibility to create an environment where all voices — especially the historically marginalized — are heard. By integrating Arab American history, literature, music and personal experiences into the curriculum, educators can actively challenge Orientalist narratives and promote critical thinking and empathy in their classrooms. Schools that include these diverse voices correct historical omissions and create a learning environment where all students can see themselves valued.

Arab American Heritage Month is not simply about celebrating a month — it is a call to action for everyone to ensure that Arab American youth are valued and supported. We can confront biases and foster inclusivity, compassion and mutual respect. By amplifying Arab American voices, we help to lift the veil of misrepresentation and erasure and welcome Arab American students, reflecting on their rich diversity of faiths, family and community values along with the contributions in all areas of American life. It is saying “Ahlan wa Sahlan” — you matter, and you belong.

For more information on ACSA Arabiyya — The Arab-American Administrator’s Network, visit bit.ly/acsaarabiyya.