In the 1880s, the first Arabs migrated more than 6,000 miles to the United States from then-Greater Syria, according to the book “Arabs in America: Building a New Future” by Michael Suleiman.
The next wave of Arab immigrants came to the U.S. in the aftermath of World War II.
As of 2015, California has the highest Arab-American population among the 50 states.
Despite the body of ocean between the U.S. and the Middle East, Arab students at San Jose State create homes for themselves by establishing student organizations.
These organizations are open to SJSU community members who embrace Arab culture as well as people who stand up for justice in the Middle East.
In the fall of 2014, civil engineering senior Abid El-Miaari founded Students for Justice in Palestine after witnessing people experience hardship from the firearms and bombs in the region.
“When I grew up, I know I have to do something to bring awareness of what is going on and all the injustices that have happened,” said El-Miaari, the president of the club.
The main goal of the organization is to raise awareness on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from the Palestinian perspective, El-Miaari said. The group is the only on-campus organization that stands on the opposite political position of the U.S. government.
El-Miaari said that the University Police Department is concerned whenever the group holds an activity.
Molecular biology junior and outreach coordinator of the club, Moe Naqib, who joined the group three years ago, admitted that he had felt fear to be outspoken on the controversial topic.
“I just remind myself that I have this opportunity to [stand up for] people who are literally dying or leaving their homes,” Naqib said. “When I think of that, it just gives me strength.”
Other students from Arab countries are also part of the group. El-Miaari and Naqib said that there are also Latinos and Native American members in the organization.
“Even though we are Students for Justice in Palestine, we are not specifically for Palestinians,” said Naqib. “We are for everybody, like immigrants who are looking for a safe place to meet people who are similar to them.”
To put their words into action, on April 5, the organization orchestrated the Palestinian flag raising at San Jose City Hall that lasted for one week.
The organization has also been raising money for a Syrian refugee scholarship.
However, while many Arab-American students want to feel connected to their roots back home, not all want to be political.
SJSU alumna Monique Gamoney founded the Lebanese Social Club to create a safe and comfortable environment on campus for Middle Eastern students. The catch was that the club was non-religious, non-political and non-discriminatory.
“In the Middle East, as most people know, it is very very separated and divided because of religions and politics. We are all one people. We all share the common core values as Middle Eastern people,” Gamoney said.
She added that the Lebanese Social Club gives members the opportunity to meet others and be united without socially constructed borders.
Formed in November 2015, the Lebanese Social Club has been recognized as a student organization since January 2016.
President of Lebanese Social Club, George Makhoul said, “To have it strictly a social group, it’s just for people to interact on a personal level.”
Though it is named Lebanese Social Club, Makhoul said that it’s open to any student who is interested in the culture.
The social club has held various events, such as career workshops, bonding activities and dabke night.
Dabke is a Middle Eastern traditional folk dance, which is especially popular in Lebanon, Gamoney said.
Being a first-generation Arab-American, Makhoul said that he enjoyed sharing the Arab culture with others. “We want to showcase our pride to our country and that’s probably why we enjoy doing it.”
