Every year, April is recognized as Arab-American Heritage Month, honoring the rich histories, contributions and cultures of Arab-Americans across the United States.
At San José State, students are using the month as a time to celebrate identity and foster cultural awareness on campus.
In the U.S., the Arab-American population is over 3.7 million people, all with diverse religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, according to the same source.
Arab-Americans trace their roots to 22 Arabic-speaking countries, stretching from North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, as referenced by the Arab American Institution.
Arab-American Heritage Month wasn’t recognized until 2022 when it received official federal recognition, according to an April 1, 2024 article from the University of New Mexico.
After years of advocacy by community organizers, educators and Arab-American organizations, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation acknowledging the month, making it a milestone moment for Arab visibility and representation, according to The Biden White House Archives .
Yet, despite this diversity and population, many Arab students say their culture remains widely misunderstood, especially in academic settings.
Mahmoud Abuwarda, a fourth-year aerospace engineering major and president of the Muslim Student Association, said this lack of understanding is all too common.
“There have been countless times when I’ve told people I’m Palestinian and they didn’t even know what that meant,” Abuwarda said.
The lack of inclusion of Arab and Islamic cultures in education not only contributes to misunderstandings, but also Arab youth feeling excluded from the American narrative and disconnected from their own identities, as shared by the University of Washington Tacoma.
“Sometimes people even confuse or lump together Middle Eastern and South Asian identities, which just shows a lack of understanding of both of our distinct cultures and histories,” Abuwarda said.
This kind of confusion is not uncommon in broader American society, where ethnic identities are often oversimplified. According to the SevenSix Agency, people often have limited exposure to the diversity within both the Middle East and South Asia.
They also point out that educational gaps, particularly in how cultural regions are taught, contribute to misunderstandings and the tendency to simply group distinct groups together.
Abuwarda, who is from Gaza, shared that he often feels proud of his roots, especially when he sees non-Arabs expressing solidarity with Palestine.
He also pointed out challenges, specifically around the lack of accommodations for Muslim students during religious holidays.
Unlike other religious groups who often receive formal recognition or flexibility around their holidays, there are currently no university-wide accommodations in place for Muslim students during Ramadan or other significant holidays.
“It felt like I had to fight tooth and nail just to receive simple accommodations in class during the only time of the year that we really need them,” Abuwarda said.
Sousen Saddik, a second-year management information systems student and a MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center staff member, being Arab, more specifically Palestinian, is a daily part of her identity.
“One beautiful thing about Palestinian culture that brings me both joy and strength is our deep sense of steadfastness,” Saddik said. “No matter how hard life gets or what adversities we face, we continue to persist, to find goodness in life and to stay rooted in our identity, heritage and land.”
As the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs said, there is a sense of perseverance that resonates even more powerfully as global attention has increased considering the crisis in Gaza. It has also sparked important conversations around Palestinian identity and reliance.
Saddik said she stays connected through small everyday acts: wearing a keffiyeh, speaking Arabic and bringing desserts like maamoul to share with friends. Her work at the MOSAIC has also shown her the importance of visibility and representation on campus.
“One event I’m especially proud of organizing is ‘The Hijab Journey,’ which featured a guest speaker who spoke about the meaning of the hijab, its significance in Islam and how to navigate a world that often misunderstands,” Saddik said.
Laila Ben Ameur, a second-year management information systems student, is Tunisian-Vietnamese and speaks on her reality of holding multiple identities. She said food, music and language help her stay rooted in her heritage, even while navigating college life.
“I speak Arabic with my family, visit my country (Tunisia) every year, and stay close to my heritage through food, music and traditions,” Ameur said.
Arab culture has a deep-rooted richness built on centuries of diverse customs that have passed down many generations.
Artistic expressions like oral storytelling hold a special place in many Arab households, as it’s used to preserve their folklore and history through tales, According to a Alif Arabic webpage.
She said she is proud of her identity and loves sharing parts of her culture with others. However, Ameur admits it’s not always easy.
“It can also be challenging at times, especially when people make assumptions or don’t understand the diversity within Arab cultures, especially since I’m North African,” Ameur said.
Ameur also wants others to embrace the diversities that exist within Arab identities. She reiterates that people should understand how diverse and rich Arab culture really is.
As Arab-American Heritage Month continues, it's a powerful reminder that cultural pride is more than just celebration, but most importantly visibility.
“This type of warmth (from fellow Arab communities) is something that I wish more people truly understood,” Abuwarda shared.
