City Council recognizes Arab American Heritage Month

Arab American Heritage Month is an opportunity to increase awareness about key issues and priorities within the Arab American community. Arab Americans have historically encountered and continue to face prejudices such as civil rights abuses, harmful stereotyping, and bullying that must be addressed through public education, awareness, and policies that are culturally competent.



For over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to every aspect of American society—in medicine, law, business, technology, civic engagement, government, literature, and culture.



The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to nearly 80,000 Arab Americans with 7,500 residing in Boston. During this month, and every month, the City of Boston acknowledges the rich culture and heritage of Arab Americans in Boston, including the over 100 year old Lebanese-Syrian Ladies' Aid Society as well as the American Arabic Benevolent Society founded in 1974.



Boston is enriched by the significant and lasting contributions of its residents of Arab American heritage, like writer and poet Gibran Khalil Gibran, entrepreneur Hannah Sabbagh Shakir, author Evelyn Shakir, political economist Leila Farsakh, space scientist and moon geologist Farouk El-Baz, plant biologist Joanne Chory, and former Red Sox player Joe Lahoud.



The Council supports the designation of Arab American Heritage Month and celebrates the integral role Arab Americans play in the economy, culture, and identity of Boston.