Author Archives: Arab America

For years, Syrian immigrant George Kasar has dreamed of opening a restaurant with “awesome” food. But when people discovered Kasar had named his Middle Eastern/American restaurant “The Bomb,” it sparked a wave of conversation. The restaurant in the 16700 block of E. Nine Mile won’t open for at least another week, but the phone is … Continued

The resignation of the well-known actress Scarlett Johansson from Oxfam creates an intellectual and sentimental challenge on how one should deal with this critical issue. For the past eight years, this prominent Hollywood actress has been a “global ambassador” for Oxfam. No doubt this was motivated by a yearning to empower people who are excluded … Continued

Andy Shallal, a restaurant owner and activist, has racked up a few high high-profile endorsements since he launched his bid for mayor of Washington, DC, less than two months ago. Lethal Weapon star Danny Glover, for one, who appeared at a community meeting in the Anacostia neighborhood with Shallal in early January. George Pelecanos, a … Continued

Tank God for DVR. Otherwise, I might have thought I had hallucinated when I saw not one, but two images of Arab-looking veiled Muslim women flash across my TV last night. I mean, I’m used to seeing those images, but it’s usually on CNN, and she’s usually called “The Black Widow.” But this time it … Continued

The “My Galilee Leadership Program” is a unique cultural exchange program that educates participants about the Arab/Palestinian communities in Israel. From August 1st until August 18th selected participants will travel to the Galilee, where they will have the opportunity to learn about the complexity of the Arab society and explore the culture and lives of … Continued

Going abroad to study Arabic is one of the best ways to learn the language. With a vibrant culture and a rich intellectual heritage, Morocco is naturally a destination of choice for students from across the globe. What follows below is a guide for those looking to go there to study Arabic and Qurʾān. It … Continued

On the morning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, mayoral candidate Andy Shallal, 58, posed for a photograph in front of the Lincoln Theater, one of the last remnants of Washington’s historical “Black Broadway,” with some of the city’s progressive black artists. It’s a community that Shallal has long been part of as a local … Continued

A sold out audience attended the world premier concert of the National Arab Orchestra at Atlanta’s Symphony Hall Friday night — living up to its billing — “Building Bridges through Music.” Even Gov. Nathan Deal wrote a letter of welcome to the National Arab Orchestra and the concert attendees that was printed in the evening’s … Continued

The Arab American National Museum will begin its Free Craft Sundays this weekend through Feb. 23. Craft time is from 2 to 4 p.m. each week. Free Craft Sunday is a program designed for children ages 6-12, and their parents, to experience educational and cultural activities together. Wisal Samaha, an AANM educator and a public … Continued

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a ten-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship in the nation’s capital. The program features a demanding mix of professional involvement, intellectual challenge, career exploration, and cultural encounters designed to provide interns with a rich and varied experience during … Continued

A US House of Representatives bill that would allow Israelis to enter the United States without a visa is “completely outrageous” since the “genocidal, racist, Zionist regime” denies entry for many US Muslims, an American journalist and activist in Wisconsin has told Press TV. The House’s Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on … Continued

Hani Bawardi was a graduate student when he came across the information that might shape not only his career as a professor, but the narrative of what it means to be an Arab American. “I wanted to find out who was the first person to open a grocery store in Flint,” he said, speaking of … Continued