Arab Americans are on a long journey, best described as navigating a virtual concentration camp while trying to claim our place in the story of America. Despite our boxed-in exclusion, we recognize how old and new friends have breathed life and vital energy into ing our goal of inclusion. Their is essential in our efforts to be restored to the ethnic studies K-12 core curriculum to be discussed this week — on Nov. 18 and 19 — by the California state legislature.
No ethnicity should have to fight against bigotry, not only to be treated fairly, but to ensure against harm and for safety and well-being. Hearing ignorant comments in my classrooms, among my peers, in the press and the community at large puts Arab Americans perpetually in the crosshairs of those attempting to further erase and harm us. The state legislators are strengthening a minority of hateful individuals and organizations. They hand them a green light to continue attacking Arab Americans. How can our lawmakers allow a minority to continually bend the conscience of our elected officials?
Conscientious people like state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond have teamed with other colleagues to legislate for ignorance — for eyes wide shut. Why do they oppose learning more about Arab Americans? Shockingly, as Arab American history and contributions are erased, a new and sweeping definition of anti-Semitism was recently inserted into the core curriculum to effectively forbid any criticism of Israel. Will the logic of avoiding real debate about U.S. foreign policies always lead to an elimination of Arab American history, contributions and identity? Is that our ball and chain? Shouldn’t Arab Americans be among the key ingredients to peace and conflict resolution here and in the Middle East? Fundamentally, Californians know they cannot leave us out forever, so why are elected leaders stalling? Why are we are left to flail in the wind when others are included? Clearly, their strategies are short-term reactions and guarantee an endless battle. They know what the right thing to do is.
A lack of education should be alarming to all. Recently, the San Diego Arab American community was approached by Japanese American San Diegans who said that they did not know anything , and it greatly concerned them. We began wonderful exchanges to learn about one another. The lacks and gaps in K-12 education will foment hate against Arab Americans down the road, for example, with those who continue on to colleges and universities. When I mentioned I was an Arab American in a university classroom, laughter and whispers of disbelief were audible for the entire class to hear. Discrimination is often expressed through course offerings about the Arab world. Professors are pressured to sloppily extend their expertise to areas of ignorance about Arab history and to repeatedly make links to terrorism. Most often it is expressed as skepticism regarding Arab contributions to music, technology, the sciences and the arts. Unaware students are left free to be blissfully and insensitively ignorant.
As stated at the outset of this essay, a reassuring number of Americans want to learn and welcome us as equal partners. Most want to hear our voices and learn what we have contributed to quintessentially American innovations: Dick Dale, a Lebanese American who was born Richard Anthony Mansour, created seminal reverberating beats that became surfer music in the 1950s and 1960s. He influenced Jimi Hendrix and heavy metal bands. Caltrans was conceptualized and istered by Wadie Deddeh, an Iraqi American from San Diego. Comedic actor Kathy Najimy (who has starred in “Rat Race” and “Sister Act” with Whoopi Goldberg) was born and raised in City Heights, San Diego’s original Syrian/Lebanese/Palestinian immigrant neighborhood. Syrian/Lebanese masons helped build Balboa Park for both Expos. These teams of brothers married Mexican women, and San Diego’s older sidewalks show their engraved company names. Arab Americans are hardwired to link innovation to diversity because of the harmonious legacy that graced the Arab World for centuries. Arab Americans have the gift to connect and create coursing through our veins. We want to share it with America to solve problems and create a better society.
Californians understand that the path of erasure and suppression is fraught with failure. Our eyes must stay wide open to educate, enlighten and encourage full participation in our state and local communities. Americans recently unequivocally reaffirmed our determination to root out institutional bigotry. Will the dogged erasure of Arab American contributions, and identity continue, like an endless game of ping pong? Let’s stop hitting the restart button every time Arab Americans achieve recognition. Our time has arrived.
