West LA Times

April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the rich heritage, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans across the United States. This month serves as a platform to honor the diverse community that encompasses individuals from 22 Arab nations across the Middle East and North Africa since the 16th century.

In 2017, Arab America and the Arab American Foundation spearheaded a unified celebration of Arab American Heritage Month, solidifying April as the designated month for recognizing and educating people about Arab American identity. The efforts of grassroot campaigns and educational initiatives led to the recognition of April as National Arab American Heritage Month by five states in 2018, with President Joe Biden officially proclaiming April as Arab American Heritage Month nationwide in March 2023.

California, known for having the largest Arab American population in the country, is home to significant Arab American districts like Little Arabia in Anaheim. To commemorate National Arab American Heritage Month, individuals are encouraged to engage in various activities such as reading books by Arab American authors, trying Arab recipes, exploring Arabic artists and filmmakers, or supporting local Arab American businesses.

To further engage with Arab American culture, the Santa Monica Public Library is hosting a series of events throughout April. One such event is the screening of "Breaking Fast," a romantic comedy, followed by a panel discussion with director Mike Mosallam, Lead Producer Seath Hauer, and Actor Amin El Gamal. Additionally, there will be a Zellij Bookmark Coloring Workshop where participants can create Moroccan-inspired bookmarks to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month.

These events and initiatives aim to promote understanding, appreciation, and celebration of Arab American heritage and culture within the community.