By: Mehdi El Merin i/ Arab America Contributing Writer The 1001 Nights, also known as Arabian Nights, is often celebrated for its enchanting stories of magic, romance, and adventure. However, beneath the surface of these fantastical tales lies a fascinating reflection of the Islamic Golden Age’s geopolitical dynamics and imperial ambitions. The collection, which grew out of … Continued
By: Samira Rafidi Meghdessian with Joseph Eric Cadora / Arab America Contributing Writers When I first picked up A History of the City of Ramallah (its original Arabic title), it had been on my parents’ bookshelf for years and was known simply as Ammo (Uncle) Joseph’s book. Many years later, I was inspired to translate … Continued
By Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer The tragic events of September 11, 2001, led to a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism in the U.S. However, it is important to recognize that these attacks were not the beginning but rather one of several turning points in the history of discrimination against Arabs and … Continued
By Liam Nagle / Arab America Contributing Writer Al-Ma’arri, a relatively obscure Arab philosopher from the Golden Age of Islam, is perhaps best described as a pessimist. He held several beliefs that were controversial not only in his time but even today. First, while he believed in a God, he was critical of organized religions. … Continued
By: Yara Marei / Arab America Contributing Writer In Jordanian and Palestinian culture, mansaf is more than just a dish; it is a symbol of heritage, hospitality, and communal values. This traditional meal, steeped in history and cultural significance, brings people together to share not just food but a sense of identity and belonging. Mansaf’s … Continued
By: Yara Marei / Arab America Contributing Writer Imagine a band that takes the ordinary, lights it on fire, and from the ashes creates something extraordinary. This is Harget Kart—a name that, in the Arabic Jordanian dialect, means “to burn a photo card.” Just as their name suggests, Harget Kart has set the conventional boundaries … Continued
By: Luke McMahan / Arab America Contributing Writer Luke McMahan has been a student of Arabic for two and a half years, and throughout this time, he has been told how wonderful Arabic poetry is. However, because not many translations exist online of anything but the most famous poems, he had to wait to progress … Continued
By Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer The Cat Man of Aleppo, written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, with illustrations by Yuko Shimizu, is an inspiring and heartwarming picture book. It tells the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, a Syrian ambulance driver who rescued people buried under rubble during the turmoil of … Continued
By: Yara Marei / Arab America Contributing Writer In a world where we often take knowledge for granted, seldom questioning the foundations of what we believe to be true, Hani Al-Najjar’s book Those Who Hide the Sun challenges us to rethink everything we think we know. This book is not merely a call to question … Continued
By Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer Arab American studies as a field owes much to the groundbreaking work of many pioneers. We are indebted to numerous professors, but for the scope of this work, we will focus on the lives and legacies of five pioneering Arab American scholars: Alixa Naff, Evelyn Shakir, Jack … Continued
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By: Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer Kawkab America is widely recognized as the first Arabic newspaper, founded by members of the Greek Orthodox Church (Mehdi 5, 7). What is less commonly known is that this groundbreaking publication was bilingual, non-sectarian, and transnational. Its efforts to forge connections and promote … Continued
By Liam Nagle / Arab America Contributing Writer There have been a variety of cultural movements in the Arab world – both in the Middle East and in North Africa. Movements like the Nahda helped to define what the “Arab nation” actually was. But did you know there was also a cultural movement amongst the … Continued
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