Sponsored Post: 6 Arab American Women With Exceptional Contributions

posted on: Sep 30, 2024

President Biden made April Arab American Heritage Month in 2022, which has been celebrated yearly since. This month is about lowering prejudice against Arabs and clearing up common misunderstandings. Not just Arab Americans but people from all walks of life are urged to take part in celebrating diversity. Everyone can help bring attention to the rich culture and history that Arab Americans bring to the U.S., whether they offer services like paper writing service or just want to support their Arab American friends and family. 

The community’s accomplishments in history, the arts, and culture—which have shaped society over decades—are honored throughout April.

The Significance of Celebrating Successful Arab American Women

Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Eastern people have been represented poorly in U.S. media and popular culture for ages. This has affected people’s opinions and, in turn, encouraged institutional and personal racism. Therefore, it is time to celebrate Arabs abroad to prove that it’s not all negative as portrayed. 

Among other fields, Arab American women have succeeded in activism, politics, sciences, and arts. By celebrating their accomplishments, we dispel misconceptions and show their capability. It also contributes to a better knowledge of Arab American history and culture, eradicating myths and illuminating the range of experiences that exist within the community.

Arab American women have long been a part of American history, even though the federal government just recently recognized Arab American Heritage Month. In honor of this month, here’s a post highlighting their impact across various sectors.

Noor Tagouri

Known for her work across several media—including videos, podcasts, writing, and television—Tagouri is a storyteller and investigative journalist. She is motivated by a need to correct the false portrayal of Muslims.

Noor also discusses women’s viewpoints, Islamic beliefs, and cultural differences. She does this to make sure that media coverage, especially when it comes to terrorists, doesn’t wrongly connect all Muslims to these extreme groups. She uses her show Rep to talk about how bias in the media affects Arabs and hopes to change false ideas.

Rashida Tlaib

She is among the few Arab American women in politics who have notable achievements. Rashida made history when she was elected in 2018 to the 13th Congressional District of Michigan. She is recognized as the first Muslim woman with Palestinian heritage to be elected to the House of Representatives and Congress. Her success story serves as a remarkable example of tenacity and persistence, inspiring other Arab American girls to follow their dreams despite the hurdles.

As Tlaib attends to the day-to-day concerns of her people, she maintains a firm position against corporate and environmental injustices, demonstrating her dedication to her community. The Payee Fraud Prevention Act, one of Rashida’s historic pieces of legislation, has been crucial in protecting the elderly.

Of 160 legislation and amendments presented, 39 have been enacted successfully, demonstrating Rashida’s influence goes far beyond her first accomplishments. Her continued impact in determining policy is demonstrated by her focus on urgent issues and her membership in important committees throughout her time in Congress.

Linda Sarsour

Most people can concur that Sarsour is a leading progressive activist whose goal is to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. She is known in the Arab American Association of New York and the MPower Change community. Her activism is on women’s rights, immigration, and Muslims, among other issues.

Linda, who Palestinian immigrants raised, is a fervent advocate for human rights. She uses her fame to educate against islamophobia. Sarsour is also a talented author, and her work has garnered widespread recognition and placed her among the most accomplished and influential figures in both national and global arenas. Linda’s contributions highlight her role as a successful individual and an influential changemaker shaping American society across various fields.

Maysoon Zayid

Zayid is mostly known as an actress, entertainer, and supporter of people with disabilities. However, she became famous after her TED Talk “I have 99 problems… palsy is just one” with millions of views.

Zayid was one of the first female Muslim comedians to become popular. She has advanced significantly in the entertainment industry and has performed in several countries. This helped Arabic stand-up comedy to gain popularity. She also works to help immigrants and solve problems that learners face.

Zayid is famous for being a comedian, but she also uses her fame to talk about cerebral palsy and encourage U.S. citizens to participate in politics. She also supports other Arab American female comedians and runs art programs for disabled and orphaned kids that are meant to help them heal and be creative.

Dina Habib Powell

In both business and politics, Dina Habib Powell has made important accomplishments. She is known for her work as head Trump’s top advisor for economic projects and as Deputy National Security Advisor. Before that, she worked for President George W. Bush and was head of the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

Dina was instrumental in starting various initiatives to assist women who own businesses. In addition, she is the youngest person to run the White House personnel office, demonstrating her extraordinary leadership abilities early in her career. She also oversaw the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

Huda Yahya Zoghbi

Huda Yahya Zoghbi is a popular geneticist and lecturer. Her professional scope encompasses Neurology, Pediatrics, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, and Neuroscience. She has dedicated most of her research to studying Rett syndrome.

Zoghbi’s family strongly emphasized education, which shaped her academic aspirations. Although Zoghbi wanted to major in biology and math, she developed an interest in literature in high school. She learned Arabic and English language but did a degree in literature when she went to university.

It was in medical school that she discovered her love for pediatric cardiology. Her works have revolutionized the understanding of many neurological diseases, providing the basis for subsequent studies and interventions.

Remember that when Arab American women do well, they show others how to be leaders and break new ground. They also question ideas that people already have and encourage communities from groups that aren’t well-represented to aim higher.

Please note that this post was paid for by a third-party and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arab America or its employees. These posts help allow Arab America to produce our wonderful original content, thanks for your understanding.

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