Editing Arab Americans (section)

== Culture ==
{{See also|Arab American literature}}

=== Arab American Heritage Month ===
{{Main|National Arab American Heritage Month}}

In 2014, [[Montgomery County, Maryland]], designated April as Arab American Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions that Arab Americans have made to the nation.<ref name="Mcaiaahm">{{cite web|title=April is Arab American Heritage Month|url=http://insidemc.montgomerycollege.edu/details.php?id=53294|publisher=Montgomery College|access-date=26 December 2014}}</ref> Arab America and the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017, with just a handful of states recognizing the initiative. Each year, the Arab America Foundation activates a grass-roots network of over 250 Arab American volunteers in 26 states. It gathers hundreds of proclamations from state governments, counties, municipalities, and local school districts. The first documentary on Arab Americans premiered on [[PBS]] in August 2017, "The Arab Americans" features the Arab American immigrant story as told through the lens of American History and the stories of prominent Arab Americans such as actor [[Jamie Farr]], [[Ralph Nader]], Senator [[George J. Mitchell|George Mitchell]], White House Reporter [[Helen Thomas]], Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist [[Anthony Shadid]], [[Danny Thomas]] actor and Founder of [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]], pollster and author [[John Zogby]], Congressman [[Nick Rahall]], racing legend [[Bobby Rahal]]. The documentary is produced and directed by Abe Kasbo.

The [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] has recognized April as the National [[Arab American Heritage Month]], making it the highest level of federal recognition, yet. Stating in a public announcement on 1 April 2021, through their official social media channels: "Americans of Arab heritage are very much a part of the fabric of this nation, and Arab Americans have contributed in every field and profession."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1377701045288235012|title=Department Spokesperson Ned Price delivers remarks at the Daily Press Briefing on April 1, 2021. |work=page Official verified Twitter account of the United States Department of State – 1 April 2021 }}</ref>

The recognition of the month of April as the National Arab American Heritage Month by the US Department of State was mainly influenced by independent advocate efforts across the United States calling for inclusivity. Most notably the petition and social change campaign by Pierre Subeh, who is a Middle-Eastern American business expert, executive producer, and author. He orchestrated a self-funded social awareness campaign with over 250 billboards across the country asking the Federal government to recognize the month of April as the National Arab American Heritage Month and issue an official proclamation. His social change campaign called the recognition to be critical as it celebrates Middle Eastern heritage in combating post-9/11 anti-Arab sentiments and recognizing the social difficulties that Arab Americans face every day in their communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/05/us/arab-american-heritage-month/index.html|title=April is Arab American Heritage Month, the State Department declares|work=page Mirna Alsharif, CNN on 5 April 2021 |date=5 April 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=David|first=Kevin|date=3 April 2021|title=This Immigrant Entrepreneur Made History by Pushing The U.S. Department of State to Recognize April as the NAAHM|url=https://therealkevindavid.medium.com/this-immigrant-entrepreneur-made-history-by-pushing-the-u-s-department-of-state-to-recognize-naahm-8224f23be535|url-status=live|work=Medium|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419234057/https://therealkevindavid.medium.com/this-immigrant-entrepreneur-made-history-by-pushing-the-u-s-department-of-state-to-recognize-naahm-8224f23be535|archive-date=19 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=3 April 2021|title=Pierre Subeh thanking the Department Spokesperson Ned Price after delivering remarks at the Daily Press Briefing on April 1, 2021.|url=https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1377701045288235012|url-status=live|publisher=United States Department of State|via=Twitter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401191522/https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1377701045288235012 |archive-date=1 April 2021 }}</ref>

In 2023, President Joe Biden issued an official proclamation on the Arab American Heritage Month.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=A Proclamation on Arab American Heritage Month, 2023 |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/03/31/a-proclamation-on-arab-american-heritage-month-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=[[The White House]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Mansaf, the traditional dish of Jordan.jpg|thumb|[[Mansaf]], a popular Arab lamb dish]]
A variety of traditional Arab dishes are eaten by Arab Americans, often by substituting out traditional ingredients for modern or Western elements.<ref>{{Cite news |title=For Many Members of the Arab American Diaspora, Mansaf Offers a Taste of Home |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/t-magazine/mansaf-bedouin-rice.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>