Understanding Arab American Heritage Month: A Q&A with Heather Shalhoub

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – APRIL 29, 2024) April is Arab American Heritage Month, inviting us to honor and celebrate the cultural diversity and contributions of Arab Americans. Empire State University has a list of resources and educational opportunities available to view on the library and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion websites. We spoke with Heather Shalhoub, the library’s coordinator for Web Services, User Experience, and Systems to share her perspectives.

Tell me about yourself and your family. What does Arab American Heritage mean to you?

Heather Shalhoub: “My father came to the United States from Aita el-Foukhar, a village in Lebanon, as a teenager. Two of his brothers were in the South Glens Falls area so he joined them there. My mother is an upstate NY native of white Anglo-Saxon protestant heritage. I am the oldest of 3 siblings. My father is 1 of 6 children. I have aunts, uncles, and 1st cousins here in the United States as well as in Canada and Lebanon. I have family members in Lebanon that I have yet to meet because I haven’t been able to visit Lebanon and they haven’t been able to visit the United States.

When I was young, we had a community of Lebanese and Syrian friends and family based at an Antiochian Orthodox church where my uncle was the priest. After family members moved away, we no longer had that community. My Lebanese heritage was less prominent in daily life though it was always part of me and my childhood memories. As I got older, I wanted to understand my roots, so I started to learn more about my heritage and my identity as an Arab American.

It can be very confusing being half and half because you both fit in and don’t quite fit in within both cultures. My experience was that I always felt different and a bit out of place and torn between my heritage and being an American. I’ve heard others of mixed backgrounds and/or 1st generation children of immigrants say similar things so I know that I am not alone. Now, I can see that this was a gift. I was exposed to so much culture and variety in my life. I have a sense of ease and sensitivity when connecting with people from other cultures. I am comfortable and patient when talking with people who speak English as a second language. I also see the importance that fostering a sense of belonging has and how valuable having a community you are a part of can be to your wellbeing.”

What brought you to Empire State University?

Heather Shalhoub: “I have worked at SUNY Empire for over 16 years now. Along with the other librarians, I answer “Ask a Librarian” questions for the university community, so you might chat with me if you have a library question. I am the administrator for the library’s website and Springshare which is the platform we use to publish library guides and the lists of our databases and collections. I am also the admin for all the library’s databases and the library management system.

I achieved a certification in User Experience (UX) for Libraries in 2023. In addition to UX, I am also very interested in universal design for libraries, fostering a sense of belonging in education, accessibility, and DEI. Outside of my work as a librarian, I am also an artist. I work in acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, and digital media and I have had artwork in various local art shows.”

Why is recognizing Arab American Heritage Month important? How can people educate themselves and learn more?

Heather Shalhoub: “I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Arabs in the United States. We are a part of the culture and history of this country with millions of citizens who have Arab roots. Arab immigrants first arrived here in the late 19th century. Meanwhile, MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) has only just passed as being added as an ethnicity option on the US Census this year. Arab ethnicity has never been accurately counted here in the United States, though there are estimates.

As an Arab American, I need to learn more about Arab Americans too. The group is so vast and has so much variety. Arab Americans are from a total of 22 countries where Arabic is the spoken and written language. There are different regional dialects of Arabic so there is also variety in how Arabic is spoken.

I think the easiest way to learn is through education and exposure. You can learn a lot about people and cultures through shows about food and travel. You can listen to an Arab American heritage month playlist on Spotify, here are also some great books, television shows, comedy specials, and films created by Arab Americans and they often share about the experience of being Arab American or an Arab living in the western world.”

Do you have a favorite cultural cuisine?

Heather Shalhoub: “Growing up, I was a very picky eater so I would only eat Lebanese rice pilaf and the amazing butter cookies that my aunt would make called ghraybeh. As an adult, I have grown to love zaatar but I prefer a Lebanese blend with wild thyme, toasted sesame seeds, dried sumac, and salt. I cook with it but the recipe that I make all the time is to mix it with olive oil to create a paste and spread it on a pita or pizza crust and bake it. I also enjoy falafel, hummus, and chicken or kofta kebabs. My family would often go to the Utica, NY area for authentic Lebanese food and I like to find Lebanese or Middle Eastern restaurants to try out when I travel. Each country or culture with Arab heritage, and often each family, has their own traditional recipes so you may find something out there that wouldn’t necessarily be considered authentic to my family but it is authentic to someone else’s.”

What is something you’d like people to know and understand about your heritage?

Heather Shalhoub: “There is no one way to be American and there is no one way to be Arab American. Arab Americans have different backgrounds, different religions, difference races, and different family traditions. Not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. We are often portrayed as the “bad guys” in entertainment, but that is not who we are. A small select group has become what many think about us which feeds xenophobia. There are many people you may not realize have Arab American roots. Some examples of celebrities or people of note with Arab heritage are Steve Jobs, Khalil Gibran, Ralph Nader, Doug Flutie, Hoda Kotb, Gigi & Bella Hadid, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more.

Many Arab Americans change their names to make it easier for non-Arabs. If you don’t know how to pronounce or spell our names, please just ask. My last name has been mispronounced and misspelled for most of my life, even in very public settings and events where you would hope someone would have double-checked. It can be very disheartening.

I hope that education and finally being counted on the U.S. Census will shift perspective on how Arab Americans are seen and accepted. Unless you are indigenous in heritage, we all come from immigrants. I would love to see more empathy for people of all backgrounds who have left everything they know behind to come here to the United States for a better life.”