US marks National Arab American Heritage Month

State Department formally recognised the holiday month in 2021

Confetti flies after mayor candidate Abdullah Hammoud is elected in Dearborn, Michigan. AP

The US on Friday marked the start of National Arab American Heritage Month.

April's celebration comes after the Arab American community passed several historic milestones since the start of 2021, including the election of the first Arab American mayor in Dearborn, Michigan.

“This month, we recognise National Arab American Heritage Month and honour the contributions of this diverse community to America,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

“Immigrants with origins from the Arab world have been arriving to the United States since before our country’s independence and have contributed to our nation’s advancements in science, business, technology, foreign policy, and national security.”

Mr Blinken's statement recognised former ambassador Philip Habib, who helped reach a peace agreement in Vietnam and a ceasefire in Lebanon in the 1970s.

The secretary of state also thanked Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt for her lengthy career in public service. She served as the US chief of protocol from 1982 until 1989.

“The Department is fortunate to have had these and so many other talented Arab American colleagues, who strive every day to protect and promote the interests and values of the American people, while representing the United States to the world,” Mr Blinken said.

The National Arab American Month was begun unofficially in 2017 by the nonprofit Arab American Foundation, which started an effort to gain federal recognition. The US State Department formalised the holiday month last year.

The Arab American Foundation said it had received a letter from President Joe Biden stating: “Arab Americans make us stronger and help us form a more diverse and vibrant America.”

The Arab American population in the US is estimated to be more than 3.5 million people, with communities across several states. It is, however, difficult to know full numbers because “Arab” is not an option on the US census.

Dearborn is affectionately referred to the capital of Arab America, with the city having the highest US concentration of Arab people and people of Arab descent.

Rough estimates suggest that the Arab and Arab descent community comprises about 40,000 people out of Dearborn's total population of just under 110,000.

The city elected Abdullah Hammoud, the first Arab American mayor in its history, last November.

Also in 2021, American car-racing league Nascar saw its first Arab American female driver, Toni Breidinger, take part in a race series and gain the backing of a large beauty brand for sponsorship.

The National Football League also saw the first Muslim American and third Arab American head coach, Robert Saleh, complete a season as a leading New York Jets coach.