This much-needed study documents positive Arab-American contributions to American life and culture, especially in the last decade, debunking myths and common negative perceptions that were exacerbated by the 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror.The term "Arab American" is often used to describe a broad range of people who are ethnically diverse and come from many countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Some Arab Americans have been in the United States since the 1880s. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 did serve to highlight the necessity for Americans to better understand the discrete nations and ethnicities of the Middle East.This title documents the key aspects of contemporary Arab American life, including their many contributions to American society. It begins with an overview of the immigrant experience, but focuses primarily on the past decade, examining the political, family, religious, educational, professional, public, and artistic aspects of the Arab American experience. Readers will understand how this unique experience is impacted by political events both here in America and in the Arab world.

A rich glossary provides a resource of Arabic words to help readers understand Arab traditions still present in Arab American life as well as sociological terms and key political events relevant to recent Arab American history

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Arab American Life and Culture TodayHolly AridaChronology1. Arab American ImmigrationAnan Ameri2. The Impact of 9/11, Middle East Conflicts, and Anti-Arab DiscriminationMarvin Wingfield3. The FamilyRanda A. Kayyali4. Religious LifeAnan Ameri5. Arab Americans and the American Educational SystemJanice J. Terry6. Professional LifeKathleen Marker7. Public and Political LifeHelen Hatab Samhan8. The ArtsHolly AridaGlossaryBibliographyIndexAbout the Editors and Contributors