AMERICAN-ARAB REPRESENTATION BY JENNA ROBB New York is one of the most multicultural cities in the
world,
ranging
from
different
races
to
different ethnicities and nationalities. There are around 160,000 Arab Americans in the city, which represents a small presence but a strong one. We see Arab Americans with origins ranging from North African countries to countries. They are present
Middle Eastern in the service
industries but also large corporations. Unfortunately, we also see a lot of discrimination in terms of immigration laws, in the workplace and less opportunities to represent Arab culture. This is why organizations dedicated to providing cultural representation in the workforce, the political field and other industries are extremely important. There is an increase in the formation of different NGOs based in New York City dedicated to helping the Arab population. With cultural centers like the Islamic Cultural Center Riverside Drive which includes a mosque, opportunities for religious representation are being brought to New York.
The
largest
NGO
dedicated
to
Arab
Americans in New York is The Arab American Association of New York, which is currently focusing on Covid-19 Relief in Arab-populated areas in New York. There is a large support system for Arab immigrants, through legal consultation and mental health services. These organizations have made a huge difference in a lot of Arab American lives and are fighting for the right causes. We are also seeing an increase in Arab advocacy in the political field. I was lucky enough to do an internship at the Mission of Morocco to the UN in New York, and was able to see the amount of change made in just two weeks. I worked alongside several diplomats and saw first hand the strong voice Morocco had in decision making in the UN.
Morocco was focused on a resolution aiming to limit hate speech, specifically relating to religion and ethnicity. I also saw the level of collaboration present in the different meetings. Morocco and Algeria, two countries who normally don't get along, were able to amend a clause in the hate speech resolution together. It was inspiring to see two Arab countries work together, despite their differences. As I followed different General Assembly sessions, I saw many Arab countries participating and voicing their opinion on many topics. As an Arab American looking to get into politics myself, it was exhilarating to see this level of political participation. We are also seeing a rise in access to the Arabic language. Many of the organizations mentioned above offer classes and private lessons, but we are also seeing this change in schools. Although it has not been implemented in NYC public schools yet, Arabic is becoming an option in private schools. An example would be my school, the Lycée Français de New York. I used to be a part of the Arabic afterschool program, which met once a week for an hour and a half. Ever Since Arab American parents pushed for and succeeded in the implementation of an Arabic class for LV2 classes, students have been able to learn the language just as if they were learning Spanish or Italian. We've also seen an increase in college students taking Arabic classes at University. The Arabic language is extremely valued in the field of diplomacy, politics, litterature, anthropology, etc, which means that its value and importance is becoming more clear. Arab representation is on the rise, whether that's through religion, aid, politics or language. Arab Americans now have many opportunities to connect back to their origins and to teach others about their cultures. But there is still discrimination, so there is always more work to do to make the Arab community in New York to feel more included.
Lingua Franca| 9
