The White House is all decked out in purple diamonds, gold zigzags, aqua circles, and pink stripes! The door is open to show how welcoming America can be, and a jazzy eagle feathered up in pink, purple, maroon, gold, and black keeps watch over the president’s house. The White House has been made into a grand work of art by artist Helen Zughaib, at least in her painting of the famous building! She has created several paintings of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks, filling up their blank spaces with pattern and color. Both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have given her art pieces as gifts from the American people to visiting world leaders.
Helen Zughaib was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1959. Her dad, a naturalized American citizen, was a diplomat for the United States, and the family was stationed all over the Middle East and Europe. She visited great museums and art galleries and learned to knit from her grandmother, who created the most amazing fashions in colorful designs. Helen appreciated how strong women were in Middle Eastern countries and how they healed suffering caused by wars. Helen saw patterns everywhere—in carpets, embroideries, tapestries, buildings, furniture, jewelry. Her unique style and themes come from all these experiences. Another artistic influence was the Arabic tradition of hakawati, a series of tales that teach children how to live the right way. Her father shared family stories that had been handed down for generations, and Helen brought them to life in her paintings, retelling the tales in colors and patterns. “The Compassionate Emir” is a story about a leader (emir), his beloved horse, and a wily thief.
Once an emir owned a famous horse. All who saw the amazing animal were struck by his grace, speed, strength, and beauty. Other emirs were envious and tried to buy the horse, but the owner always refused. Selling the horse, he said, would be like selling a member her of his family.
One day a thief spoke to one of the jealous emirs and offered to steal the horse for a price. The bargain was made.
The thief waited by the side of the road where the emir and the wonderful horse passed each day. When the emir approached, the thief began to cry and wail. The emir, who was a kind and compassionate man, stopped to see if he could help.
“What is wrong?” he asked the thief.
“I am very sick,” the thief cried.
“Just climb onto my horse, and we will take you to the doctor.” The emir reached down to help the man mount the horse.
“I cannot. I am too sick to even climb up.” The thief wept and held his stomach.
The emir dismounted and lifted the man onto the horse. As soon as the thief was well seated in the saddle, he kicked the horse and started off at a fast gallop.
The emir called loudly, “Stop and the horse is yours!” The man stopped and returned, knowing that the emir would never go back on his word.
“Do not say you stole this horse,” the emir said. “Say that I gave it to you. Do this so that charity and compassion will not disappear from our community.”
At one time, coffee houses in Lebanon would compete to see who could feature the best shadow puppet shows. Shadow puppetry is the oldest form of motion picture storytelling and probably originated in China. Lebanese American Julie Taymor is world famous for her remarkable puppets and designed all the characters for the Broadway production of The Lion King. Turn “The Compassionate Emir” into a shadow puppet show by writing your own script. You can add more characters if you like.
Empty cereal box
Scotch tape
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Wax paper
Colored tape
Markers, including black
Paper
Straws
Flashlight or table lamp
When civil war broke out in 1975, Helen Zughaib’s family had to be evacuated from Beirut. She finished high school in Paris, France, and then moved to the United States, where she studied art at Syracuse University. Her parents had met at Syracuse as students. One of her first jobs was designing china, which helped her develop her particular painting technique. Today she lives in Washington, DC, where she paints daily; her works have been on display all over the country and are part of permanent art collections around the world. Helen believes that art can create understanding and friendship between Arab countries and the United States.
Helen Zughaib’s works are flat in perspective, packed full of pattern and color, and very well planned. However, Helen is open to surprises. Sometimes after she sketches in the outline and selects her colors, a design she didn’t even consider appears. Her motifs are often very American, but with a twist of Arabic that reminds her of their rich heritage. She has been influenced by the varied embroidery traditions of Palestinian women and the diverse designs of Native Americans. Helen uses ink and a type of paint called gouache, which dries very quickly and, once applied, is not as easy to change as oil-based paints are. Her series of famous Washington landmarks honor some of America’s most symbolic buildings. Helen’s masterpieces are on display at the White House, the World Bank, the Library of Congress, and the Arab American National Museum.
An image of a building or buildings you would like to paint and ideas for patterns
Scrap paper
Pencil
Watercolor paper
Fine-line ink pen
Tempera paints in red, blue, yellow, black, and white
Containers to mix colors
Fine artist brushes
Container of water for cleaning brushes
Covered work space
Helen Zughaib’s story is a very different one from that of early Lebanese immigrants—her father was part of the second wave of immigrants. Most Lebanese came to America between 1890 and 1920. Like the Syrians, many made their way by peddling. From trading posts on American Indian reservations, to dry goods stores in big cities, to pack peddling from one prairie town to another, they supplied American customers with everything from nails to underwear. Most Arab Americans are of Lebanese descent.
Imagine yourself on a mysterious journey, crossing mountains, sailing across an ocean with little money, and landing in a place you had only heard about in stories. The Lebanese did exactly that. Some say their great sense of adventure was inherited from their ancestors, the ancient Phoenicians. Known for their brilliant sea navigation skills as well as their remarkable ship-building ability and amazing, far-reaching trade routes, the Phoenicians enjoyed a thriving culture from 6000 to 1000 BCE. They sailed around the African continent and as far north as the British Isles to trade everything from papyrus to their architectural skills. Some evidence suggests they even made it to the Americas!
It was not easy for the Lebanese to leave their long, narrow homeland stretched out beside the Mediterranean Sea. Most came from the forested mountain area called Mount Lebanon, known for the cedars of Lebanon, the very trees mentioned in the Bible and a symbol of the strength of the Lebanese people. Many an immigrant yearned for their sweet smell.
The first Lebanese immigrants to come to the United States were not called Lebanese. Their entry papers noted Turkey or Greater Syria as their country of origin. The modern state of Lebanon did not exist until 1926 and was not completely sovereign until 1943, when it achieved independence from France. Over its long history, the area was invaded and ruled by several different rulers and countries. Sometimes the people were left in peace, but most times the foreign rule caused great problems for the Lebanese and subjected them to poverty. They were often forced to join the ranks of the occupying armies to fight in wars they did not support. Still, the Lebanese loved their homelands, and most left only for better economic opportunities. The Lebanon of today is bordered by Syria, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea and is about the size of Connecticut, with lowlands, fertile valleys, and a towering mountain range.
Many Lebanese became citizens of the United States, only returning home to visit. Their stories of the lands across the waters so excited the villagers that more and more people emigrated from Lebanon.
What sparked the Lebanese to make such a grand journey? In 1876, Greater Syrian merchants participated in the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They sold crosses, holy water, rosaries, and other religious merchandise. Americans were so thrilled with these wonders from the Holy Land that they bought every single item! The word spread back home and encouraged others from Mount Lebanon to try their luck in the country thought to have “streets of gold.” Only a few of them were experienced businessmen, as most educated Lebanese and Syrians emigrated to Egypt and other Arabic countries. So although a few of the early immigrants had schooling, most did not. Peddling was a profession for which one did not need to speak much English or know how to read well, and America seemed to be a place that appreciated Lebanese goods. Some immigrants spoke more than one language, so they learned English quickly. They set up vast trading networks across the country and braved the elements. It wasn’t always easy, and some lost their lives trudging around in the harsh winters.
The vast majority of these peddler immigrants were Christian, and this made the transition a bit easier. They were members of the Lebanese Maronite Church, the Melkite Catholic Church, or the Eastern Orthodox Church. Some belonged to various Protestant religions. Many communities dated back to the time of Jesus and the apostles. However, Lebanese Christian rituals were different from those of American churches, and Americans thought them quite strange. Although the Lebanese made their way to almost every state, the majority settled in Northeastern cities.
Lebanese American Robert George (1924—1998) portrayed Santa Claus year-round for nearly 50 years and was a Presidential Santa at the White House for seven administrations. He owned 38 custom-made Santa suits!
The Lebanese worked well on their own, as they were independent people, and they worked hard to make a better life. Many had managed their own small farms or run cottage industries. A cottage industry is a home business, and at one time, the Lebanese, like the Syrians, thrived in the silk industry. Women raised silkworms at home, and factories sprung up across Lebanon to spin the raw silk into thread. But a mulberry tree disease broke out, destroying the food source for the silkworms. Then Asian countries began to produce silk for cheaper prices, and the industry dried up. But Lebanese Americans have always influenced the American and international fashion industry and textile production.
In 1920 Mansour Farah and his wife began making shirts in Texas. By 1947, his small home business had grown into the international clothing company Farah Incorporated. Today men’s pants are called “slacks” thanks to Joseph M. Haggar. He was another Lebanese American from Texas who turned his little business into the largest manufacturer of men’s slacks in the world. Alfred Shaheen took the beautiful batik fabrics of Native Hawaiians and turned them into modern fashions like the popular Hawaiian shirt and the sarong. After flying combat missions in World War II, he returned to Hawaii and, in 1948, founded his own company. In recognition of his contributions to the state of Hawaii, in July of 2001 Alfred Shaheen was presented with Hawaii’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Norma Kamali’s famous designs are on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and Reem Acra’s have dressed celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé Knowles, Eva Longoria, and Vanna White. Her flagship store is located in Manhattan.
Years ago, paper dolls were as popular as regular dolls and came with their own clothes, but kids often designed outfits from wallpaper samples, gift wrap, or even fabric scraps. If you can find some images or samples of Hawaiian-inspired fabrics, try your hand at designing like Alfred Shaheen. Or you can make fancy gowns like Reem Acra. Or just design your own originals and come up with a whole new style, like they did!
Poster board or lightweight card board
Images of people in swimwear or undergarments, about 6 to 12 inches tall—you can draw them, cut them out of magazines, use photographs, or print from the computer
Scissors
Glue
Poster board
Pencil
Colored markers
Drawing paper
Construction paper
Any of the following: fabric scraps, wallpaper samples, magazine pictures of fabrics, sequins, glitter
While some Lebanese created manufacturing businesses or became fashion designers, others took jobs in textile factories and helped in the struggle for labor rights. In 1912, one of the most famous worker uprisings, called Bread and Roses, took place in Massachusetts textile mills. The slogan Bread and Roses meant that workers needed more pay (bread) and also to be treated with dignity (roses). A new state law had given workers a shorter workweek, and angry factory owners lowered pay. Over 20,000 textile employees went on strike, including women and children. Not only did Lebanese Americans help organize strikes, Arab American women strikers ran soup kitchens to feed their fellow strikers. It was the first time non-Arab workers had ever tasted Lebanese dishes like tabbouleh. The strikers were triumphant and showed the world that semiskilled workers, many of them new immigrants and half of them women, could make a difference.
Tabbouleh, traditionally made with bulgur wheat, fresh parsley, tomatoes, onions, and a squeeze of lemon juice, originated in Lebanon. Bulgur wheat, the grain in tabbouleh, has been eaten for about 4,000 years. It is made from soaking or cooking wheat berries, then drying them and smashing them into tiny pieces. In 2009, 250 Lebanese chefs made it into the Guinness World Records when they cooked up a tabbouleh salad weighing almost 4 tons! It was served in a special ceramic bowl, 20 feet in diameter, designed by Lebanese engineer Joe Kabalan.
Adult supervision required
Stove
Small saucepan
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup bulgur (fine cracked wheat)
Bowl
Mixing spoon
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
½ cup olive oil
3 tomatoes, diced
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
2 bunches fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 bunch fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
Romaine lettuce leaves, separated Platter
Makes four 8-ounce servings
It is said that Saint Maron cured the ill and made the sad happy. This monk came to Lebanon from Syria and lived the life of a hermit on Mount Lebanon in the fourth century. After he died, his followers built the Beit Maron Monastery (House of Maron) in his honor and became known as Maronites. The Maronites are the largest of the Lebanese Christian communities and still uphold the same ancient values of living a simple life, building strong supportive communities, and joining in communal prayer. Although they are part of the Roman Catholic Church, their rites are different from those of American and European Catholics.
By 1920 there were almost 40 permanent Maronite parishes in several states, some as far west as California and Oregon, as well as several in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and other major cities. Maronite members worked in many different jobs and cities, from the steel factories of Birmingham, Alabama, to the automobile factories of Detroit, Michigan. They opened grade schools for kids and centers to help new immigrants learn English. Today, almost every state has at least one parish. Altogether, there are almost 100 Maronite communities across the nation. Several host festivals to celebrate Lebanese culture, where parishioners and guests alike sample Lebanese food and dance to the rhythms of the derbekke.
A derbekke is a small hand drum popular in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine. The drum base is usually vase shaped and made of ceramic or metal with an animal-skin drum head.
Adult supervision required
6-inch long or longer rawhide dog bone
Basin or half-gallon pitcher of warm water
Covered work surface
7- to 10-inch tall glass, ceramic, or plastic vase, with an opening 4 to 5 inches in diameter
Paint markers, at least 2 different colors
Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Ruler
Heavy-duty shears
Thick, heavy-duty rubber band
Lebanese Americans and their descendants quickly moved from predominately working as peddlers into all areas of government, the arts, education, science, and business. Many became leaders and inspired other Americans. Artist, philosopher, and poet Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) wrote The Prophet, a book of poetic essays that American soldiers often carried in their knapsacks. The Prophet is the third-bestselling poetry book of all time. James Abourezk (1931– ) was the first Arab American senator (South Dakota) and fought tirelessly for American Indian rights. Journalist Helen Thomas (1920– ) was the first woman to head the White House Correspondents’ Association, paving the way for American women to enter the field of news reporting. She also started the tradition of wearing a red dress at presidential conferences so she would stand out in the crowd and get the president’s attention. Ralph Johns (1916–1997) was a civil rights activist in Greensboro, North Carolina, and that city’s first store owner to employ African Americans as salespeople. James J. Zogby (1945—) founded the Arab American Institute and helps build bridges between the United States and Arab countries. Candy Lightner’s (1946– ) daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1980. The tragedy motivated her to found the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) so other families could be spared the sorrow of losing a loved one. Everyone knows Ralph Nader, but did you know he is Lebanese American?
Many Americans are from Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, nicknamed the Phoenix after an ancient Egyptian story. The phoenix was a bird that would always live to be exactly 500 years old. Then it would make a nest of wonderful-smelling tree bark, such as frankincense and cinnamon, sit in its nest, and burst into flames. The phoenix would die in the fire, but a new bird was reborn from the ashes. This cycle was repeated every 500 years. The phoenix resembled an enormous eagle with beautiful gold and red plumage and sometimes blue and green feathers on its long tail. Like the mythical bird, Beirut keeps rebuilding over and over in spite of being destroyed by wars and invasions. Like the great phoenix, it never dies.
Ralph Nader is one of the most famous American activists. Through his efforts, laws have been passed to protect consumers and improve car safety. Today, car manufacturers must provide airbags and seatbelts for all vehicles, but at one time these companies were more concerned with profits than safety. Many say that Mr. Nader works harder for the American people than any member of Congress. In 1966, he began to speak out against how abusive big companies were to people and the environment and organized a campaign to force companies to consider consumer and worker safety. Mr. Nader has been responsible for at least eight major federal consumer protection laws, such as motor vehicle safety laws, the Safe Drinking Water Act; and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Harvard Law School graduate, he could have chosen a path of wealth and luxury, but instead he lives a simple life, has never owned a car, and is said to be the most vigilant citizen in America. Not only has Mr. Nader helped scores of Americans by insisting the government enact policies to protect consumers, but he has also been available to individuals, average people who had no voice. Mr. Nader ran for president of the United States three times.
Ralph Nader has spent his life campaigning for safety for people and a clean environment. June is National Safety Month. Make a poster of safety hints in the shape of a phoenix. Like Ralph Nader, be a champion for the environment by recycling used cardboard.
Covered work surface
Pencil
Note paper
Used cardboard boxes, backs of old posters, and other used heavyweight paper stock
Stapler
Thin black markers
Poster paints in red, gold, blue, and green
Paintbrushes
Water for washing brushes
Paper hole punch
String (for hanging)
“Scooby-Doo, where are you?” Casey Kasem was the voice of Shaggy, friend and owner of the cartoon dog Scooby-Doo. He is also the host of numerous popular radio shows, such as Casey’s Countdown. He is also a Druze. Some of the first Lebanese immigrants were members of the Druze community. The Druze are a religious group that incorporates aspects of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, although they often worship as Muslims or Christians when living in those communities. They call themselves Ahl al-Tawhid (People of Unitarianism) or al-Muwahhidun (Unitarians, Monotheists) and were some of the first people to recognize equal rights for women. They also made slavery illegal, abolished discrimination, and were some of the first in the Eastern Hemisphere to practice equality.
Druze settled in small towns across the country, with the largest population in Seattle, Washington. Until recent times, they were very private about their religion, as they did not want to face discrimination. Almost 70,000 Druze live in the United States today. Most of the early Druze came to the United States from rural areas and had farming skills; Lebanese hills were dotted with their fruit orchards and olive groves. Their ancestors were experienced at growing olive trees, one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world. Some olive trees date back to Roman times and have enormous trunks. Not only are olives a delicious and healthy food, but their oil was sometimes associated with wealth. The olive branch is also an international symbol of peace. Early Lebanese immigrants brought the precious oil and olive oil soap to America.
Soap making started in Greater Syria and was taken to Europe by the crusaders. Today, the world-famous Lebanese olive oil soap is said to cure dry skin, dandruff, hair loss, and skin diseases and to make skin glow.
It takes a long time to make and cure the prized olive soap from Lebanon, but you can try this short version.
Adult supervision required
Covered work surface
Grater
4-ounce bar of plain, unscented Castile soap
Cutting board
Double boiler with bottom 1/3 full (you can make a double boiler by stacking 2 pots together)
Stove
Spoon
1 tablespoon olive oil
Mold or small plastic container in a shape you like
Plastic wrap
Like other Lebanese Americans, the Druze have been an active part of American life for over 100 years and are very much in the public eye. The Alley family started the World Blindness Outreach, which organizes volunteer doctors to restore eyesight to poor people around the world. Salwa Roosevelt, President Reagan’s chief of protocol, oversaw the diplomatic corps from 1982 to 1989, the longest anyone has served in that position. Writer Julie Maharem has taught at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, served as president of the American Druze Society (the only woman to ever be elected to that position), and authors a website on the Druze people.
Dr. Nabhan is called the father of the local food movement and believes that locally grown foods, raised without toxic chemicals, are healthier for the environment and people. Nabhan is an ecologist and ethnobotanist. An ethnobotanist studies the agricultural customs of different cultures. He is also an internationally acclaimed writer and sustainable agriculture activist. Sustainable agriculture means farming in a way that will help, not hurt, the earth so that crops can grow in the future, too. Dr. Nabhan has spoken out about the horrible effects that wars and bombing have on the environment. Several of his projects help preserve the ancient agricultural wisdom and plants of the Pima and other Indigenous peoples of the Southwest.
Mint, parsley, thyme, and basil are popular herbs used in Lebanese American cooking. Make a windowsill garden, decorating your pots with the Lebanese words for the herbs.
Adult supervision required
Covered work surface
4 permanent markers, any colors that will show up on the pots
4 ceramic or terracotta flower pots with drainage holes and saucers, 6 to 12 inches deep
Pot of boiling water
Small mint, parsley, thyme, and basil plants
1 bag of soilless potting mix
Water for watering the plants
Edible fertilizer such as Grow More Organic Herb Food
Sunny windowsill that gets at least 5 hours of sun a day
| mint |  |
(nih-NAH) |
| parsley |  |
(bak-DOO-ness) |
| thyme |  |
(ZAH-tar) |
| basil |  |
(ree-HAHN) |
Danny Thomas was a well-loved and popular entertainer. Born in Deerfield, Michigan, he did odd jobs to help his parents, who had nine children. Danny was drawn to the entertainment field, but after his first child was born, Danny prayed to St. Jude, the patron saint of the hopeless, asking for a sign: Should he stay in show business even though he wasn’t making enough money to support his family? Danny promised to erect a shrine to St. Jude if the saint would guide him. Shortly after, his career took off. He became well known to American audiences for his starring role in the long-running, Emmy award—winning television show Make Room for Daddy. But Danny remembered his promise to St. Jude. The promised shrine he built was St. Jude’s Hospital, a place where sick and needy children would be cared for regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay. Danny Thomas was active with the hospital until his death. His three children, including his famous daughter, Marlo Thomas, worked alongside their father. Today, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most advanced centers for curing children’s diseases. The Danny Thomas Memorial Pavilion on the hospital grounds features aspects of Lebanese culture as well as the life of Danny Thomas. Arched panels inscribed in Arabic and English describe both the founder and the hospital’s mission:
“He who denies his heritage has no heritage.”
“No child should die in the dawn of life.”
“Those who work for the good are as those who do the good.”
Not many Lebanese immigrated to the United States after 1924—America had closed its doors to people from the Middle East. Although their numbers were not large, a second wave of Lebanese immigration began in the late 1940s and continued through the early 1960s. Most were fleeing the wars in their home country. They were professionals or had started their American lives as students in American universities.
The third and largest wave of immigrants started in the 1970s. Their history is very different from the first immigrants from Lebanon. Most people came from southern Lebanon, which was devastated by the Israeli-Arab conflict. About 35,000 people from one town alone had to pull up roots. They settled in southeast Michigan, which has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the country today. Around half a million Arab Americans, most of them originally from Lebanon, live in the area.
Across the United States, there are 3 million Lebanese Americans. The cities with the highest population are New York; Dearborn, Michigan; Los Angeles; Chicago; Houston; Detroit; San Diego; Jersey City, New Jersey; Boston; and Jacksonville, Florida. Some of the country’s most recognizable celebrities and entertainers are Lebanese American, such as Salma Hayek, an Oscar-nominated actress who is the voice of Kitty Softpaws in the animated movie Puss in Boots. Although many people know that Salma Hayek is also a Mexican American, her father has Lebanese ancestry, and her first name comes from the Arabic root word meaning “safe.” Tony Shalhoub, Emmy Award winner for the hit show Monk, was a featured actor in the movies Spy Kids and Men in Black.
Danny Thomas helped save children, and Jack Hanna helps saves animals! Conservationist Jack Hanna (1947– ) grew up on a family farm and discovered his love for animals at a young age. In college, he got into trouble for keeping a donkey in a shed behind his dorm and ducks in his room. He turned his love for animals into a lifelong mission to save them, and his hard work led to dozens of conservation efforts all over the world. Today he is the host of Wild Countdown and other animal conservation shows. Make an animal book to share with ill children at St. Jude’s or in your community. Use the English and Arabic words for animals. To make it even more interesting for kids, you can add the animals’ names in other languages, too. Jazz up your animals by filling them in with patterns and colors in Helen Zughaib’s style!
Scissors
Poster board or lightweight cardboard
Glue
Gift wrap paper with small designs, preferably animals or comic strip paper
Scrap paper
Pencil
White printer or copier paper
Construction paper, any color
Colored markers or pencils
Pen
Hole punch
Yarn, any color
Ruler
| animal book | ketaab an | |
| el-hayawanat | ||
| camel |  |
(JA-mal) |
| cat |  |
(kitt) |
| dog |  |
(kalb) |
| elephant |  |
(feel) |
| fish |  |
(sa-ma-KAH) |
| giraffe |  |
(za-RAH-fah) |
| kangaroo |  |
(kan-GAR) |
| lion |  |
(ah-SAD) |
| peacock |  |
(TAH-woos) |
| turkey |  |
(deek-ROO-me) |
| turtle |  |
(sul-HOE-fah) |
| rabbit |  |
(ar-NAB) |
| zebra |  |
(hi-MAR alwah-SHE) |
You can find more and hear pronunciation of the Arabic at www.softarabic.com/animal-names-in-arabic.
Victor Atiyeh (1923– ) First Arab American governor.
General George Alfred Joulwan (1939– ) Former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, professor at West Point Military Academy.
Ray LaHood (1945– ) US Secretary of Transportation and former congressman from Illinois.
George Mitchell (1933– ) United States Senator from New Hampshire, 1989–1995.
Lt. Alfred Naifeh (1915–1942) WWII Navy hero. Naifeh saved countless lives when his battleship, the Meredith, was sunk. He died as a result of his efforts, and the US Navy named a ship after him, the USS Naifeh.
Dr. Donna Shalala (1941– ) First Arab American to serve in a cabinet position. She was the first woman to be Secretary of Health and Human
Services (1993–2001). She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given a civilian.
Edward G. “Eddie” Elias (1928–1998) Founder of the Professional Bowlers Association.
Doug Flutie (1962– ) Professional Hall of Fame quarterback and founder of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, an organization dedicated to helping families of autistic children.
Jennifer Shahade (1980– ) Two-time American Women’s Chess Champion and founder of 9 Queens, an organization that helps girls and at-risk youth benefit from the game of chess.
Fouad Zaban (Contemporary) Football coach at Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan, and a star of the TV show All-American Muslim. His team is featured in the documentary Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football.
Elmaz Abinader (1954– ) Award-winning writer of Children of the Roojme and founder of Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation.
Dr. Barbara Nimri Aziz (Contemporary) Founder of the Radius of Arab American Writers and a writer and host of the Pacifica Radio show Radio Tahrir.
Dr. Philip Khuri Hitti (1886–1978) Introduced the field of Arab culture studies to the United States. He was a Maronite, a scholar of Islam, and author of over a dozen books, including The Syrians in America.
Ameen Rihani (1876–1940) Considered the father of Arab American literature, he was the first Arab American to publish a book in the United States, The Book of Khalid, in 1911.
Dr. Elias James Corey (1928– ) Organic chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1990.
Dr. Michael DeBakey (1908–2008) One of the greatest heart surgeons in history. His invention made open-heart surgery possible, and he was one of the first scientists to link smoking with lung cancer.
Dr. Douglas Haddad (1976– ) A pioneer Internet radio host for a health, fitness, and lifestyle show called The Dr. Doug Show. He is an author, educator, nutritionist, public speaker, and avid musician.
