You’re Egyptian?,” one of my classmates asked me during a gym class when I was in high school. She was dumbfounded.
Apparently, she had never seen a real life Egyptian before. She had always thought Egyptians were fictional characters … the kind Agatha Christie wrote about in “Death on the Nile” or the kind Steve Martin always characterized during his King Tut skit. Besides, Egyptians didn’t live in the states. They belong out in the hot, sandy desert building pyramids.
“Yah,” I replied as a fake smile appeared across my face. “Both of my parents were born and raised in Egypt, and after they were married, they immigrated to the states.”
Then, for a bit, I relaxed. At least after discovering my last name was “Aly,” she didn’t ask me if I was related to Mohammed Ali as many people have asked me before. Perhaps she knew a little more about the culture and region than the other people I have talked to … or so I thought.
I have to admit the next words which came out of her mouth formed the worst question I had ever heard in my life. Anybody who believes the phrase “the stupidest question is the question not asked” should find another motto to live by.
“Do Egyptians really walk like that?,” she said referring to the 1985 Bangles song “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Once again, I had to roll my eyes. I couldn’t understand how people had these stereotypes of Arabs.
At least 20 years ago, however, many Americans thought Egyptians and perhaps other Arabs, were Bedouins who spent their time riding camels, writing hieroglyphics and building natural wonders. Since then the stereotypes have become worse. Now, people imagine men with scarves wrapped around their heads, while crouching behind shrubs and bushes with a rifle in hand ready to take out the next soldier they see.
Those stereotypes, however, are far from the truth. Arabs could be the typical white, blond-haired, blue-eyed person walking down the street. Others could have darker skin, eyes and hair. In fact, there are many famous Arab-American celebrities walking down America’s streets.
Every Sunday morning many wake up to this radio announcer’s famous countdown show. Casey Kasem, who was born as Kamel Amen Kasem and is of Lebanese descent, is one of the most famous radio hosts across the nation. Not to mention his voice has invaded many living rooms across America as the voice of Shaggy on “Scooby Doo, Where are you.”
When viewers tuned to “Must See Thursdays’ last year, they would watch one famous Arab-American, Wendy Malik, make a total ditz of herself as an aged supermodel on the popular show “Just Shoot Me.” This year’s Emmy-winning actor for Best Actor in a Comedy Series originally came from Arab descent. Tony Shalhoub, who is best known for his character Monk on the show of the same name, was also an actor on another ’90s television series, “Wings.”
Arabs are not only infiltrating the entertainment business. They are everywhere. Spencer Abraham, who is U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Mitchell Daniels, the director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Bush administration are Arab-Americans. The first Arab American ever appointed to a Cabinet secretary post was Donna Shalala. Now, she is the president of the University of Miami. Not to mention, Ralph Nader, the former presidential candidate for the green party, is also of Arab descent.
Arabs are not only found in the continents of Africa and Asia. An Arab could be your next door neighbor.
R.H. Aly is a senior in journalism and international studies. She can be reached for comment at [email protected].
