Arab Quote by Diana Abu-Jaber
““Slavery has been outlawed in most arab countries for years now but there are villages in jordan made up entirely of descendants of runaway Saudi slaves. Abdulrahman knows he might be free, but hes still an arab. No one ever wants to be the arab - its too old and too tragic, too mysterious and too exasperating, and too lonely for anyone but an actual arab to put up with for very long. Essentially, its an image problem. Ask anyone, Persian, Turks, even Lebanese and Egyptians - none of them want to be the arab. They say things like, well, really we're indo-russian-asian european- chaldeans, so in the end the only one who gets to be the arab is the same little old bedouin with his goats and his sheep and his poetry about his goats and his sheep, because he doesnt know that he's the arab, and what he doesnt know wont hurt him.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Arab Identity Crisis”, 2023
The quote highlights the stigma and self‑image issues surrounding Arab identity, suggesting many avoid it due to perceived negativity and historical baggage.
In simple terms: Arabs are often seen as a burden and avoided by themselves and others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge stereotypes to foster pride.
Themes
identity
stigma
culture
self‑perception
heritage
Mood
reflective
critical
hopeful
Type
sociological
personal
cultural
When to use this quote
- community dialogue
- educational programs
- media representation
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
social identity
stereotype threat
collective memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑identification affect one’s life choices?
- What steps can reduce the “image problem” of Arab identity?
A Different Perspective
Stereotypes can be deeply entrenched, making change slow and resistant.
![“And the so-called ‘Arab street[?]’ A brainless herd that has been indoctrinated and riled up and that has lost all sense of gravity and direction. They express their hatred for the Jews, whom they hope to exterminate from the face of the Earth… Yet this ‘Arab street’, which sees itself as the…” quote by Moha Moukhlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb6/moha-moukhlis-119207_quote_and-the-so-called-arab-street-a-brainles_116309.jpg)
