Arabs Quote by Maysoon Zayid
“My friend and I founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival to counter the negative images of Arabs in media. And we always made sure that the comedy came first. So we weren't a bunch of Arabs trying to be funny. We were a bunch of comedians who just happened to be of Arab heritage.”
About This Quote
Source Event: New York Arab-American Comedy Festival launch, 2007
They used comedy to challenge stereotypes, emphasizing talent over ethnicity.
In simple terms: Comedy as a tool against prejudice.
Key Takeaway
Create humor that transcends cultural bias.
Themes
stereotypes
media representation
comedy
identity
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- stand‑up shows
- media workshops
- school programs
- community events
Key Concepts
cultural critique
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- What jokes effectively subvert bias?
- How can humor foster genuine understanding?
A Different Perspective
Risk of reinforcing stereotypes if not carefully crafted.
![“For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems [between the United States and Israel]. Now there are many small cells, and each of them can destroy on their own. Some can arrive at New York and kill…” quote by Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/92a/shimon-peres-1970_arabs_for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-the_45612.jpg)
