American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Petition

47 Pages·2012·0.7 MB·English

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‘The United States Depattment of Commerce i/1j/12
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Petition for Determination of Group Eligibility for MBDA Assistance

‘the American-slrab Anti-Discrirnination Committee (ADC),

Petitioner.

Recipione

‘Me. David Hinson
National Director

US. Dept. of Commetce, MBDA

1401 Constitution Ave,, NW, Room $93
Washington, DC 20230

Date of Submissiyn: January 4, 2012

Submitted br:

Abed A. Ayoub, Lis.
Tegel Direcior

Amer.-Asaly Anti-Dige, Comm, (ADC)
1732 Wisconsin Ave, NW’
Washington, DC 20007

Phone: [phone]

Fail: aayeuh@iadc ons
Statement of Request.

Deseri

‘Table of Contents

ition of Applicants

American Arab Ant-Disurimination Committee (ADC,

Sexi

iological, Hthnic ae Reel eseripton of Arab-Aesicars

‘Unique Cutcurs] and Eshale Characteristics
Language:
Skia Color.
ond.

Musi.

A

Sov

rm

ab- American Media Tees,
ary of Sabmlsston
ul and Beonomis Disadvantage of Arab Americans

Arab- Americans have suffered Joug-term, chronic diseriutustion
and prejudice in American Society.

‘Victims of Nativism,
Diserimiuatiow in Barly Linmigration.

‘Quota Restrictions

Clase Reamples.

Post 9/11: Arab-Americans have suffered and continue to

iffer from discrimination and the effects of dzerimination
sand prejudice over which they have na control

Government Programs Targeting Communily"Tmpaet an Busiaess.

Arab-Americuns suffer from discrimination, prejodive and,
teultural bias in the wark place, This employment diserlmination
hhas produced obstacle in the business world for Arab-Americans ~
both as employees und entreprencurs. Members nf the group.

have no enntral over sueh diserimiuation, Other entrepreneurs
aud individuals, cutside of the group, do not suffer trom

such discrimination and hia: .

2
{he Equal Cenployment Opporwrily Comunission: Records and Actions, 4

ifee! of Discrimination on Hamings: Post 9/71 seni DS
Effects of Discrimination cn Career Advervement 2
Dineet Impael on Entreprencurs vs nD
Arab-Amerfcans are undereiuested, Educational deprivations
for Avab-Awscrleans are a result af diver’ i
sand cultural bias 31
Tducacignal Achievement Prevented as @ Result of Bins in S 31
Fonmation of Arab-American private sckvols prevented as
result of discrimination. 3
Conclusion: Arab-Americans remain undereducated because of diseriminatiyn 34
Starts. 7
¥. Statlsties show that 2 new wave af from Arab Nations are yuffering
fram discrimination and the effects of diserimination and prejudice over which
they have no control, placing them in # social and economie disudvamtagesnnndt
lagi Refugees - - vevneeee
Sudanese Reftgees a0

Conclusive.
JIntoutionally eft blank,
STATEMENT OF REOU

The Amevican-Arab Ao‘i-Piverimination Coumitiee (AIDC) suhmits this application tothe
Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) of the United States
Department ol Commete, roquesting formal recognition of the Arab-American commits as a
aminotiy group thot ic snially oF ceoceraically disadvantaged, os set forth under 15 CHER. §
1400, The roquestd designation is exten imnpoitant c the petiioners as it would create a
presumption of eligibility forall members ofthe Arab-Amteriom itor community, thereby

climinating the need for acnassing sax producing evidence at sacial »nd gvonomic disadvantage

by each and every individual Arab-Arserioun upplicant sockiug the benefius of MDA. programs
and epporrmitie.

DESCRIPTION OF APPLICAN’
Pursuant wo 1S CFR, § 1400.3(0) the

ion of the applica is provided. Te applicant
submitting te appicution is the Arscrican-Acalb Ant-Piseriminafon Commitee (ADC). The
group wepresented, and seeking designation as a whole, a8 a socilly autor economically
disadvantaged minorty is tke ArmbeAmeriean community. A description of both ADC and the

‘eommunity is provided below.

Armersean-Arub Anti-Discrimination Comntites (AC):

The appl

ion is suited by the American-Arab Anti-Diseximinstion Commitee (ADC),

the Navion’s largest Ars-Americun graseroors organizat

o, and ils os'y Arab-American civil
rights ergonivalion. The organizstion was founded hy former Lnited States Senelor James
Abourezk. ADC, which is non-profit non-sectarian eeu nun-partisin, is committed to datending

the rights of people of Areb descent and promoting thelr sich cultural heritage, ADC has
Chapters nutipawide and miembe:

in owery state, Ihe ADC National Teadguanery ae sued
iu Washiugton, OC, vith a satel’ office in Desrburn, Michigan,

ADC is at the foritont in comatng discrimination asin, al negitive sterooyping af,
Arab-Amerivn. Ia doing 80 it aes as an onpavized frameworks bough which Arvb-Americans
can channel ther effets toward une, exlestive and effetive advorsey. ADC also serve asa
reliable souce forthe news misdia andes educators cw And-Amerieuns, BY promcring eulrweal
events and partcipatirg in eoramonity aetivites, ADC has made great stides in womresting unt-
Arab stereotypes and humaniving the image of the Arab penple, In all wese effons, ADC
woardinmes clossls with other civ sgdns and bana sights organizations on issues oF eomunon

Though its Department of Legal Services, ADC olTers counseling in cases of dscrntnation,
Uetamation, sod immiznation, The services offeted hy the Hegel department are pro bono and

available to the geneesl public. ADC recci

* « significant nomaber of cases on a yeurly bass
Pertaining to all matters» the hiphest volume af cusen addressed by ADC are related to issues

involving employment diseriminstion,

Soviological, tthe & Racial Duveriotion af Arab-Americans

This petition socks the recognition that members of the Arab-Amerigan comunity azo
socially and economiva‘ly slisadvanlagel, Similar 10 other minority groups, such as Asian
Pacific Amorcans,” ArabeAmesicuns comprise u group ftom a disercte region of the world that

seuygles to succeed in eultue that is largely biased against hem. Those with origins inthe Arab

‘Asan Paciie Amerson are psrsans wit erin foun Hn, Malai, Indonesia Singpoee, Bre
Japon. China Gneinng Thong Kora), Voiva, Lis, Cambie (Kampucies). Vietnam, Keres. he ilps,
US. Trt Tertiuy of ke Paife Islanés (Republic of Pal), Repolls ofthe Marshal unde. Federated Sts of
MGseonasig the Coramonacalts "the hues Min skin, Gam, Samo, Mote ii: Tonga, Kia
Fovaly or haven. 13 CER. § 224.103,
‘world are lien discriminated against because of their ethnit: shin

. Throughout is last ceauy
the media io Americu bus perpetuated goucral chsracteriation of Anih-Amerieans with
nogaive associations. Movies have Finkel! the filse “Amb as rercris” stereotype with true
physical, linguist, and cultural charcreitos, ensing Amerieans to more likely develop and
act on antisArab bias. Befre 9/11, mone hate cimes were commited annually aginst Aru
Americans than were committed apainst Asian Pacific? of Hispanic Americans,‘ two minoeity
groups tbat are prewwmed to be socially aud ccovonicaly dlaadvantayed under che Stall
Basiness Administeation (SBA) § a) progeum.

An Armb-American is an American who trices his of hs tine roots 19 one of the eounres
in the Aesh Werk. The Arsh World is sompused ofall the countries tha identify themselves as
Arab, and i iochudes a populuion al approximately 200 million people, Key eammanon Feaures
rion these counties are use ofthe Arabic language and member i the League of Arab
Sates. (he Arab counties, lava in Norther Aten and Westen Asta, ae! Algeria, Rahrain,
jou, Beyps, Ira, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebunom, 12bye, Miata, Moroceo, Oman, Qatar
Somalia, Saali Aris, Sudo, Syn, Tunisia, United mab Emirates, und Yemen, Palescinius
anc also Arabs and are defined as Ghose persons Who tuace ther edie vues tothe areu known Ws
Palestine under she Hest mandate

The Arab World is bound by a cohesive, detinale culture manifite by customs and

tuaditions that include language, food, music, and religion, Ammbs are celigiously diverse, and

* Willa B, Rubenstein. The Rast Str, af US. Howe Crime Sic” Enrica nob, 8 Tul. Roe. 1212
1232-19 (2008) ise per caps rue 1996 14.2000. hae eres comune spans Arab Anericns 30s Bore
‘common than tase commited agaist Asian Ancien

2 he at. 239 (ace eines commited post Arb Americans 80% mote comin hash commited aginst
Hispanic Amerians.
include peuple of the Mustiny, Cluistiam, Druze and Jewish faiths! The majority of Acabs ic the

United Stas are of the Christm faith! Arabeamericans in the United States mmbor
approximately ovo ani onchlf milion coodling Ww rit estimates, Demographic statis of
the Areb-American population sre bused upon caimates and studies because Ihe U.S, Ceusus
Duroaa and otter governoem agenvies do not vompile satiics about Arab-Americuns us «
‘group, as ihey da for other minority groups.“ Although no ene single characteristic and traditior.

of the group is definitive jn aad of self, she uations and characterises of rab-Amercans,
‘ten taken asa whole stnguish them fom other groups within he Chita Sues
Unique Cela and Eile Chorccterati
Lanausee

“The most unique charsteistc of Arab-Amvrcans ib Arabic, a inticte and sophisticated
language that dares Ick thousands of yeas. To be coasidered ITuent in Aaxbie, one shonlé be
proficient in one of the varimus Arubie dinects. used in everyday life, as well ws in Modern

Suindard Arabic, which is us

Jn primes materials und official caremonies. While other non
Ab etic wroups tha ae Muslin uae Arabic nly during religions worship, asmbs se the
‘Arabic guage in all aspects of aly Tif, in addition te eligious worship, Fiver Uhough there
ava umber of Arabic dialects, abs ftom he various Arsh counties comununicas with each
oer sing & combination of Maer Slandard Arabic and dat.

Skin Color

Skin eolor has b

1 centra] clement in the history of America in defining, enue nd ctlancity,
Historically, some states hove datined persons of eolar ag anyone who was not sshile—who was

* Arab Americas Inte, Demographics: Religion (2002 Zophy harrnaivwel Suey
(alpen orgaharvieans 22 Semesrphice (an hited Deeembe 30,2007)
“a.
Sh
a “Negro, Atfoan, or wie of Asiun anessty” Arsb-Ammeican skit olor, varies (rom a “Light
rower” common to those Arsh Ametisans fm the Tevamline arc, to “darker brown cnn
to those Arb Arerioans from North Aftlos and the Arabian Peninsula, Tis skin color is a
discree physical charavteriti which sets chem apart ftom Huropean Americans (nation,
dark brown or black bac, an brown eyes ae Ueining fotures of Arab Amavicans. Quite afen,
-Acah Amerieans are mistaken for people af Spanish, Hispanic or Saharan Affican descent
Yoo

Unique foods and urildions sutsunling these foods have been trunsplamed by Arabe
Americans t the Urted Sues, Iris common tht ven trends oF guess ae visting an Arb
Amesican housetold they will fe served bet, sweet tea in sna glasses or thie. Arahie enfTee

spiced with eardamom in stall cups. ‘These beverages may often be followed with duit oc

lunique Arabic pastries such as sesame cookies ésimsin, dace cookies {me monly filo passes
filled with nuts (aXlava) or any other ou variety 02 swoct delicacis,

Food served a main meals is also distinotive, Ark Americans use Jama to a lange extent

‘here iis wsailabe, Bulyhar (bug) wheat is used in many Acabic dishes including rabaci
parscy-wheat salad, nad Abbas meat und wheet dish spiced with chnmamoa and eurin, Rice ix
alsa prevalem, snd ix commocly used for suffing chicken, squash, end rolled grape Leaves

seasoned with lemon. Orber popular Arse dishes include: Rebslalt oc sense a lary anal rive

dish, omames, made fiom. chick pess,

non juice snd tabi (sesame seed past): fnd, made
from wished fry beans: fjadara, whieh is made thom lentils and sige or Buighars and
man ish, made feom an herbal poste spreed on bread. ‘ts, spices and rus tht ure common
to Aribie Rod icolude: pine nts, pistachios, cionaaon, cardamom. cen, and sfiton os well

as dates, figs und pomegranates,
Masie,

The Arab World as along hisiory and treicion of musi, with «variety of insemenerts both
stringed and pereusive, The two mest reno Ar stuinged insuments ore the nud an Tre
rababa. The oud hut ten w twelve sings stg aver a hull-pear shaped frame th stripes of
inlaid wood, and i¢, more then any other musical inswumene, repesents the hallnatk of Arabic
musi, The rababa, a sagle steed insrumen| wade from animal hide an howe hui is most
commonly tized i the cours ofthe Amabian Peninsula

Thore are four major percussion insuments used doughout the Arak Worl, They include

the tablehidarinukah, 9 lay or metal bead deur; he deffhig, a tambourine-type instrument

sovered on one side with Fish or wot skin aya, flager cymbals male fom s bass alloy: and the
smazhar.o git “ambourine contsining live sts of double eyanbls

Tully, the naysebad is a venical ceed Mate and is one of the oldest insramects employed
in Arabic ansc. Other fulety3e inslruments commonly utilized in Arsbie music include the
nisms erd the yarghoul.
Arab-American Media/Press

Media and ansss communicetims have also played an important rule in promoting and
reterving Arh eullore among Avab-Amercans. AL tke end of the 19" century and early 20!
couury, apprasioutely fy Arab newspapers and magavires such as the Alskuon (te World)
‘were published, While mary of eve curlios nswspapors have siove ceused publication, mote
recent migavine nd joumals have sprung up to weplaes them. day, Arab-Amerian
owspasers, moparines and neviloters atc flourishing within the United Stes. ‘ete are
appraximately cigbt reglonsl magazines fir Arah-Amricmus wich aational subscribers and

neatly 300 newsletters are puitished. Some ofthe more popular anes inelnde: Het Times, le