Tennessee has passed two resolutions honoring the national Arab American Heritage Month, once in 2025 and again, just a few weeks ago.
The Arab American Heritage Month was first recognized in 2017 when the Arab America Foundation officially launched their initiative to incorporate Arab culture into American culture.
The Arab America website states, “the Arab America Foundation worked to promote NAAHM (National Arab American Heritage Month) in four phases:
phase one: disseminating educational materials to school systems;
phase two: seeking citations and proclamations from state governors, municipalities, counties, and school districts;
phase three: planning projects and celebrations; and finally,
phase four: engaging corporations to participate as sponsors of the initiative and to provide them with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training regarding the Arab American identity, history, values, food, language, civil rights, and Arabs’ contributions to American society.
https://www.arabamerica.com/who-started-the-movement-for-national-arab-american-heritage-month-history-and-legacy/
In 2021, President Biden declared Arab American Heritage Month to be honored nation-wide.
In 2025, Sen. Massey (R-Knoxville) sponsored SJR0182, which was signed by Governor Lee on March 31, 2025. Here’s the text of her resolution:
A RESOLUTION to commemorate National Arab American Heritage Month.
WHEREAS, for over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society—in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture; and
WHEREAS, since migrating to America, men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants; and
WHEREAS, they brought with them to America their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed that have added strength to our great democracy; and
WHEREAS, Arab Americans have also enriched our society by sharing in the entrepreneurial American spirit that makes our nation free and prosperous; and
WHEREAS, the celebration of Arab American ancestry and cultural heritage educates our fellow Americans and counters misconceptions, harmful stereotyping, and shared misconceptions by other ethnic groups, and
WHEREAS, Arab Americans join all Americans in the desire to see a peaceful and diverse society, where every individual is treated equally and feels safe; and
WHEREAS, the incredible contributions and heritage of Arab Americans have helped us build a better nation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we celebrate the contributions that Arab Americans have made to society and commemorate the observation of National Arab American Heritage Month this April 2025.
In 2026, Sen. Massey introduced an almost identical resolution, SJR 1030, this time co-sponsored by Sen. Akbari (D-Memphis), Sen. Kyle (D-Memphis), Sen. Yarbro (D-Nashville), Sen. Campbell (D-Nashville), and Rep. Briggs (R-Knoxville).
During the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on April 15, 2026, Sen. Massey stated that this is a resolution the General Assembly agrees to every year.
The resolution then moved to the Senate floor, which passed with all Senators voting in support, except for Sen. Hensley (R-Hohenwald), Sen. Seal (R-New Tazewell) and Sen. Taylor (R-Memphis) who voted no, and Sen. Crowe (R-Johnson City) who was present not voting. Senators Bowling, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Lowe, Watson and Speaker McNally were all not present and therefore did not record a vote.
Once the bill passed the Senate, it was added to the House Consent Calendar for April 22nd. The Consent Calendar is a procedure to lump all non-controversial bills together, to expediently vote to approve them. Examples would be when the legislature wants to honor local public servants, bills that everyone would support and do not necessarily need explanation.
SJR1030 got placed on this calendar, in addition to 106 other bills, and was sent to the Representatives on the floor about an hour after the floor session had already started, removing the ability for any representative to spend time reading through each of the 100+ bills.
There were four total Consent Calendars added to the floor session that evening.
Members of the House were simply not prepared or had enough time to read through each bill before being asked for a vote. Next year, they will be.
As far as the Senate goes, each member of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means committee heard this bill be presented and all but four voted to pass it.
When it was heard on the Senate Floor, there was no objection, no question, and no discussion.
Sen. Massey shared that in Knox County, they hold an annual Arab Fest where Arab Americans are recognized for being active in the community and therefore, she “wanted to recognize the contributions that these Americans have” in her community by passing these resolutions.
Arab American Heritage month started from a position to create further division in our country, by explicitly stating their motive was to incorporate the culture from a DEI perspective. It is not a month simply to honor a culture, but to position Arab Americans as an oppressed people in our country, with white Americans as the oppressor. And thanks to Senator Massey, we now have two resolutions on our books bringing that same ideology to Tennessee.
Recognizing various cultures and designating a month to honor their contributions really began in the 1960’s, the same time in our country when cultural marxism was growing in our universities and among young people, creating two groups of people, the oppressed and the oppressors.
We must be careful to not fall for the rhetoric that divides us, that puts one group of people against another. America is a country full of citizens who represent different cultures, and as long as those cultures work together to support our Constitution, we can co-exist under the banner of liberty. But to include statements like “Whereas, the celebration of Arab American ancestry and cultural heritage educates our fellow Americans and counters misconceptions, harmful stereotyping, and shared misconceptions” points a finger at everyone else and makes our state weaker.
If our motive is truly to acknowledge every single contributing culture within our state, then why do we only have Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American/American Indian Heritage Month?
Where is European American History Month, honoring those who became traitors to the crown when they denied their British citizenship in the name of liberty on our soil? Or better yet, Pilgrim Heritage Month, honoring the 41 separatists, men and women who boarded a ship determined to pursue a way of life that had never been attempted, all in the name of freedom?
Senator Massey’s resolution seems to miss the mark and we hope that she will reconsider pursuing it in the future.
A Look at Tennessee’s Arab American Heritage Month
Tennessee has passed two resolutions honoring the national Arab American Heritage Month, once in 2025 and again, just a few weeks ago.
The Arab American Heritage Month was first recognized in 2017 when the Arab America Foundation officially launched their initiative to incorporate Arab culture into American culture.
The Arab America website states, “the Arab America Foundation worked to promote NAAHM (National Arab American Heritage Month) in four phases:
phase one: disseminating educational materials to school systems;
phase two: seeking citations and proclamations from state governors, municipalities, counties, and school districts;
phase three: planning projects and celebrations; and finally,
phase four: engaging corporations to participate as sponsors of the initiative and to provide them with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training regarding the Arab American identity, history, values, food, language, civil rights, and Arabs’ contributions to American society.
https://www.arabamerica.com/who-started-the-movement-for-national-arab-american-heritage-month-history-and-legacy/
In 2021, President Biden declared Arab American Heritage Month to be honored nation-wide.
In 2025, Sen. Massey (R-Knoxville) sponsored SJR0182, which was signed by Governor Lee on March 31, 2025. Here’s the text of her resolution:
A RESOLUTION to commemorate National Arab American Heritage Month.
WHEREAS, for over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society—in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture; and
WHEREAS, since migrating to America, men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants; and
WHEREAS, they brought with them to America their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed that have added strength to our great democracy; and
WHEREAS, Arab Americans have also enriched our society by sharing in the entrepreneurial American spirit that makes our nation free and prosperous; and
WHEREAS, the celebration of Arab American ancestry and cultural heritage educates our fellow Americans and counters misconceptions, harmful stereotyping, and shared misconceptions by other ethnic groups, and
WHEREAS, Arab Americans join all Americans in the desire to see a peaceful and diverse society, where every individual is treated equally and feels safe; and
WHEREAS, the incredible contributions and heritage of Arab Americans have helped us build a better nation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we celebrate the contributions that Arab Americans have made to society and commemorate the observation of National Arab American Heritage Month this April 2025.
In 2026, Sen. Massey introduced an almost identical resolution, SJR 1030, this time co-sponsored by Sen. Akbari (D-Memphis), Sen. Kyle (D-Memphis), Sen. Yarbro (D-Nashville), Sen. Campbell (D-Nashville), and Rep. Briggs (R-Knoxville).
During the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on April 15, 2026, Sen. Massey stated that this is a resolution the General Assembly agrees to every year.
The resolution then moved to the Senate floor, which passed with all Senators voting in support, except for Sen. Hensley (R-Hohenwald), Sen. Seal (R-New Tazewell) and Sen. Taylor (R-Memphis) who voted no, and Sen. Crowe (R-Johnson City) who was present not voting. Senators Bowling, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Lowe, Watson and Speaker McNally were all not present and therefore did not record a vote.
Once the bill passed the Senate, it was added to the House Consent Calendar for April 22nd. The Consent Calendar is a procedure to lump all non-controversial bills together, to expediently vote to approve them. Examples would be when the legislature wants to honor local public servants, bills that everyone would support and do not necessarily need explanation.
SJR1030 got placed on this calendar, in addition to 106 other bills, and was sent to the Representatives on the floor about an hour after the floor session had already started, removing the ability for any representative to spend time reading through each of the 100+ bills.
There were four total Consent Calendars added to the floor session that evening.
Members of the House were simply not prepared or had enough time to read through each bill before being asked for a vote. Next year, they will be.
As far as the Senate goes, each member of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means committee heard this bill be presented and all but four voted to pass it.
When it was heard on the Senate Floor, there was no objection, no question, and no discussion.
Sen. Massey shared that in Knox County, they hold an annual Arab Fest where Arab Americans are recognized for being active in the community and therefore, she “wanted to recognize the contributions that these Americans have” in her community by passing these resolutions.
Arab American Heritage month started from a position to create further division in our country, by explicitly stating their motive was to incorporate the culture from a DEI perspective. It is not a month simply to honor a culture, but to position Arab Americans as an oppressed people in our country, with white Americans as the oppressor. And thanks to Senator Massey, we now have two resolutions on our books bringing that same ideology to Tennessee.
Recognizing various cultures and designating a month to honor their contributions really began in the 1960’s, the same time in our country when cultural marxism was growing in our universities and among young people, creating two groups of people, the oppressed and the oppressors.
We must be careful to not fall for the rhetoric that divides us, that puts one group of people against another. America is a country full of citizens who represent different cultures, and as long as those cultures work together to support our Constitution, we can co-exist under the banner of liberty. But to include statements like “Whereas, the celebration of Arab American ancestry and cultural heritage educates our fellow Americans and counters misconceptions, harmful stereotyping, and shared misconceptions” points a finger at everyone else and makes our state weaker.
If our motive is truly to acknowledge every single contributing culture within our state, then why do we only have Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American/American Indian Heritage Month?
Where is European American History Month, honoring those who became traitors to the crown when they denied their British citizenship in the name of liberty on our soil? Or better yet, Pilgrim Heritage Month, honoring the 41 separatists, men and women who boarded a ship determined to pursue a way of life that had never been attempted, all in the name of freedom?
Senator Massey’s resolution seems to miss the mark and we hope that she will reconsider pursuing it in the future.
Like this article?
Anne Lowery
Anne Lowery