Noor Eid (Palestine)
"'So what are you again?' I was constantly asked this growing up when friends and teachers would hear me talk about my family and background. I would explain to them that my mom was born in Venezuela and my dad in Jordan, but that my grandparents and ancestors from both sides were Palestinian. I felt like I could never just say, "I was born here, I'm American" or "I'm Arab." For me, that would be neglecting a huge part of who I considered myself to be. My household was filled with a combination of English, Spanish, Arabic and, more often than not, Arabish and Spanglish. If you don't know how that sounds like I will use the simple example of how my mom answers the phone when I call her: "Hola, habibti. How are you?" I was that kid in kindergarten who had Arabic pastries and stuffed grape leaves in her lunchbox.
In America I am an Arab or “brown,” when I travel to Venezuela I am a ‘Gringa,’ and when I go back to the Middle East I am an ‘Americaniyeh.’ I grew up confused and feeling like I never really belonged no matter where I went. I spent so much time being frustrated that I didn’t completely belong anywhere, I didn’t realize the beauty and privilege I had in being a mix of so many things. I didn’t need to fit myself in a category. Who I am is who I decide to be. It is all of my experiences, my travels, my background, my family, my personality, my passions and dreams.
As I got older, I understood the importance of being connected to my Palestinian culture and roots. After graduating UCLA with a degree in Global Studies, I visited Palestine for the first time. I cannot express how life changing this journey was, and how blessed I am to have made this return to my homeland. After years of feeling like I didn’t really belong, I felt completely at home and at peace in Palestine.
Being an Empowered Arab Sister has allowed me to embrace this identity, my identity. It has given me a supportive group of girls who share my passions and inspire me with their own. It has provided me with a space to participate in projects to help those suffering in the Arab world. This sorority has brought together a group of intelligent, strong and passionate young women who want to help their community and embrace their roots. Our sisterhood is not just about having fun and partying (although we know how to do both), it is about working together to ignite discussions around important and serious issues, to confront the stereotypes and racism we face in America, and to help improve the conditions of fellow Arab women around the world. I am honored and humbled to have helped found this incredible organization and I am so excited to watch this sorority continue to make a meaningful impact. Although my time at UCLA has ended, I will always remain an Empowered Arab Sister and will be working with this organization as a Founding Mother as we expand nationally.
In America I am an Arab or “brown,” when I travel to Venezuela I am a ‘Gringa,’ and when I go back to the Middle East I am an ‘Americaniyeh.’ I grew up confused and feeling like I never really belonged no matter where I went. I spent so much time being frustrated that I didn’t completely belong anywhere, I didn’t realize the beauty and privilege I had in being a mix of so many things. I didn’t need to fit myself in a category. Who I am is who I decide to be. It is all of my experiences, my travels, my background, my family, my personality, my passions and dreams.
As I got older, I understood the importance of being connected to my Palestinian culture and roots. After graduating UCLA with a degree in Global Studies, I visited Palestine for the first time. I cannot express how life changing this journey was, and how blessed I am to have made this return to my homeland. After years of feeling like I didn’t really belong, I felt completely at home and at peace in Palestine.
Being an Empowered Arab Sister has allowed me to embrace this identity, my identity. It has given me a supportive group of girls who share my passions and inspire me with their own. It has provided me with a space to participate in projects to help those suffering in the Arab world. This sorority has brought together a group of intelligent, strong and passionate young women who want to help their community and embrace their roots. Our sisterhood is not just about having fun and partying (although we know how to do both), it is about working together to ignite discussions around important and serious issues, to confront the stereotypes and racism we face in America, and to help improve the conditions of fellow Arab women around the world. I am honored and humbled to have helped found this incredible organization and I am so excited to watch this sorority continue to make a meaningful impact. Although my time at UCLA has ended, I will always remain an Empowered Arab Sister and will be working with this organization as a Founding Mother as we expand nationally.