This half-hour documentary recounts the achievements and assimilation of Arab American women into American society retracing the history of immigration.

The stories are told through collections of photos, and testimonials by relatives and grandchildren. Quotes are incorporated, as well as interviews with scholars, such as Dr. Alixa Naff, who created the Arab-American Collection at the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Evelyn Shakir, author of Bint Arab and Dr. Greg Orfalea, author of Before the Flames.

Many women immigrated to the United States almost a century ago from what is today Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Leading feminist figures emerged as journalists, activists, artists and philanthropists early in the 20th century. Women gathered forces to establish The Syrian Ladies Aid Society (1907) to support immigrant girls. Women undertook various entrepreneurial activities, opening stores, running factories, bakeries, restaurants, literary salons or becoming artists and singers. .

Shedding light on the lives of these early women immigrants gives a glimpse into a community with inspiring stories of courage that are integral to American history.

The early immigrants were initially referred to as 'Syrians,' then with the creation of Lebanon in 1920, became Lebanese. The first wave of immigration from the 'Levant area' occured mostly between the late 1880s and the 1920s. The 'Levant' or 'Greater Syria and Mount Lebanon' were under Ottoman rule before WWI and were later divided by the British and the French into Syria, Lebanon and Trans-Jordan.

List of prominent Arab American women.

Volunteers needed: please email a description of your skills.