Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach Activism
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism

Retailers pull racist anti-Arab costumes for Halloween

Posted on October 28, 2015October 31, 2015 By rayhanania No Comments on Retailers pull racist anti-Arab costumes for Halloween
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Every year, racist anti-Arab costumes find their way into the marketplace in America that are sold to children to use for the annual holiday celebration of Halloween. This year costumes included a racist face of an Arab and an Israeli military uniform carrying an Uzi sub-machine gun symbolizing Israel’s military terrorism against Palestinian civilians

By Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania covering Chicago City Hall (1976-1992)
Ray Hanania
covering Chicago
City Hall
(1976-1992)

This week as the world prepared to pretend to honor the 20th year anniversary of the assassination by an Israeli terrorist of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin for making a pace with the Palestinians, retail store shelves were filling up with two children’s costumes for the Halloween season.

The first was a gruesome looking hooked-nose face of an “Arab sheik.” That’s not to say some Arab sheiks are not tyrants, murderers and spineless cowards in the face of rising Israeli terrorism against civilians. But for most Americans who don’t distinguish between good and bad in the Arab World and only see bad, the costume reinforced growing racial stereotypes against Christian and Muslim Arabs. It also brings back memories of the anti-Semitism of the “Hook Nosed Jew” Fagin and others used to terrorize Jews throughout the West and Europe.

The second costume is the uniform of the Israeli military and a plastic Uzi submachine gun that was being marketed to children, at the very same time that Israeli soldiers are shooting and killing children on the streets of occupied Palestine.

Israeli soldier costume for kids
Israeli soldier costume for kids

Fortunately, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which has been turned upside down nationally by extremist attacks over the years from within the community, managed to produce a press release denouncing the racist costumes through one of its chapters in Michigan. ADC National, injured and disabled by community divisions, is stumbling nationally although it has maintained only one strong and effective base true to the mission of championing the civil rights of Arabs in America. Without the Detroit, Michigan chapter, ADC would not exist or be able to champion any civil rights power.

Halloween "Fagin Nose" Arab Sheik accessory
Halloween “Fagin Nose” Arab Sheik accessory

Still, one crippled voice is better than the alternative. None.

Acting out of a history of civil rights honor, ADC Michigan Midwest Director Fatin Abdrabboh sent a letter to the largest retailer of the racist Arab costume, Walmart, urging them to remove it. Walmart immediately removed the hated costumes from their stores across the country and other retailers began to follow suit.

Here is the letter:

October 27, 2015

Walmart Supercenter
5851 Mercury Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126

RE: Racist Halloween costumes sold on Walmart.com

Dear General Manager:

I am writing to you on behalf of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Michigan Regional Office (ADC-Michigan), the country’s largest Arab-American organization.

ADC has protected the Arab-American community for thirty five years against defamation, discrimination, racism, and stereotyping. Southeast Michigan is home to one of the largest concentrations of Arabs and Muslims outside of the Middle East. We are reaching out as a strong customer base of Walmart to express our concern regarding racist Halloween costumes sold on Walmart.com. Not only are the costumes concerned detrimental to promoting diversity, a tenet Walmart claims to uphold, they also actively promote anti-Arab bigotry in America.

ADC Michigan strongly condemns Walmart’s decision to sell an “Israeli Soldier costume for Kids.” Hardly more than one year has passed since “Operation Protective Edge”, Israel’s attacks on Gaza in the summer of 2014 which killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, devastated Palestinian infrastructure, and left 100,000 Palestinians homeless. In the time period following the 2014 bombardment of Gaza, Israel has continued to use lethal force against Palestinians.

During the last month, more than 50 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Defense Forces, police officers and Israeli citizens. More than 2,000 have also been injured and more than 600 imprisoned. Many of those killed, injured, or imprisoned have been children. The IDF is a symbol of violence and fear for Palestinians around the world, many of whom have lost their homes and been victims of violence at the hands of Israeli soldiers.

Moreover, the demographics that your store serves include not only Palestinian-Americans, but also a sizable number of Lebanese-Americans from South Lebanon who have been particularly impacted by the IDF and continue to be so.

A children’s costume depicting a symbol of fear, violence and a long history of dispossession is no laughing matter. Walmart’s decision to sell such an item is irresponsible at best. An Israeli soldier costume is highly offensive to Arab-Americans, particularly those who have had family members, including children, killed by Israeli soldiers.

ADC Michigan also strongly condemns Walmart’s decision to sell a variety of “Arab” costumes including an Arab “Sheik Fagin Nose” costume with a stereotypically long Semitic nose.

The glorification of Israeli soldiers juxtaposed with the mockery of Arab people promotes an anti-Arab racism that is all too common in America. The webpage suggests that the nose is “perfect for an Arab Sheik,” perpetuating classic racist tropes that have long been used to demonize, otherwize, and alienate Arab communities throughout history.

Not only is this racism offensive, but it can lead to hate crimes against Arab-Americans. Just last week, an Arab man was stabbed in Brooklyn, NY simply for being Arab.

According to authorities, one of the attackers stated: “I’m going to stab you because you’re Arabic and deserve it.”

Hate crimes against Arab-Americans and other communities of color are on the rise. This rise in bigotry is a serious problem in America that is exacerbated by the xenophobic rhetoric espoused by the media and politicians. Walmart’s decision to sell racist costumes acts to further affirm and normalize this racism.

ADC strongly requests Walmart remove the offensive costuming, including the Israeli Soldier Costume for Kids and the Sheik Fagin Nose, and issue a public statement explaining why each of these costumes is morally wrong. Please know that members of the Arab and Muslim community here had planned a humanitarian effort to include a very large purchase at your store.

Ironically, the very people this costume damages are the ones who intended to buy over 50 gift cards at $500 each for Middle Eastern refugee families relocating in Southeast Michigan. Please see the attached flyer for the publicized relief efforts purchase that will likely no longer occur at your store. At the very least, if the aforementioned issue is not remedied, we will take this large humanitarian endeavor to another business that is mindful of its customers’ sensitivities.

ADC requests a formal apology over the retail of these items along with an immediate meeting with Walmart representatives. Please give this important matter the proper attention it deserves.

It’s nice to know there is at least one voice effectively fighting for the civil rights of Arabs, based in Detroit, Michigan, and doing it for the benefit of everyone regardless or race, religion or national origin.

Good job Fatina Abdrabboh and ADC Michigan.

Halloween is not without its controversies. Many in the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities do not allow their children to participate in Halloween because of its tendency to promote evil images, devilish stereotypes and costumes, and is associated with ancient pagan rituals celebrating the devil.

But for most American children, Halloween helps define their outlook on life. Halloween costumes depict what is good and what is bad. The children learn it from an early age and associate with the pleasure of receiving candy treats during the “Trick or Treat” revelry.

Children need to have fun. They just don’t need fun that reinforces racist caricatures of other people or violence that is already far more int his world than we can handle.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach - February 8, 2023
  • Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States - January 19, 2023
  • Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 - January 18, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Editors Picks, Ray Hanania, religion Tags:ADC, Amazon, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, anti-Semitism, Fain, Halloween, Israeli soldier costume, Ugly Arab costume, Uzi submachine gun, WalMart

Post navigation

Previous Post: AFC Salman’s FIFA candidacy puts integrity checks to the test
Next Post: New Qatari labour law: too little, too late

Related Posts

  • Reporter Censored by Twitter Arab World
  • Algeria protestors. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
    Algeria: The People Are Missing Abdennour Toumi
  • Former Congressman Paul Findley, ousted by pro-Israel anti-Palestinian activists Dick Durbin in 1982. Findley died August 9, 2019.
    Findley, champion of justice and Palestinian rights, dies Civil Rights
  • Florida Mosque taken off voting list because of threats American Arabs
  • Big Pharma, John Oliver and Ventura California #JimKaz Bloggers
  • Auschwitz concentration camp, arrival of Hungarian Jews, Summer 1944 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    65 Israeli Laws that target and discriminate against non-Jews in Israel Arab News

More Related Articles

World Jewish Congress Chairman Ronald S. Lauder World Jewish Congress leader Ronald Lauder predicts peace will spread to Palestinians Arab News
Photo courtesy of Eileen Fleming Israel’s Nuclear Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu Sentenced and Threatened Arab World
Abdul El-Sayed with Congressman John Conyers. Photo courtesy of El-Sayed's Facebook Page American Arab launches bid for Michigan governor American Arabs
Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota McCollum introduces civil rights legislation protecting Palestinian children under Israeli occupation American Arabs
AIPAC Commends Obama’s Failure to Recognize Palestine’s Rights Arab World
The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach
    February 8, 2023
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Shadin Maali has been named Emgage’s new Senior Director of Growth and Operations
    Emgage hires former Illinois Congressional aid to help expand their reach
    February 8, 2023
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme