Black..Arab.. What's the difference?

This article written by Andrea Shalal-Esa promotes the idea that Arabs identify with communities of color. Her focus is on American writers and how "they are wielding their pens to chronicle decades of racism, oppression, marginalization in the United States... uncovering the particularities of their histories."

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1386

The discourse surrounding Arab-Americans being considered part of the black community in America has become rich. It seems as if anyone who looks slightly Middle Eastern is automatically grouped as Arab and Muslim. I believe this connection comes from the way Arabs are othered in the same way that African-Americans othered in this country. Poet Suheir Hammad is mentioned in this essay as a Palestinian-American who understands what it means to be poor and colored and America. Her book of poems titled "Born Palestinian, Born Black" explains her experiences plainly and soulfully. Leaning towards hip-hop culture as a means of expression, her poetry resembles rap music that sprung from a place she calls home, Brooklyn.