The Arab American News’ 30th anniversary dinner was not only a testament to its influence, but to the growing success of Arab Americans. 

About a dozen prominent mainstream journalists and elected officials took the podium to praise the newspaper and pay tribute to its quality journalism. 

“Looking at recent copies of the Arab American News, the attachment between the community and the newspaper is crystal clear,” Detroit News Publisher Jonathan Wolman said at the dinner. “Like no other paper in Michigan, its community is near and far.” 

And it is that “crystal clear” bond that motivates and drives our hard work every issue. Our success is yours.

Our packed dinner was a message of appreciation from the community to whom we will remain committed. The newspaper belongs to its readers whose stories fill its content. 

It has been a difficult but rewarding journey. For 30 years, we have been telling the stories of the Arab American community— accounts of success, struggle, joy and pain that would have gone untold without a publication dedicated to shedding light on the Arab American experience.

From pointing out civil rights violations here to condemning injustices around the world, the newspaper has been a champion for the community. It has tackled controversial issues and made unpopular statements in the name of truth and on behalf of its readership.

Through it all, we maintained our integrity and guarded our professionalism. For support, we relied solely on our loyal readers who made us a popular destination for advertisers who helped us keep our financial and editorial independence.”

As we move beyond our 30th anniversary celebration, the paper will continue to document Arab Americans’ stories and archive their history.

Since the paper’s inception, Arab Americans’ political participation and economic presence has grown significantly. Arab Americans are becoming a visible element in the political, economic and cultural fabric of the state and the nation. But as our community grows, controversies, scandals and corruption are all too present as well. Our paper has tried to correct these wrongs by bringing them to our readers’ attention.

We do not have an agenda. We report the news. Our mission is to tell the truth and uncover what our readers need to know. We owe the truth to both our community and our profession.

We have always been committed to the unity of the community. The Middle East is witnessing divisions and civil war, but we must not import that divisiveness to Arab America. We should stand together in support of our collective interests as Arab Americans. Here at the Arab American News, we do our best to bring the various Arab peoples together.

The Arab American News has received the Spirit of Diversity Award from Wayne State University and its publisher was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2013. The paper, its publisher and staff have also received several awards and recognitions from national and local community and civil rights organizations over the years.

We couldn’t have done it without our dedicated staff whose commitment to the profession and quest for the truth create the content of our pages. Thank you to our current and former employees.

Our readers, advertisers and supporters are also a part of our story. 

On this occasion, we would like to pay homage to our late editor, Kay Siblani. She lost her battle with cancer on Jan. 1, 2013; and with her passing, we lost a dedicated journalist and a courageous fighter who was a founding member of our paper and spent most of her life advocating for our community. 

Special gratitude to our 30th Anniversary Dinner sponsors and all the community members and Fordson Arab Student Union volunteers who shared the pride and joined the celebration at the gala