Michael Habib.
I am half Italian and half Arab (Lebanese & Syrian), and am very white-passing. I grew up in a conservative, white homogeneous suburb of Boston and have always claimed “White” on forms–mainly because there is not an option for Middle Eastern identities. As I grew older, I continued to claim a white identity because I felt it made the most sense–I benefit from white privilege, was raised predominantly by my mother (my Italian side), and never really worked to understand my Arab heritage/culture. It is only at the airport that I feel I am not white. “Random” searches while my mother (whose last name is Cuggino) walks through with ease. Being pulled off a plane to recheck my ID, being asked multiple times if I’ve been traveling in the Middle East. My last name is my closest tie to my Arab identity, and is highlighted when TSA checks my ID–suddenly realizing I am a bit tanner, the nose is a bit bigger, hair is a bit darker. I am ashamed that when I feel most closely connected to my Arab heritage is when I’m being scrutinized for potentially being a terrorist.
