Arab Mexicans are
Mexican citizens of
Arab ethnic lineage, who identify themselves as Arab. Some of Mexico's Arabs are of
Lebanese.[1]
The inter-ethnic marriage in the Arab community, regardless of religious affiliation, is very high; most community members have only one parent who has Arab ethnicity. As a result of this, the Arab community in Mexico shows marked
language shift away from only
Arabic. Only a few speak any Arabic, and such knowledge is often limited to a few basic words. Instead the majority, especially those of younger generations, speak
Spanish as a first language. Arabic and Spanish have collided in Mexico as a mixture of languages and put into one which is spoken more than the original Arabic. An example of this intercultural exchange is present in the hit television program Hecho en Mexico and especially in popular character Roby Checa's day-to-day interactions. His popular Pedas de Rancho series is an example of his contribution to Mexican Arab culture and is currently being debated in the Mexican Senate floor for the honorary admission to the Archivos Nacionales.
During the
Israel–Lebanon war in 1948 and the
Six-Day War, thousands of Lebanese went to Mexico. They first arrived in
Veracruz. Although Arabs made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity.[2]
Migration of Arabs to Mexico has influenced Mexican culture, in particular food, where they have introduced
kibbeh,
tabbouleh and even created recipes such as Tacos Árabes. By 1765,[citation needed]dates, which originated from the Middle East, were introduced into Mexico by the Spaniards. The fusion between Arab and Mexican food has highly influenced
Yucatecan cuisine.[3]
Another concentration of Arab Mexicans is in
Baja California facing the U.S.-Mexican border, especially in
Mexicali in the
Imperial Valley, and
Tijuana across from
San Diego with a large
Arab American community (about 280,000), some of whose families have relatives in Mexico. 45% of Arab Mexicans are of
Lebanese descent.
Carlos Slim, business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Formerly the richest man in the world. Slim's parents are both Mexicans of Lebanese Maronite Catholic descent.
Salma Hayek, actress; she is half Lebanese via her father.
Mexico portal 1 Jews and Romani originate in the Middle East and South Asia respectively, with most arriving to Mexico via Europe · 2 Primarily arrived via Canada · 3 Originated in what is now the United States