Anti-Arab racism

Anti-Arab: hostility or violence toward people of Arab ancestry. Although neither so established, virulent, nor institutionalized as Anti-Semitism, Anti-Arab sentiment is not uncommon.

Such Anti-Arab feelings may be expressed in negative stereotypes regarding clothing ("ragheads" or "towelheads"), or cliché notions about Middle Eastern culture, such as "camel jockeys", or "Arab playboys".

After the end of the Cold War, American films began to feature Arab villians more prominently.

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center there were reports of assaults on individuals simply because they were perceived to be Arab.

Anti-Arab feelings are complicated by issues of Middle Eastern politics, but as in the case of Anti-Semitism, prejudice against Arabs should be distinguished from opposition to the policies of Arab states.

Some Arab publicists have attempted to claim that Anti-Semitism applies to Arabs as well as Jews, since both are considered Semitic peoples, but that would seem to distract attention from genuine Anti-Arab prejudice.