08/15/2026
Ask an Egyptian how they identify, and the answer can sound simple: Egyptian. But ask what that means — Arab, African, Middle Eastern, Coptic or some combination — and the answer touches on history, language, religion, geography and belonging. Some see “Egyptian” as an identity that stands on its own. Others embrace Arab identity as part of their culture but not their ethnicity. For some, religion is an important part of how they understand their connection to the nation’s history. And for others, the categories overlap without requiring choosing just one.
Mariam Akraz was born in Minya in Upper Egypt and moved to the United States with her family at eight, immigrating after several years of applications in the wake of the Arab Spring. Raised in a Christian family, she later graduated from Temple University and became a sports journalist. Akraz describes herself first as Egyptian.
“It's a rich civilization; it's a very old history,” she says. “We have our own kind of distinct features and genetics… For me, the most perfect way to put it is ‘Egyptian.’”
Read the full story at https://www.albustanseeds.org/news/egyptianidentityarabcoptic
Story by Gawhara Abou-eid .bewitch
Photo courtesy of Fathy Elhadidy
