
Eternal Outsiders – the Roma in Syria
The term “gypsy” has been used throughout history in a pejorative way and is recognized by many members of the Dom community and researchers to be a derogatory term, particularly
Najeeb Elias Halaby was born in 1915 in Dallas, Texas to a prestigious Christian family with roots in Aleppo, Syria. His father, a Damascus-born immigrant, ran an interior design business, whereas his grandfather was a provincial treasurer or magistrate in Ottoman Syria. At a young age, Halaby showed a strong passion for aviation; he completed his first solo flight in a biplane when he was just 16, and he earned his pilot’s license a year later.
Having graduated with degrees in Political Science and Law, he worked as an attorney for two years while also taking flying lessons. However, after the outbreak of WWII, he joined the US Navy and became a pioneer test pilot. About six years later, on May 1, 1945, Halaby entered the annals of American history by making the first continuous transcontinental jet flight across the US, taking off in the west in California and landing in the east in Maryland, a flight which lasted five hours and 40 minutes.
Following the end of WWII, Halaby embarked on a remarkably successful career, serving in various prominent roles. For example, he was the head of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), the agency that oversees all aspects of US civil aviation, for more than four years. During his tenure, he oversaw the modernization of the American air traffic system, and he was instrumental in ending racial segregation in all airport terminals across the US. Later, he served as CEO of Pan American (1969-1972), the largest American airline at the time.
After leaving Pan American, he was hired by King Hussein of Jordan as an aviation consultant to help in launching an airline. Through this work, Halaby had many opportunities to interact with the Royal family of Jordan, ultimately leading to his daughter Lisa meeting King Hussein. She and King Hussein married in 1978, and Lisa Halaby became Queen Noor. In Jordan, she launched numerous projects that focus on education, culture, women and children’s welfare, and environmental conservation. After his retirement, Najeeb Halaby served in various public and charitable institutions, and he carried on flying well into his eighties. His legacy continues to inspire aerospace professionals around the world.
The term “gypsy” has been used throughout history in a pejorative way and is recognized by many members of the Dom community and researchers to be a derogatory term, particularly
These women are not just names in the memory of the revolution, but rather a foundation for building a free Syria. Their struggle is a living testimony that change begins
Syrian artists like Marwan Barakat remind us of the cultural and social wealth that Syrians have to offer to the world, and inspire us to express ourselves and our talents,