Any Muslim American can tell you about the humiliating experience of watching poorly portrayed Muslim characters on TV or in movies. As if the discriminatory and degrading rhetoric of any given administration, the media, or the general public was not enough; minorities have watched themselves be completely misrepresented since the creation of TV and film.…
Welcome home.
Growing up, I noticed my skin was different from the people I was surrounded with. I didn’t understand the color of my skin or why it made me innately less than. I didn’t know why a boy told me my skin resembled feces or why that meant I should be treated like I was from…
So, one of your friends is Muslim and is currently fasting for the month of Ramadan. He or she decides to invite you to an Iftar. You probably feel humbled and flattered to be a part of it, heck, you might even try fasting yourself out of solidarity. Yet there are still questions that linger…
A Venture Into the Unknown
A Reflective Piece on Toxic Masculinity Perpetuated By Mother-in-laws
It won’t be long, before they find out. Why I sit in my room, and cry and pout. A week from today I’ll have moved away, I want to stay and be with you; I pray. My passion and love lie with you. How could you fall for someone else? Was your love untrue?…
“Manush ki bolbe,” which is translated as “what will people say?” is the kind of question that defines social relationships and personal decisions that are made within Bangladeshi and “desi” social networks. This question symbolizes the mindset that collectivistic communities, like those found in Bangladesh and India, have in common; there is an importance of…
It is once again that glorious time of year, when flowers are in full bloom and everything is greener than ever. New beginnings and new weather are upon us, and so is wedding season. Yes, it is indeed that time of year when the lucky among us drive off into the sunset to a happily…
It isn’t an understatement to state that the past few months, if not years, have been a real trial for the spirit of our muslim community. The travel ban, the raging wave of Islamophobia, and the inquiring stares asking ‘why are you here’ have lead us to question our identity and our self-worth more often…