Throw out all the conspiracy theories and put aside the prejudice towards Muslims –we are in the Post 9/11 era now. But, in the ten years since terrorism made its way overseas to the States, how much has America really changed?
You don’t just easily forget things like this. At the time, I lived in a nice neighborhood in Cleveland. I knew something was wrong on that devastating day on September 11, 2001 when my homeroom teacher told our class that something terrible had happened in the nation a few minutes ago.
Al-Talib interviews Shahid Chohan, a first year Computer Science major at UCLA, about his experience living in post 9/11 America and where he thinks Muslim Americans are headed.
A cartoon depicting the sometimes ridiculous extra security screenings at airports.
Uzair Akbar was harassed by his peers after 9/11 for being Muslim. Akbar writes this letter to his elementary school principal to thank him for his support during this hard time.
When the two towers fell and America, for one moment collectively stood still in silent, rapt horror, Muslims across the West were forced to look long and hard at themselves in a mirror forged by the fires of those passenger jets.
Alaa Koleilat, a 3rd year Neuroscience major at UCLA, was living in North Dakota when the attacks happened. She shares her experience as one of the few Muslims that live in this state.
I was twelve the year the disaster occurred. Until then, I had lived in a happy-go-lucky little bubble, safely cushioned from the events of the world until September 11, 2001 brought the events of the world to my doorstep.
Al-Talib speaks with Sabrina Syed, a 2nd year student at UCLA majoring in Biology, on her experience traveling back from Pakistan to the U.S. the day of the September 11 attacks. Syed was 8 years old at that time and was traveling with her sister and mother.
September 2001. For me, it marked turning ten, my family’s move from New York to California and my first time attending a public school after spending my childhood in a private Islamic school. It also happened to be the month where the actions of a few extremist individuals changed the lives of Muslim Americans forever.