a wise man once said the legal system can force open doors and sometimes even
can force open doors and sometimes even
can force open doors and sometimes even knock down walls but it cannot build
knock down walls but it cannot build
knock down walls but it cannot build bridges that job belongs to you and me
bridges that job belongs to you and me
bridges that job belongs to you and me these provocative words brought me here
these provocative words brought me here
these provocative words brought me here today they inspired me to step out of my
today they inspired me to step out of my
today they inspired me to step out of my day-to-day rhythm and share my story
day-to-day rhythm and share my story
day-to-day rhythm and share my story with you so here it goes
with you so here it goes
with you so here it goes I was a pretty shy and timid kid growing
I was a pretty shy and timid kid growing
I was a pretty shy and timid kid growing up in Richmond Virginia in that sense I
up in Richmond Virginia in that sense I
up in Richmond Virginia in that sense I was a lot like my parents who are Muslim
was a lot like my parents who are Muslim
was a lot like my parents who are Muslim immigrants from Pakistan my parents like
immigrants from Pakistan my parents like
immigrants from Pakistan my parents like many first-generation Americans were
many first-generation Americans were
many first-generation Americans were what I would call quiet integrators they
what I would call quiet integrators they
what I would call quiet integrators they worked hard to earn a decent living they
worked hard to earn a decent living they
worked hard to earn a decent living they focused on raising their family they
focused on raising their family they
focused on raising their family they socialized with other families with who
socialized with other families with who
socialized with other families with who had similar experiences as they did and
had similar experiences as they did and
had similar experiences as they did and they made an effort to stay connected to
they made an effort to stay connected to
they made an effort to stay connected to their heritage and their traditions it
their heritage and their traditions it
their heritage and their traditions it was their way of weaving into the fabric
was their way of weaving into the fabric
was their way of weaving into the fabric of our society some might say that they
of our society some might say that they
of our society some might say that they were a little insular but I have
were a little insular but I have
were a little insular but I have observed that most of us can be quite
observed that most of us can be quite
observed that most of us can be quite insular we tend to stay within our
insular we tend to stay within our
insular we tend to stay within our little bubble and then quietly integrate
little bubble and then quietly integrate
little bubble and then quietly integrate into those tight circles often unmindful
into those tight circles often unmindful
into those tight circles often unmindful and even oblivious of those around us
and even oblivious of those around us
and even oblivious of those around us for my parents it was a way of adapting
for my parents it was a way of adapting
for my parents it was a way of adapting to a new and foreign culture for me it
to a new and foreign culture for me it
to a new and foreign culture for me it was a way of coping with my shyness and
was a way of coping with my shyness and
was a way of coping with my shyness and for others it’s a safe and it’s a
for others it’s a safe and it’s a
for others it’s a safe and it’s a comfortable way of being in fact it
comfortable way of being in fact it
comfortable way of being in fact it feels like a natural tendency to
feels like a natural tendency to
feels like a natural tendency to surround ourselves with familiarity
surround ourselves with familiarity
surround ourselves with familiarity nothing wrong with that is there well I
nothing wrong with that is there well I
nothing wrong with that is there well I learned the hard way that yes
learned the hard way that yes
learned the hard way that yes maybe there is when injustice overpowers
maybe there is when injustice overpowers
maybe there is when injustice overpowers you like it has for today’s generation
you like it has for today’s generation
you like it has for today’s generation of Americans who are Muslim or perceived
of Americans who are Muslim or perceived
of Americans who are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim prejudiced unfair
to be Muslim prejudiced unfair
to be Muslim prejudiced unfair stereotypes sweeping generalizations
stereotypes sweeping generalizations
stereotypes sweeping generalizations feeling alienated misunderstood and
feeling alienated misunderstood and
feeling alienated misunderstood and viewed with suspicion most of us are
viewed with suspicion most of us are
viewed with suspicion most of us are trying really hard to make sense out of
trying really hard to make sense out of
trying really hard to make sense out of the social climate that seems to be
the social climate that seems to be
the social climate that seems to be singling out an entire faith community
singling out an entire faith community
singling out an entire faith community of over 3 million Americans a community
of over 3 million Americans a community
of over 3 million Americans a community that’s really been here all along since
that’s really been here all along since
that’s really been here all along since the very beginning yet for some reason
the very beginning yet for some reason
the very beginning yet for some reason has remained so unfamiliar several
has remained so unfamiliar several
has remained so unfamiliar several recent studies on American perceptions
recent studies on American perceptions
recent studies on American perceptions have found that Muslims are a highly
have found that Muslims are a highly
have found that Muslims are a highly disliked and distrusted community and it
disliked and distrusted community and it
disliked and distrusted community and it seems like these feelings of dislike
seems like these feelings of dislike
seems like these feelings of dislike have manifested into acts of hate civil
have manifested into acts of hate civil
have manifested into acts of hate civil rights groups all over the country are
rights groups all over the country are
rights groups all over the country are reporting that hate crimes may be
reporting that hate crimes may be
reporting that hate crimes may be reaching their all-time high in the last
reaching their all-time high in the last
reaching their all-time high in the last couple of years against Muslims the
couple of years against Muslims the
couple of years against Muslims the Center for the Study of hate and
Center for the Study of hate and
Center for the Study of hate and extremism reported 250 hate crimes
extremism reported 250 hate crimes
extremism reported 250 hate crimes targeting Muslims just in the year 2015
targeting Muslims just in the year 2015
targeting Muslims just in the year 2015 these include vandalism and arson at
these include vandalism and arson at
these include vandalism and arson at places of worship
places of worship
places of worship they include execution-style shootings
they include execution-style shootings
they include execution-style shootings beatings and assault of shopkeepers and
beatings and assault of shopkeepers and
beatings and assault of shopkeepers and women wearing headscarves in addition to
women wearing headscarves in addition to
women wearing headscarves in addition to these crimes we’re also seeing a growing
these crimes we’re also seeing a growing
these crimes we’re also seeing a growing trend of discrimination experienced by
trend of discrimination experienced by
trend of discrimination experienced by Muslims in their workplace in
Muslims in their workplace in
Muslims in their workplace in communities and in schools many of these
communities and in schools many of these
communities and in schools many of these experiences are injustice is that the
experiences are injustice is that the
experiences are injustice is that the protections of our laws just cannot
protections of our laws just cannot
protections of our laws just cannot reach for me one of the most troubling
reach for me one of the most troubling
reach for me one of the most troubling trends has been a rise of bullying and
trends has been a rise of bullying and
trends has been a rise of bullying and hostility towards Muslim kids in schools
hostility towards Muslim kids in schools
hostility towards Muslim kids in schools not only by their peers but by adults in
not only by their peers but by adults in
not only by their peers but by adults in positions of authority in a recent
positions of authority in a recent
positions of authority in a recent sociological study of Muslim high school
sociological study of Muslim high school
sociological study of Muslim high school students they found that perceptions of
students they found that perceptions of
students they found that perceptions of microaggression and experiences of
microaggression and experiences of
microaggression and experiences of discrimination have had damaging
discrimination have had damaging
discrimination have had damaging consequences on kids
consequences on kids
consequences on kids educational outcomes on their
educational outcomes on their
educational outcomes on their psychosocial health and well-being and
psychosocial health and well-being and
psychosocial health and well-being and their sense of family and sense of
their sense of family and sense of
their sense of family and sense of nation and belonging as a mother of four
nation and belonging as a mother of four
nation and belonging as a mother of four wonderful kids ranging from elementary
wonderful kids ranging from elementary
wonderful kids ranging from elementary age to college-age it’s something that I
age to college-age it’s something that I
age to college-age it’s something that I worry about every day in fact it’s
worry about every day in fact it’s
worry about every day in fact it’s something every Muslim parent that I
something every Muslim parent that I
something every Muslim parent that I know worries about every day when I was
know worries about every day when I was
know worries about every day when I was growing up in the 80s and the 90s most
growing up in the 80s and the 90s most
growing up in the 80s and the 90s most of my friends didn’t really even know
of my friends didn’t really even know
of my friends didn’t really even know where Pakistan was on a map most of them
where Pakistan was on a map most of them
where Pakistan was on a map most of them didn’t know that Pakistan is an Islamic
didn’t know that Pakistan is an Islamic
didn’t know that Pakistan is an Islamic country or for that matter what a Muslim
country or for that matter what a Muslim
country or for that matter what a Muslim even is but now of course world politics
even is but now of course world politics
even is but now of course world politics has completely changed that before my
has completely changed that before my
has completely changed that before my story was was simpler and easier to
story was was simpler and easier to
story was was simpler and easier to share there weren’t as many preconceived
share there weren’t as many preconceived
share there weren’t as many preconceived notions to dispel folks were curious and
notions to dispel folks were curious and
notions to dispel folks were curious and eager learn and I was happy to explain
eager learn and I was happy to explain
eager learn and I was happy to explain but now there’s fear and there’s
but now there’s fear and there’s
but now there’s fear and there’s apprehension on both sides of the
apprehension on both sides of the
apprehension on both sides of the storytelling but I’m still the same
storytelling but I’m still the same
storytelling but I’m still the same person I haven’t changed but in a way I
person I haven’t changed but in a way I
person I haven’t changed but in a way I have on that day of 9/11 I was about
have on that day of 9/11 I was about
have on that day of 9/11 I was about four months pregnant with my third child
four months pregnant with my third child
four months pregnant with my third child and like everyone else I was devastated
and like everyone else I was devastated
and like everyone else I was devastated by the loss of human life I was scared
by the loss of human life I was scared
by the loss of human life I was scared of the senseless violence in the name of
of the senseless violence in the name of
of the senseless violence in the name of extremist ideology I felt helpless as a
extremist ideology I felt helpless as a
extremist ideology I felt helpless as a mother I was afraid for the future of my
mother I was afraid for the future of my
mother I was afraid for the future of my children my unborn child who would have
children my unborn child who would have
children my unborn child who would have to navigate this scary and violent world
to navigate this scary and violent world
to navigate this scary and violent world that we had become a world that I never
that we had become a world that I never
that we had become a world that I never had to navigate and at that time I
had to navigate and at that time I
had to navigate and at that time I didn’t realize that I would also become
didn’t realize that I would also become
didn’t realize that I would also become fearful for them just because of their
fearful for them just because of their
fearful for them just because of their Muslim identity since that day it feels
Muslim identity since that day it feels
Muslim identity since that day it feels like the threads of the fabric are
like the threads of the fabric are
like the threads of the fabric are quickly unraveling and we’re falling out
quickly unraveling and we’re falling out
quickly unraveling and we’re falling out the threads of the fabric that bind us
the threads of the fabric that bind us
the threads of the fabric that bind us and cradle our community but in the
and cradle our community but in the
and cradle our community but in the midst of the unraveling I witness
midst of the unraveling I witness
midst of the unraveling I witness something else
something else
something else I saw and I heard voices
I saw and I heard voices
I saw and I heard voices from Asian American communities
from Asian American communities
from Asian American communities recalling the Japanese internment camps
recalling the Japanese internment camps
recalling the Japanese internment camps standing up for us voices from Jewish
standing up for us voices from Jewish
standing up for us voices from Jewish communities very familiar with the
communities very familiar with the
communities very familiar with the horrors that that were triggered by
horrors that that were triggered by
horrors that that were triggered by Jewish discrimination standing up for us
Jewish discrimination standing up for us
Jewish discrimination standing up for us voices from African American and black
voices from African American and black
voices from African American and black communities who have endured a horde
communities who have endured a horde
communities who have endured a horde history of slavery and Jim Crow and are
history of slavery and Jim Crow and are
history of slavery and Jim Crow and are still fighting for the value of black
still fighting for the value of black
still fighting for the value of black lives are standing up for us members of
lives are standing up for us members of
lives are standing up for us members of the LGBT community who face intolerant
the LGBT community who face intolerant
the LGBT community who face intolerant attitudes all around and hate crimes
attitudes all around and hate crimes
attitudes all around and hate crimes raised similar to our community they’re
raised similar to our community they’re
raised similar to our community they’re standing in solidarity with us
standing in solidarity with us
standing in solidarity with us neighborhood Christian faith groups
neighborhood Christian faith groups
neighborhood Christian faith groups literally standing in front of our local
literally standing in front of our local
literally standing in front of our local Bonaire mosque holding up signs of love
Bonaire mosque holding up signs of love
Bonaire mosque holding up signs of love and solidarity and on a personal level
and solidarity and on a personal level
and solidarity and on a personal level Maya my professors and my colleagues
Maya my professors and my colleagues
Maya my professors and my colleagues made sure that I know that they’re there
made sure that I know that they’re there
made sure that I know that they’re there for me if I ever experience prejudice
for me if I ever experience prejudice
for me if I ever experience prejudice because of their voices I don’t feel
because of their voices I don’t feel
because of their voices I don’t feel quite so alone these people these day to
quite so alone these people these day to
quite so alone these people these day to day ordinary folks standing up for me
day ordinary folks standing up for me
day ordinary folks standing up for me standing with me making an effort to
standing with me making an effort to
standing with me making an effort to build a bridge towards me and others
build a bridge towards me and others
build a bridge towards me and others like me they didn’t have to but they did
like me they didn’t have to but they did
like me they didn’t have to but they did for me these bridge builders are our
for me these bridge builders are our
for me these bridge builders are our civil rights leaders of today where
civil rights leaders of today where
civil rights leaders of today where their effort is not on changing the laws
their effort is not on changing the laws
their effort is not on changing the laws but changing a culture of reticence a
but changing a culture of reticence a
but changing a culture of reticence a culture of insularity they taught me
culture of insularity they taught me
culture of insularity they taught me that there are those who are trying
that there are those who are trying
that there are those who are trying really hard to weave us back together
really hard to weave us back together
really hard to weave us back together they taught me that I am connected to
they taught me that I am connected to
they taught me that I am connected to them that our fates are bound together
them that our fates are bound together
them that our fates are bound together and that injustice towards one is
and that injustice towards one is
and that injustice towards one is injustice towards all of us but most of
injustice towards all of us but most of
injustice towards all of us but most of all they inspired me to
all they inspired me to
all they inspired me to action I now know that I can no longer
action I now know that I can no longer
action I now know that I can no longer exist in my comfortable bubble and allow
exist in my comfortable bubble and allow
exist in my comfortable bubble and allow others to challenge in Justice’s fight
others to challenge in Justice’s fight
others to challenge in Justice’s fight the wrongs for me while I reap the
the wrongs for me while I reap the
the wrongs for me while I reap the benefits
benefits
benefits I can’t just remain neutral or stand on
I can’t just remain neutral or stand on
I can’t just remain neutral or stand on the sidelines when I see injustice is
the sidelines when I see injustice is
the sidelines when I see injustice is happening to other people in other
happening to other people in other
happening to other people in other communities because if I do my silence
communities because if I do my silence
communities because if I do my silence my reluctance will allow the voices of
my reluctance will allow the voices of
my reluctance will allow the voices of injustice –is to grow louder so whether
injustice –is to grow louder so whether
injustice –is to grow louder so whether they know it or not these people in my
they know it or not these people in my
they know it or not these people in my day-to-day lives have given me the
day-to-day lives have given me the
day-to-day lives have given me the courage to break out of my reluctance
courage to break out of my reluctance
courage to break out of my reluctance the courage to share a piece of my story
the courage to share a piece of my story
the courage to share a piece of my story with you to build a bridge towards you
with you to build a bridge towards you
with you to build a bridge towards you so that we can continue the work of
so that we can continue the work of
so that we can continue the work of building bridges between communities so
building bridges between communities so
building bridges between communities so how do we do this how do you build a
how do we do this how do you build a
how do we do this how do you build a bridge from quiet integration to what I
bridge from quiet integration to what I
bridge from quiet integration to what I would like to call active integration
would like to call active integration
would like to call active integration well one thing I know is that I don’t
well one thing I know is that I don’t
well one thing I know is that I don’t need to change who I am I don’t need to
need to change who I am I don’t need to
need to change who I am I don’t need to transform into a forceful extrovert or
transform into a forceful extrovert or
transform into a forceful extrovert or run for political office to bring
run for political office to bring
run for political office to bring attention to injustice but I do need to
attention to injustice but I do need to
attention to injustice but I do need to be willing to step out of my comfort
be willing to step out of my comfort
be willing to step out of my comfort zone
zone
zone my insularity and allow myself to be
my insularity and allow myself to be
my insularity and allow myself to be vulnerable to the new and the unfamiliar
vulnerable to the new and the unfamiliar
vulnerable to the new and the unfamiliar for me that has meant learning how to be
for me that has meant learning how to be
for me that has meant learning how to be a vocal advocate for the richmond muslim
a vocal advocate for the richmond muslim
a vocal advocate for the richmond muslim community for my community of uncles and
community for my community of uncles and
community for my community of uncles and auntie’s very much like the wizard and
auntie’s very much like the wizard and
auntie’s very much like the wizard and Gazala Han families that have nurtured
Gazala Han families that have nurtured
Gazala Han families that have nurtured me since I was a child for some of us it
me since I was a child for some of us it
me since I was a child for some of us it means attending a vigil to support the
means attending a vigil to support the
means attending a vigil to support the LGBT community after the Orlando
LGBT community after the Orlando
LGBT community after the Orlando shooting to mourn the loss of precious
shooting to mourn the loss of precious
shooting to mourn the loss of precious human life for a local Pakistani
human life for a local Pakistani
human life for a local Pakistani physicians group I know it means
physicians group I know it means
physicians group I know it means volunteering at local health care
volunteering at local health care
volunteering at local health care clinics like the Daily Planet
clinics like the Daily Planet
clinics like the Daily Planet or raising money for victims of disaster
or raising money for victims of disaster
or raising money for victims of disaster first
first
first my Muslim girlfriends it means learning
my Muslim girlfriends it means learning
my Muslim girlfriends it means learning how to become a foster parent or a child
how to become a foster parent or a child
how to become a foster parent or a child in need of assistance volunteer or to
in need of assistance volunteer or to
in need of assistance volunteer or to build a network of support for new
build a network of support for new
build a network of support for new refugees resettling enrichment for the
refugees resettling enrichment for the
refugees resettling enrichment for the members of our mosque
members of our mosque
members of our mosque it may mean engaging in interfaith
it may mean engaging in interfaith
it may mean engaging in interfaith partnerships organizing food drives
partnerships organizing food drives
partnerships organizing food drives blood drives even a Muslim day at the
blood drives even a Muslim day at the
blood drives even a Muslim day at the General Assembly you may have other
General Assembly you may have other
General Assembly you may have other ideas but however we choose to build our
ideas but however we choose to build our
ideas but however we choose to build our bridge the reward of weaving ourselves
bridge the reward of weaving ourselves
bridge the reward of weaving ourselves with people and communities who we may
with people and communities who we may
with people and communities who we may not be used to connecting with really
not be used to connecting with really
not be used to connecting with really helps to tame our fears and prejudices
helps to tame our fears and prejudices
helps to tame our fears and prejudices that are looming inside all of us
that are looming inside all of us
that are looming inside all of us fears and Prejudice that may even be the
fears and Prejudice that may even be the
fears and Prejudice that may even be the source of our insularity so the wise man
source of our insularity so the wise man
source of our insularity so the wise man whose provocative words inspired me are
whose provocative words inspired me are
whose provocative words inspired me are none other than Justice Thurgood
none other than Justice Thurgood
none other than Justice Thurgood Marshall a civil rights lawyer and the
Marshall a civil rights lawyer and the
Marshall a civil rights lawyer and the first African American justice of the
first African American justice of the
first African American justice of the Supreme Court not all of us can become a
Supreme Court not all of us can become a
Supreme Court not all of us can become a Justice Marshall but most of us in our
Justice Marshall but most of us in our
Justice Marshall but most of us in our own individual ways can stand to do a
own individual ways can stand to do a
own individual ways can stand to do a better job of building bridges within
better job of building bridges within
better job of building bridges within our spheres of influence which are the
our spheres of influence which are the
our spheres of influence which are the key to weaving us back together the key
key to weaving us back together the key
key to weaving us back together the key to actually constructing a system that
to actually constructing a system that
to actually constructing a system that that collectively challenges the day to
that collectively challenges the day to
that collectively challenges the day to day in justices that sometimes the
day in justices that sometimes the
day in justices that sometimes the protections of our laws cannot reach so
protections of our laws cannot reach so
protections of our laws cannot reach so when I leave here today I will jump back
when I leave here today I will jump back
when I leave here today I will jump back into my day-to-day rhythm but I’ll
into my day-to-day rhythm but I’ll
into my day-to-day rhythm but I’ll continue to do what I must
continue to do what I must
continue to do what I must what will you do when you go back to
what will you do when you go back to
what will you do when you go back to your day toward a rhythm will you
your day toward a rhythm will you
your day toward a rhythm will you quietly integrate back into your circle
quietly integrate back into your circle
quietly integrate back into your circle of familiarity or do you care enough to
of familiarity or do you care enough to
of familiarity or do you care enough to expose yourself to the unfamiliar and
expose yourself to the unfamiliar and
expose yourself to the unfamiliar and activate justice in simple ways it’s
activate justice in simple ways it’s
activate justice in simple ways it’s about time that we all become part of
about time that we all become part of
about time that we all become part of the civil rights movement
the civil rights movement
the civil rights movement thank you
”
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