Just Your Average Mohamed | Mohamed Al-Hamdani | TEDxDayton

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[Applause] boy girl window those were the only

boy girl window those were the only

boy girl window those were the only words that I knew when my family arrived

words that I knew when my family arrived

words that I knew when my family arrived in the States

in the States

in the States at the age of 10 we came as refugees

at the age of 10 we came as refugees

at the age of 10 we came as refugees from Iraq we arrived broke and broken

from Iraq we arrived broke and broken

from Iraq we arrived broke and broken having fled war zones and refugee camps

having fled war zones and refugee camps

having fled war zones and refugee camps America and this city provide us a home

America and this city provide us a home

America and this city provide us a home we love America I love this city I loved

we love America I love this city I loved

we love America I love this city I loved growing up in Dayton I grew up in a good

growing up in Dayton I grew up in a good

growing up in Dayton I grew up in a good neighborhood and went to good schools

thanks to public television and my

thanks to public television and my favorite purple dancing dinosaur we

favorite purple dancing dinosaur we

favorite purple dancing dinosaur we learned English and became the American

learned English and became the American

learned English and became the American citizens we are today through hard work

citizens we are today through hard work

citizens we are today through hard work and teamwork my family made a life for

and teamwork my family made a life for

and teamwork my family made a life for itself in this new community you know

itself in this new community you know

itself in this new community you know with four boys in the house my family

with four boys in the house my family

with four boys in the house my family bonded over soccer theater across

bonded over soccer theater across

bonded over soccer theater across country computers and Mario Brothers the

country computers and Mario Brothers the

country computers and Mario Brothers the story of Islam and America is complex if

story of Islam and America is complex if

story of Islam and America is complex if I were to ask you to think of Muslims in

I were to ask you to think of Muslims in

I were to ask you to think of Muslims in America what images would come to mind

did anybody think of this this is yaro

did anybody think of this this is yaro mahmoud freed Muslim slave and prominent

mahmoud freed Muslim slave and prominent

mahmoud freed Muslim slave and prominent 18th century Georgetown resident painted

18th century Georgetown resident painted

18th century Georgetown resident painted by Charles Wilson Peale the painter of

by Charles Wilson Peale the painter of

by Charles Wilson Peale the painter of our founding fathers the same guy that

our founding fathers the same guy that

our founding fathers the same guy that painted

painted

painted this portrait of George Washington you

this portrait of George Washington you

this portrait of George Washington you know with all the noise about Muslims

know with all the noise about Muslims

know with all the noise about Muslims today I find myself thinking about those

today I find myself thinking about those

today I find myself thinking about those Muslims that arrived here as slaves I

Muslims that arrived here as slaves I

Muslims that arrived here as slaves I didn’t have those thoughts when I was in

didn’t have those thoughts when I was in

didn’t have those thoughts when I was in college it was 1999

college it was 1999

college it was 1999 I found myself I found my voice I

I found myself I found my voice I

I found myself I found my voice I participated in anything that kept me

participated in anything that kept me

participated in anything that kept me out of class and I must admit I changed

out of class and I must admit I changed

out of class and I must admit I changed my major several times by September 10th

my major several times by September 10th

my major several times by September 10th of 2001 I was looking forward to what

of 2001 I was looking forward to what

of 2001 I was looking forward to what was going on in the world Michael Jordan

was going on in the world Michael Jordan

was going on in the world Michael Jordan was coming out of retirement

was coming out of retirement

was coming out of retirement jay-z dropped his new album and I am a

jay-z dropped his new album and I am a

jay-z dropped his new album and I am a professed Yankee hater so in the Yankees

professed Yankee hater so in the Yankees

professed Yankee hater so in the Yankees place Paul O’Neill Yale clap for that

place Paul O’Neill Yale clap for that

place Paul O’Neill Yale clap for that when the Yankees plays Paul O’Neill on

when the Yankees plays Paul O’Neill on

when the Yankees plays Paul O’Neill on the disabled list now that was a gift

the disabled list now that was a gift

the disabled list now that was a gift from the baseball gods life was good and

from the baseball gods life was good and

from the baseball gods life was good and then look there’s no doubt the world has

then look there’s no doubt the world has

then look there’s no doubt the world has changed since 9/11 the quote on the

changed since 9/11 the quote on the

changed since 9/11 the quote on the front page of my school paper made a

front page of my school paper made a

front page of my school paper made a clear how different life will become if

clear how different life will become if

clear how different life will become if your name is Muhammad you need to watch

your name is Muhammad you need to watch

your name is Muhammad you need to watch out and I did need to watch out that

out and I did need to watch out that

out and I did need to watch out that winner during a heated exchange on the

winner during a heated exchange on the

winner during a heated exchange on the basketball court during an air mural

basketball court during an air mural

basketball court during an air mural game go back to your country was dropped

game go back to your country was dropped

game go back to your country was dropped on me this is my country did you know

on me this is my country did you know

on me this is my country did you know that some of the first Muslims that

that some of the first Muslims that

that some of the first Muslims that arrived in America arrived as West

arrived in America arrived as West

arrived in America arrived as West African slaves it’s estimated that

African slaves it’s estimated that

African slaves it’s estimated that anywhere between 10 to 30% of West

anywhere between 10 to 30% of West

anywhere between 10 to 30% of West African slaves that arrived in America

African slaves that arrived in America

African slaves that arrived in America were Muslims did you know that ban bin

were Muslims did you know that ban bin

were Muslims did you know that ban bin Mohammed and Yusuf Ben Ali and North

Mohammed and Yusuf Ben Ali and North

Mohammed and Yusuf Ben Ali and North African Arab were the first Muslims

African Arab were the first Muslims

African Arab were the first Muslims to fight for this great nation during

to fight for this great nation during

to fight for this great nation during the war for our independence under the

the war for our independence under the

the war for our independence under the command of General George Washington you

command of General George Washington you

command of General George Washington you see that part of history was forgotten

see that part of history was forgotten

see that part of history was forgotten mostly because Islam was highly

mostly because Islam was highly

mostly because Islam was highly suppressed on plantations Muslims in

suppressed on plantations Muslims in

suppressed on plantations Muslims in America are always lumped into one group

America are always lumped into one group

America are always lumped into one group despite our diverse backgrounds it’s

despite our diverse backgrounds it’s

despite our diverse backgrounds it’s always been complicated in America for

always been complicated in America for

always been complicated in America for Muslims understanding this history and

Muslims understanding this history and

Muslims understanding this history and carrying the weight of being sheltered I

carrying the weight of being sheltered I

carrying the weight of being sheltered I had to get involved I decided to work

had to get involved I decided to work

had to get involved I decided to work for the Department of Defense where I

for the Department of Defense where I

for the Department of Defense where I was assigned to work for the Marines as

was assigned to work for the Marines as

was assigned to work for the Marines as a cultural adviser I still remember the

a cultural adviser I still remember the

a cultural adviser I still remember the day I left my mom and my brother drove

day I left my mom and my brother drove

day I left my mom and my brother drove me to the airport

me to the airport

me to the airport my mom was unusually quiet as we arrived

my mom was unusually quiet as we arrived

my mom was unusually quiet as we arrived I prepared to say goodbye I gave my mom

I prepared to say goodbye I gave my mom

I prepared to say goodbye I gave my mom a hug she finally opened her mouth she

a hug she finally opened her mouth she

a hug she finally opened her mouth she said we came here so you wouldn’t have

said we came here so you wouldn’t have

said we came here so you wouldn’t have to go back there again I went on to work

to go back there again I went on to work

to go back there again I went on to work with the bravest men and women that I

with the bravest men and women that I

with the bravest men and women that I have ever met I had the distinct

have ever met I had the distinct

have ever met I had the distinct pleasure of working with the team that

pleasure of working with the team that

pleasure of working with the team that helped design some of the training we

helped design some of the training we

helped design some of the training we hired Iraqi linguist actors and advisors

hired Iraqi linguist actors and advisors

hired Iraqi linguist actors and advisors to simulate the experience of living in

to simulate the experience of living in

to simulate the experience of living in Iraq for our Marines it’s complicated

Iraq for our Marines it’s complicated

Iraq for our Marines it’s complicated when I came back I decided to go to law

when I came back I decided to go to law

when I came back I decided to go to law school so I can help people that

school so I can help people that

school so I can help people that couldn’t help themselves

couldn’t help themselves

couldn’t help themselves I stand here different than that

I stand here different than that

I stand here different than that free-spirited college student earlier

free-spirited college student earlier

free-spirited college student earlier this year

this year

this year executive order one three seven six nine

executive order one three seven six nine

executive order one three seven six nine was signed into law it was titled

was signed into law it was titled

was signed into law it was titled protecting the nation from foreign

protecting the nation from foreign

protecting the nation from foreign terrorists entry into the United States

terrorists entry into the United States

terrorists entry into the United States I still remember the day the executive

I still remember the day the executive

I still remember the day the executive order was signed I was sitting at the

order was signed I was sitting at the

order was signed I was sitting at the breakfast table looking at my two sons

breakfast table looking at my two sons

breakfast table looking at my two sons both under the age of two at the time I

both under the age of two at the time I

both under the age of two at the time I have feelings bewilderment fear and

have feelings bewilderment fear and

have feelings bewilderment fear and anxiety yet I had some hope for the

anxiety yet I had some hope for the

anxiety yet I had some hope for the future it reminded me of feelings and a

future it reminded me of feelings and a

future it reminded me of feelings and a look that I had seen before as a child

look that I had seen before as a child

look that I had seen before as a child you see my mom had that look when she

you see my mom had that look when she

you see my mom had that look when she decided to smuggle us across the borders

decided to smuggle us across the borders

decided to smuggle us across the borders of Iraq into refugee camps in Saudi

of Iraq into refugee camps in Saudi

of Iraq into refugee camps in Saudi Arabia to reunite with our father

Arabia to reunite with our father

Arabia to reunite with our father it was the same look that she and the

it was the same look that she and the

it was the same look that she and the rest of us had when we boarded the

rest of us had when we boarded the

rest of us had when we boarded the airplane to America I have taken careful

airplane to America I have taken careful

airplane to America I have taken careful measures to protect my children from

measures to protect my children from

measures to protect my children from discrimination even naming them Adam in

discrimination even naming them Adam in

discrimination even naming them Adam in Zechariah did you know that over 290

Zechariah did you know that over 290

Zechariah did you know that over 290 Americans who fought in the Civil War

Americans who fought in the Civil War

Americans who fought in the Civil War had Muslim names and that over 550

had Muslim names and that over 550

had Muslim names and that over 550 Americans who fought in the Civil War

Americans who fought in the Civil War

Americans who fought in the Civil War had the name Muhammad spelled 41

had the name Muhammad spelled 41

had the name Muhammad spelled 41 different ways it hasn’t always been

different ways it hasn’t always been

different ways it hasn’t always been easy growing up Muslim in America let

easy growing up Muslim in America let

easy growing up Muslim in America let alone being a Muslim refugee from Iraq

alone being a Muslim refugee from Iraq

alone being a Muslim refugee from Iraq one day we’re celebrating the life of

one day we’re celebrating the life of

one day we’re celebrating the life of the greatest Muslim American of all time

the greatest Muslim American of all time

the greatest Muslim American of all time Muhammad Ali and on another day were

Muhammad Ali and on another day were

Muhammad Ali and on another day were putting a Muslim ban in place I stand

putting a Muslim ban in place I stand

putting a Muslim ban in place I stand proud as a Muslim American and as a

proud as a Muslim American and as a

proud as a Muslim American and as a former refugee I know the relationship

former refugee I know the relationship

former refugee I know the relationship between Islam and America has been

between Islam and America has been

between Islam and America has been complicated

complicated

complicated yet I also know America’s capacity for

yet I also know America’s capacity for

yet I also know America’s capacity for accepting people of all backgrounds we

accepting people of all backgrounds we

accepting people of all backgrounds we are faced with an opportunity to shape

are faced with an opportunity to shape

are faced with an opportunity to shape the future of our country

the future of our country

the future of our country and that of the world an opportunity

and that of the world an opportunity

and that of the world an opportunity that could let us come closer to

that could let us come closer to

that could let us come closer to building that more perfect union I’m

building that more perfect union I’m

building that more perfect union I’m hopeful that the America of the future

hopeful that the America of the future

hopeful that the America of the future will be accepting of all its people no

will be accepting of all its people no

will be accepting of all its people no matter their background or religion

matter their background or religion

matter their background or religion next time you’re confronted with

next time you’re confronted with

next time you’re confronted with confusing feelings about Islam and

confusing feelings about Islam and

confusing feelings about Islam and Muslims in America remember this Islam

Muslims in America remember this Islam

Muslims in America remember this Islam has always been a part of this country

has always been a part of this country

has always been a part of this country muslims helped shape this country’s past

muslims helped shape this country’s past

muslims helped shape this country’s past and will shape its future muslims

and will shape its future muslims

and will shape its future muslims continue to fight for this country and

continue to fight for this country and

continue to fight for this country and the freedoms we cherish the most and one

the freedoms we cherish the most and one

the freedoms we cherish the most and one of those freedoms is the freedom of

of those freedoms is the freedom of

of those freedoms is the freedom of religion my name is muhammad al hamd ani

religion my name is muhammad al hamd ani

religion my name is muhammad al hamd ani I was once a Muslim Iraqi refugee and

I was once a Muslim Iraqi refugee and

I was once a Muslim Iraqi refugee and today I’m a proud American

today I’m a proud American

today I’m a proud American [Applause]

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