[Applause] I’m not supposed to be me we live in a
I’m not supposed to be me we live in a
I’m not supposed to be me we live in a society that pays a lot of lip service
society that pays a lot of lip service
society that pays a lot of lip service to self-esteem be yourself love yourself
to self-esteem be yourself love yourself
to self-esteem be yourself love yourself easy to say perhaps but for many of us
easy to say perhaps but for many of us
easy to say perhaps but for many of us it’s harder to do and for some of us
it’s harder to do and for some of us
it’s harder to do and for some of us Society is simultaneously doing
Society is simultaneously doing
Society is simultaneously doing everything in its power to crush our
everything in its power to crush our
everything in its power to crush our sense of self while we may be in a
sense of self while we may be in a
sense of self while we may be in a country that was literally built by
country that was literally built by
country that was literally built by black people it was not built for us we
black people it was not built for us we
black people it was not built for us we are given the message that who we are is
are given the message that who we are is
are given the message that who we are is wrong that we shouldn’t even exist I
wrong that we shouldn’t even exist I
wrong that we shouldn’t even exist I grew up in the suburbs of Northern
grew up in the suburbs of Northern
grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia a little black girl who had a
Virginia a little black girl who had a
Virginia a little black girl who had a knack for academics and who’s left to
knack for academics and who’s left to
knack for academics and who’s left to read I entered the gifted and talented
read I entered the gifted and talented
read I entered the gifted and talented program in the third grade and while I
program in the third grade and while I
program in the third grade and while I was moving through school I was the only
was moving through school I was the only
was moving through school I was the only black student in almost all of my
black student in almost all of my
black student in almost all of my classes I was learning lessons at the
classes I was learning lessons at the
classes I was learning lessons at the same time from the media and from my
same time from the media and from my
same time from the media and from my peers I learned and internalized that
peers I learned and internalized that
peers I learned and internalized that black people are not smart or successful
black people are not smart or successful
black people are not smart or successful or beautiful I was a chunky little girl
or beautiful I was a chunky little girl
or beautiful I was a chunky little girl who got curvy early and I was mortified
who got curvy early and I was mortified
who got curvy early and I was mortified I aspire to be like the thin white girls
I aspire to be like the thin white girls
I aspire to be like the thin white girls in my classes and they’re limited to
in my classes and they’re limited to
in my classes and they’re limited to tank tops I began to exercise
tank tops I began to exercise
tank tops I began to exercise obsessively and to count calories even
obsessively and to count calories even
obsessively and to count calories even slipping into the bathroom stall to
slipping into the bathroom stall to
slipping into the bathroom stall to exercise more I wanted my black girl
exercise more I wanted my black girl
exercise more I wanted my black girl curves to disappear my skin my hair they
curves to disappear my skin my hair they
curves to disappear my skin my hair they were another source of shame classmates
were another source of shame classmates
were another source of shame classmates would liken my hair
would liken my hair
would liken my hair to a bird’s nest or say you would be
to a bird’s nest or say you would be
to a bird’s nest or say you would be pretty if only you straightened your
pretty if only you straightened your
pretty if only you straightened your hair though I’m closer to bald now my
hair though I’m closer to bald now my
hair though I’m closer to bald now my grown-up hair is a big afro but I would
grown-up hair is a big afro but I would
grown-up hair is a big afro but I would have given anything for silky straight
have given anything for silky straight
have given anything for silky straight locks I would tie
locks I would tie
locks I would tie back tightly when I left the house
back tightly when I left the house
back tightly when I left the house trying desperately but unsuccessfully to
trying desperately but unsuccessfully to
trying desperately but unsuccessfully to tame it I read somewhere that skin
tame it I read somewhere that skin
tame it I read somewhere that skin lightening could be a side effect of
lightening could be a side effect of
lightening could be a side effect of astringent and so I started to use them
astringent and so I started to use them
astringent and so I started to use them profusely I was trying to burn my
profusely I was trying to burn my
profusely I was trying to burn my blackness away is it any surprise in a
blackness away is it any surprise in a
blackness away is it any surprise in a nation where people are burned beaten
nation where people are burned beaten
nation where people are burned beaten hung for being black black culture is
hung for being black black culture is
hung for being black black culture is ravenously consumed it is capitalized
ravenously consumed it is capitalized
ravenously consumed it is capitalized upon it is co-opted but black people are
upon it is co-opted but black people are
upon it is co-opted but black people are devalued black schools are
devalued black schools are
devalued black schools are under-resourced like neighborhoods are
under-resourced like neighborhoods are
under-resourced like neighborhoods are gentrified and black families are
gentrified and black families are
gentrified and black families are economically disenfranchised from food
economically disenfranchised from food
economically disenfranchised from food deserts that keep nutritional options
deserts that keep nutritional options
deserts that keep nutritional options out of neighborhoods to toxic waste
out of neighborhoods to toxic waste
out of neighborhoods to toxic waste dumps in our neighborhoods to the
dumps in our neighborhoods to the
dumps in our neighborhoods to the physiological toll that experiencing
physiological toll that experiencing
physiological toll that experiencing racism has on the body around every
racism has on the body around every
racism has on the body around every corner there are factors that are
corner there are factors that are
corner there are factors that are systematically killing black people and
systematically killing black people and
systematically killing black people and never mind taking for granted going to
never mind taking for granted going to
never mind taking for granted going to the corner in 2015 my partner went down
the corner in 2015 my partner went down
the corner in 2015 my partner went down our block to go to the neighborhood
our block to go to the neighborhood
our block to go to the neighborhood bodega and they were assaulted by the
bodega and they were assaulted by the
bodega and they were assaulted by the police shoved to the ground handcuffed
police shoved to the ground handcuffed
police shoved to the ground handcuffed until the police realized that they had
until the police realized that they had
until the police realized that they had the wrong person as I held them in my
the wrong person as I held them in my
the wrong person as I held them in my arms later that day as they shook I was
arms later that day as they shook I was
arms later that day as they shook I was heavy with the weight of the knowledge
heavy with the weight of the knowledge
heavy with the weight of the knowledge that the trauma they experienced was not
that the trauma they experienced was not
that the trauma they experienced was not exceptional it wasn’t surprising and
exceptional it wasn’t surprising and
exceptional it wasn’t surprising and when we aren’t surprised when a black
when we aren’t surprised when a black
when we aren’t surprised when a black person is assaulted walking down their
person is assaulted walking down their
person is assaulted walking down their own street it’s because we’ve learned
own street it’s because we’ve learned
own street it’s because we’ve learned the painful lesson that you can’t be
the painful lesson that you can’t be
the painful lesson that you can’t be black in this country and simply be
blackness wasn’t the only identity that
blackness wasn’t the only identity that I struggled with I grew up in a Muslim
I struggled with I grew up in a Muslim
I struggled with I grew up in a Muslim family the daughter of a Somali
family the daughter of a Somali
family the daughter of a Somali immigrant father
immigrant father
immigrant father and when I was little I knew that I was
and when I was little I knew that I was
and when I was little I knew that I was Muslim but it it didn’t seem to be that
Muslim but it it didn’t seem to be that
Muslim but it it didn’t seem to be that big of a deal
big of a deal
big of a deal or to make that much of a difference
or to make that much of a difference
or to make that much of a difference many of my classmates went to church
many of my classmates went to church
many of my classmates went to church some to synagogue I went to the Masjid
some to synagogue I went to the Masjid
some to synagogue I went to the Masjid but the biggest difference as far as I
but the biggest difference as far as I
but the biggest difference as far as I was concerned was that on pizza day
was concerned was that on pizza day
was concerned was that on pizza day my classmates gravitated towards the
my classmates gravitated towards the
my classmates gravitated towards the pepperoni pizza but due to Muslim
pepperoni pizza but due to Muslim
pepperoni pizza but due to Muslim dietary restrictions I had a stick to
dietary restrictions I had a stick to
dietary restrictions I had a stick to cheese it was a simpler time like for
cheese it was a simpler time like for
cheese it was a simpler time like for many Muslim Americans September 11th
many Muslim Americans September 11th
many Muslim Americans September 11th 2001 irrevocably shifted my reality all
2001 irrevocably shifted my reality all
2001 irrevocably shifted my reality all of a sudden my community was thrust into
of a sudden my community was thrust into
of a sudden my community was thrust into the limelight we were asked to explain
the limelight we were asked to explain
the limelight we were asked to explain the actions of other Muslims we were
the actions of other Muslims we were
the actions of other Muslims we were criticized for not condemning that
criticized for not condemning that
criticized for not condemning that violence strongly enough and I have to
violence strongly enough and I have to
violence strongly enough and I have to wonder how often white Christian
wonder how often white Christian
wonder how often white Christian American men are asked to illuminate the
American men are asked to illuminate the
American men are asked to illuminate the mindset of serial killers and school
mindset of serial killers and school
mindset of serial killers and school shooters and asked to apologize for them
shooters and asked to apologize for them
shooters and asked to apologize for them right yet American Muslims are told that
right yet American Muslims are told that
right yet American Muslims are told that our American is’s all too precarious
our American is’s all too precarious
our American is’s all too precarious sometimes that message comes subtly I’ve
sometimes that message comes subtly I’ve
sometimes that message comes subtly I’ve been asked why I would even be Muslim
been asked why I would even be Muslim
been asked why I would even be Muslim when I am a smart and not traditional
when I am a smart and not traditional
when I am a smart and not traditional and a feminist sometimes the message is
and a feminist sometimes the message is
and a feminist sometimes the message is more overt the profiling that happens at
more overt the profiling that happens at
more overt the profiling that happens at airports the vandalism of mosques the
airports the vandalism of mosques the
airports the vandalism of mosques the murder of people who are Muslim or who
murder of people who are Muslim or who
murder of people who are Muslim or who are assumed to be Muslim one day in
are assumed to be Muslim one day in
are assumed to be Muslim one day in Boston I was at the train station and a
Boston I was at the train station and a
Boston I was at the train station and a man approached me seeing my tote bag
man approached me seeing my tote bag
man approached me seeing my tote bag which indicated my Muslim identity on it
which indicated my Muslim identity on it
which indicated my Muslim identity on it and he began to aggressively shout at me
and he began to aggressively shout at me
and he began to aggressively shout at me calling me a terrorist and al-qaeda and
calling me a terrorist and al-qaeda and
calling me a terrorist and al-qaeda and in that moment I was afraid I am more
in that moment I was afraid I am more
in that moment I was afraid I am more afraid from my Muslim family members and
afraid from my Muslim family members and
afraid from my Muslim family members and community members who are visibly Muslim
community members who are visibly Muslim
community members who are visibly Muslim everyday I’m not supposed to be so
everyday I’m not supposed to be so
everyday I’m not supposed to be so much me when I was younger my mom told
much me when I was younger my mom told
much me when I was younger my mom told me one day out of the blue you had
me one day out of the blue you had
me one day out of the blue you had better not be a lesbian you are black
better not be a lesbian you are black
better not be a lesbian you are black and Muslim and a girl and you have too
and Muslim and a girl and you have too
and Muslim and a girl and you have too much going on it’s about a decade and a
much going on it’s about a decade and a
much going on it’s about a decade and a half later and I’ve turned out to be a
half later and I’ve turned out to be a
half later and I’ve turned out to be a genderqueer bisexual Dyke sorry mom
genderqueer bisexual Dyke sorry mom
genderqueer bisexual Dyke sorry mom recently she did get me this shirt
recently she did get me this shirt
recently she did get me this shirt though as a present so I would say she’s
though as a present so I would say she’s
though as a present so I would say she’s come around and as hard as it was to
come around and as hard as it was to
come around and as hard as it was to hear that as a middle schooler who was
hear that as a middle schooler who was
hear that as a middle schooler who was experiencing her first self-admitted
experiencing her first self-admitted
experiencing her first self-admitted crush on a girl there was some truth to
crush on a girl there was some truth to
crush on a girl there was some truth to what she said it’s not always easy to be
what she said it’s not always easy to be
what she said it’s not always easy to be queer it’s hard to deal with the
queer it’s hard to deal with the
queer it’s hard to deal with the assumptions that come with a
assumptions that come with a
assumptions that come with a heteronormative society I’ve had to
heteronormative society I’ve had to
heteronormative society I’ve had to wonder do I answer the question do you
wonder do I answer the question do you
wonder do I answer the question do you have a boyfriend with just know or
have a boyfriend with just know or
have a boyfriend with just know or actually I have a girlfriend I’ve
actually I have a girlfriend I’ve
actually I have a girlfriend I’ve wondered whether to answer questions
wondered whether to answer questions
wondered whether to answer questions about my job frankly or to keep it vague
about my job frankly or to keep it vague
about my job frankly or to keep it vague it can be really scary to experience the
it can be really scary to experience the
it can be really scary to experience the verbal harassment that happens walking
verbal harassment that happens walking
verbal harassment that happens walking hand-in-hand with a partner down the
hand-in-hand with a partner down the
hand-in-hand with a partner down the street and they can really hurt to
street and they can really hurt to
street and they can really hurt to experience the alienation and rejection
experience the alienation and rejection
experience the alienation and rejection for who I love and it can be really hard
for who I love and it can be really hard
for who I love and it can be really hard to hold a multiplicity of marginalized
to hold a multiplicity of marginalized
to hold a multiplicity of marginalized identities it’s less like addition and
identities it’s less like addition and
identities it’s less like addition and more like multiplication there’s this
more like multiplication there’s this
more like multiplication there’s this specific struggle and invisibility that
specific struggle and invisibility that
specific struggle and invisibility that comes with living at the intersections
comes with living at the intersections
comes with living at the intersections narratives in this country perpetuate
narratives in this country perpetuate
narratives in this country perpetuate the idea that all Muslims are Arab all
the idea that all Muslims are Arab all
the idea that all Muslims are Arab all black people are Christian and everybody
black people are Christian and everybody
black people are Christian and everybody in those communities are straight or
in those communities are straight or
in those communities are straight or else perpetuate the myth that they are
else perpetuate the myth that they are
else perpetuate the myth that they are exceptionally homophobic LGBT mainstream
exceptionally homophobic LGBT mainstream
exceptionally homophobic LGBT mainstream representation and spaces are
representation and spaces are
representation and spaces are predominantly white and lack diversity
predominantly white and lack diversity
predominantly white and lack diversity you can feel like you have to choose
you can feel like you have to choose
you can feel like you have to choose that you can’t be
that you can’t be
that you can’t be all of who you are who do you align
all of who you are who do you align
all of who you are who do you align yourself with what identity is most
yourself with what identity is most
yourself with what identity is most important to you at a college party once
important to you at a college party once
important to you at a college party once a friend asked me why I never stuck
a friend asked me why I never stuck
a friend asked me why I never stuck around at any gathering too long and I
around at any gathering too long and I
around at any gathering too long and I realized in that moment I was splitting
realized in that moment I was splitting
realized in that moment I was splitting my time between my various communities I
my time between my various communities I
my time between my various communities I had spent the afternoon with Arab and
had spent the afternoon with Arab and
had spent the afternoon with Arab and South Asian Muslims at the Muslim
South Asian Muslims at the Muslim
South Asian Muslims at the Muslim student lounge now I was leaving a party
student lounge now I was leaving a party
student lounge now I was leaving a party with queer white kids and going to a
with queer white kids and going to a
with queer white kids and going to a party with mostly straight people of
party with mostly straight people of
party with mostly straight people of color I didn’t feel like there was any
color I didn’t feel like there was any
color I didn’t feel like there was any one place I could just be and be all of
one place I could just be and be all of
one place I could just be and be all of me intersectionality is the term coined
me intersectionality is the term coined
me intersectionality is the term coined by critical race Theory kimberlé
by critical race Theory kimberlé
by critical race Theory kimberlé crenshaw
crenshaw
crenshaw and it applies to all of us it pushes
and it applies to all of us it pushes
and it applies to all of us it pushes back on the notion that gender is over
back on the notion that gender is over
back on the notion that gender is over here race is over in that corner and
here race is over in that corner and
here race is over in that corner and religion is way over there our
religion is way over there our
religion is way over there our experience of the world is informed by
experience of the world is informed by
experience of the world is informed by how all of our identities are linked
how all of our identities are linked
how all of our identities are linked together we can’t break them apart we
together we can’t break them apart we
together we can’t break them apart we are whole and I for one have never been
are whole and I for one have never been
are whole and I for one have never been good at choosing and maybe that’s
good at choosing and maybe that’s
good at choosing and maybe that’s because I come from this family that is
because I come from this family that is
because I come from this family that is biracial and multicultural and
biracial and multicultural and
biracial and multicultural and multi-faith it’s required me to navigate
multi-faith it’s required me to navigate
multi-faith it’s required me to navigate different spaces and appreciate
different spaces and appreciate
different spaces and appreciate different perspectives on the world or
different perspectives on the world or
different perspectives on the world or maybe it’s because I’m a Gemini and you
maybe it’s because I’m a Gemini and you
maybe it’s because I’m a Gemini and you know how he can be but I didn’t want to
know how he can be but I didn’t want to
know how he can be but I didn’t want to choose I’m not supposed to be me I am
choose I’m not supposed to be me I am
choose I’m not supposed to be me I am not supposed to be so much me and I’m
not supposed to be so much me and I’m
not supposed to be so much me and I’m not supposed to be me so marvelously
not supposed to be me so marvelously
not supposed to be me so marvelously over the last several years I’ve held
over the last several years I’ve held
over the last several years I’ve held gatherings at my house with white people
gatherings at my house with white people
gatherings at my house with white people black folks every shade of brown coming
black folks every shade of brown coming
black folks every shade of brown coming together to celebrate Eid in Kwanzaa to
together to celebrate Eid in Kwanzaa to
together to celebrate Eid in Kwanzaa to connect and celebrate ancestry whatever
connect and celebrate ancestry whatever
connect and celebrate ancestry whatever that means for them Muslims straight and
that means for them Muslims straight and
that means for them Muslims straight and queer have placed their foreheads on my
queer have placed their foreheads on my
queer have placed their foreheads on my living room floor and prayer side by
living room floor and prayer side by
living room floor and prayer side by side and I have felt warm and
side and I have felt warm and
side and I have felt warm and full and free I’m not gonna lie I still
full and free I’m not gonna lie I still
full and free I’m not gonna lie I still find it hard sometimes not to put away
find it hard sometimes not to put away
find it hard sometimes not to put away pieces of myself or to make myself
pieces of myself or to make myself
pieces of myself or to make myself smaller depending on the space that I’m
smaller depending on the space that I’m
smaller depending on the space that I’m in after all not all of life is a
in after all not all of life is a
in after all not all of life is a multiracial multi-faith queer friendly
multiracial multi-faith queer friendly
multiracial multi-faith queer friendly celebration but I found that when I’m
celebration but I found that when I’m
celebration but I found that when I’m open about all of my identities and
open about all of my identities and
open about all of my identities and experiences it’s a challenge to the
experiences it’s a challenge to the
experiences it’s a challenge to the spaces that I’m a part of to embrace the
spaces that I’m a part of to embrace the
spaces that I’m a part of to embrace the diversity within our communities it is a
diversity within our communities it is a
diversity within our communities it is a challenge to the assumptions and
challenge to the assumptions and
challenge to the assumptions and oppressions such as Christian privilege
oppressions such as Christian privilege
oppressions such as Christian privilege and black spaces and anti blackness and
and black spaces and anti blackness and
and black spaces and anti blackness and Muslim spaces and I’m learning to let go
Muslim spaces and I’m learning to let go
Muslim spaces and I’m learning to let go of my own assumptions and learned biases
of my own assumptions and learned biases
of my own assumptions and learned biases being open about my queerness to Muslims
being open about my queerness to Muslims
being open about my queerness to Muslims has absolutely put me on the receiving
has absolutely put me on the receiving
has absolutely put me on the receiving end of some less than Pleasant attitudes
end of some less than Pleasant attitudes
end of some less than Pleasant attitudes because there are homophobic Muslim
because there are homophobic Muslim
because there are homophobic Muslim Americans just like they’re homophobic
Americans just like they’re homophobic
Americans just like they’re homophobic every other type of American we also
every other type of American we also
every other type of American we also need to remember that there are people
need to remember that there are people
need to remember that there are people who cannot be a part of our spaces
who cannot be a part of our spaces
who cannot be a part of our spaces because of issues of safety or
because of issues of safety or
because of issues of safety or accessibility and we all need to do
accessibility and we all need to do
accessibility and we all need to do better about being in solidarity with
better about being in solidarity with
better about being in solidarity with the most marginalized members of our
the most marginalized members of our
the most marginalized members of our society and to bring their
society and to bring their
society and to bring their intersectional identities to the center
intersectional identities to the center
intersectional identities to the center challenging each other as we hold each
challenging each other as we hold each
challenging each other as we hold each other is part of what being in community
other is part of what being in community
other is part of what being in community is about and one of the true blessings
is about and one of the true blessings
is about and one of the true blessings of living my truth has been finding this
of living my truth has been finding this
of living my truth has been finding this amazing sense of community and belonging
amazing sense of community and belonging
amazing sense of community and belonging that I never thought was possible for me
that I never thought was possible for me
that I never thought was possible for me there’s no group of people exactly like
there’s no group of people exactly like
there’s no group of people exactly like me of course who are biracial black of
me of course who are biracial black of
me of course who are biracial black of Somali and euro-american descent who
Somali and euro-american descent who
Somali and euro-american descent who identify as fluid femme genderqueer
identify as fluid femme genderqueer
identify as fluid femme genderqueer women if you know that group sign me up
women if you know that group sign me up
women if you know that group sign me up for their listserv
for their listserv
for their listserv but there was a time when I didn’t even
but there was a time when I didn’t even
but there was a time when I didn’t even see my blackness reflected back at me
see my blackness reflected back at me
see my blackness reflected back at me and I was deeply ashamed there was a
and I was deeply ashamed there was a
and I was deeply ashamed there was a time when I thought that being queer and
time when I thought that being queer and
time when I thought that being queer and Muslim made me the only person in the
Muslim made me the only person in the
Muslim made me the only person in the world like me I don’t think these things
world like me I don’t think these things
world like me I don’t think these things changed in this magical moment of
changed in this magical moment of
changed in this magical moment of Revelation it’s more like the needs
Revelation it’s more like the needs
Revelation it’s more like the needs within me grew and pulled at me until I
within me grew and pulled at me until I
within me grew and pulled at me until I had no choice but to answer their
had no choice but to answer their
had no choice but to answer their calling I was having conversations with
calling I was having conversations with
calling I was having conversations with other queer students of color on my
other queer students of color on my
other queer students of color on my college campus and we would discuss how
college campus and we would discuss how
college campus and we would discuss how isolated we felt in our intersectional
isolated we felt in our intersectional
isolated we felt in our intersectional identity and at some point I realized we
identity and at some point I realized we
identity and at some point I realized we didn’t have to be so alone I formed an
didn’t have to be so alone I formed an
didn’t have to be so alone I formed an organization for queer students of color
organization for queer students of color
organization for queer students of color and my school and when I graduated I
and my school and when I graduated I
and my school and when I graduated I realized I could do it again it was the
realized I could do it again it was the
realized I could do it again it was the beginning of a life’s work holding space
beginning of a life’s work holding space
beginning of a life’s work holding space for queer people of color and black
for queer people of color and black
for queer people of color and black queer people forming communities having
queer people forming communities having
queer people forming communities having conversations and sharing our
conversations and sharing our
conversations and sharing our experiences through education and art I
experiences through education and art I
experiences through education and art I discovered queer Muslim community online
discovered queer Muslim community online
discovered queer Muslim community online through an announcement for an LGBT
through an announcement for an LGBT
through an announcement for an LGBT Muslim retreat I went not knowing a soul
Muslim retreat I went not knowing a soul
Muslim retreat I went not knowing a soul there and when I got there this whole
there and when I got there this whole
there and when I got there this whole world opened up to me there were Muslims
world opened up to me there were Muslims
world opened up to me there were Muslims with different relationships to their
with different relationships to their
with different relationships to their gender their sexuality their faith and I
gender their sexuality their faith and I
gender their sexuality their faith and I saw myself in them it was like I had
saw myself in them it was like I had
saw myself in them it was like I had come home but when I left that first
come home but when I left that first
come home but when I left that first retreat and went back to my physical
retreat and went back to my physical
retreat and went back to my physical home the online connections that I now
home the online connections that I now
home the online connections that I now had they were great but they weren’t
had they were great but they weren’t
had they were great but they weren’t enough to sustain me I was dealing with
enough to sustain me I was dealing with
enough to sustain me I was dealing with a rough coming-out experience and I
a rough coming-out experience and I
a rough coming-out experience and I needed to be physically held and to be
needed to be physically held and to be
needed to be physically held and to be held by people who really got it so
held by people who really got it so
held by people who really got it so again I found myself making the space
again I found myself making the space
again I found myself making the space that I needed and in queer Muslims of
that I needed and in queer Muslims of
that I needed and in queer Muslims of Boston we truly formed a family human
Boston we truly formed a family human
Boston we truly formed a family human beings we are social creatures and it is
beings we are social creatures and it is
beings we are social creatures and it is critical that you find York
critical that you find York
critical that you find York community you may find it by chance you
community you may find it by chance you
community you may find it by chance you may find it when you’re searching deep
may find it when you’re searching deep
may find it when you’re searching deep in the interwebs maybe on tumblr
in the interwebs maybe on tumblr
in the interwebs maybe on tumblr I’ve often found that if I needed it I
I’ve often found that if I needed it I
I’ve often found that if I needed it I had to make it and hopefully that won’t
had to make it and hopefully that won’t
had to make it and hopefully that won’t always be true for future generations
always be true for future generations
always be true for future generations but know that if you need it someone
but know that if you need it someone
but know that if you need it someone else needs it too whoever you are you
else needs it too whoever you are you
else needs it too whoever you are you are not alone whoever you may be find
are not alone whoever you may be find
are not alone whoever you may be find your family your journey may not always
your family your journey may not always
your family your journey may not always be easy when we claim our whole selves
be easy when we claim our whole selves
be easy when we claim our whole selves sometimes we lose other things along the
sometimes we lose other things along the
sometimes we lose other things along the way when I decided to really live in my
way when I decided to really live in my
way when I decided to really live in my truth as someone who was black and
truth as someone who was black and
truth as someone who was black and Muslim and also queer one of my worst
Muslim and also queer one of my worst
Muslim and also queer one of my worst fears came true I lost part of my family
fears came true I lost part of my family
fears came true I lost part of my family sometimes I feel like my life has just
sometimes I feel like my life has just
sometimes I feel like my life has just become harder in the words of one of my
become harder in the words of one of my
become harder in the words of one of my Muslim role models
Muslim role models
Muslim role models DJ Khalid they don’t want you to win but
DJ Khalid they don’t want you to win but
DJ Khalid they don’t want you to win but as hard as it is I wouldn’t be any other
as hard as it is I wouldn’t be any other
as hard as it is I wouldn’t be any other way we win when we refuse to accept the
way we win when we refuse to accept the
way we win when we refuse to accept the limitations and definitions placed upon
limitations and definitions placed upon
limitations and definitions placed upon us we win when we live as our fullest
us we win when we live as our fullest
us we win when we live as our fullest and most authentic selves thank you
and most authentic selves thank you
and most authentic selves thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment