[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hey boy says it’s he walks up to me I
hey boy says it’s he walks up to me I
hey boy says it’s he walks up to me I have a joke for you
have a joke for you
have a joke for you without waiting for a response he
without waiting for a response he
without waiting for a response he continues warn’t there Walmart’s in
continues warn’t there Walmart’s in
continues warn’t there Walmart’s in Baghdad um I begin feeling uneasy by now
Baghdad um I begin feeling uneasy by now
Baghdad um I begin feeling uneasy by now a small crowd was standing around us
a small crowd was standing around us
a small crowd was standing around us watching an anticipation for the
watching an anticipation for the
watching an anticipation for the punchline that would deliver the first
punchline that would deliver the first
punchline that would deliver the first blow to my Muslim identity because
blow to my Muslim identity because
blow to my Muslim identity because there’s a target on every corner with
there’s a target on every corner with
there’s a target on every corner with that he walks away laughing I feel the
that he walks away laughing I feel the
that he walks away laughing I feel the blood draining from my cheeks and my
blood draining from my cheeks and my
blood draining from my cheeks and my heartbeat quickening everyone stares at
heartbeat quickening everyone stares at
heartbeat quickening everyone stares at me curiously watching for my response in
me curiously watching for my response in
me curiously watching for my response in a moment of discomfort and unfamiliarity
a moment of discomfort and unfamiliarity
a moment of discomfort and unfamiliarity I did what was expected when someone
I did what was expected when someone
I did what was expected when someone tells a joke I let our nervous laugh
tells a joke I let our nervous laugh
tells a joke I let our nervous laugh escape my lips before running off to my
escape my lips before running off to my
escape my lips before running off to my next class my transition from a private
next class my transition from a private
next class my transition from a private Islamic school that I had attended since
Islamic school that I had attended since
Islamic school that I had attended since I was five to a public charter high
I was five to a public charter high
I was five to a public charter high school was as smooth as sandpaper moving
school was as smooth as sandpaper moving
school was as smooth as sandpaper moving from an environment where everyone was
from an environment where everyone was
from an environment where everyone was like me to an environment in which
like me to an environment in which
like me to an environment in which virtually no one was like me was an
virtually no one was like me was an
virtually no one was like me was an adjustment that I was unprepared to make
adjustment that I was unprepared to make
adjustment that I was unprepared to make I felt like it wasn’t my place to say
I felt like it wasn’t my place to say
I felt like it wasn’t my place to say anything that I was overreacting to a
anything that I was overreacting to a
anything that I was overreacting to a joke chill it was just a joke I’d
joke chill it was just a joke I’d
joke chill it was just a joke I’d reassure myself but no matter how much I
reassure myself but no matter how much I
reassure myself but no matter how much I tried to justify it something didn’t
tried to justify it something didn’t
tried to justify it something didn’t feel right my experience is
feel right my experience is
feel right my experience is unfortunately not a unique one during
unfortunately not a unique one during
unfortunately not a unique one during 2015 there were approximately 174
2015 there were approximately 174
2015 there were approximately 174 reported incidents of anti-muslim
reported incidents of anti-muslim
reported incidents of anti-muslim violence and vandalism this doesn’t
violence and vandalism this doesn’t
violence and vandalism this doesn’t include cases that went unreported in
include cases that went unreported in
include cases that went unreported in other forms of Islamophobia such as
other forms of Islamophobia such as
other forms of Islamophobia such as microaggressions hostility in situations
microaggressions hostility in situations
microaggressions hostility in situations like mine where you are reduced to the
like mine where you are reduced to the
like mine where you are reduced to the punchline of a joke in order to better
punchline of a joke in order to better
punchline of a joke in order to better understand what it means to be a Muslim
understand what it means to be a Muslim
understand what it means to be a Muslim living in an Islamophobic America we
living in an Islamophobic America we
living in an Islamophobic America we will be discussing Islamophobia in a
will be discussing Islamophobia in a
will be discussing Islamophobia in a language everyone understands laughter
language everyone understands laughter
language everyone understands laughter there are three main components to a
there are three main components to a
there are three main components to a good joke the meaning and delivery the
good joke the meaning and delivery the
good joke the meaning and delivery the punchline and how others react to it
punchline and how others react to it
punchline and how others react to it let’s begin with meaning and delivery
let’s begin with meaning and delivery
let’s begin with meaning and delivery what is Islamophobia anyway since
what is Islamophobia anyway since
what is Islamophobia anyway since everyone seems to like making jokes
everyone seems to like making jokes
everyone seems to like making jokes about it well
about it well
about it well as defined by the Oxford Dictionary
as defined by the Oxford Dictionary
as defined by the Oxford Dictionary Islamophobia is the dislike of or
Islamophobia is the dislike of or
Islamophobia is the dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims
prejudice against Islam or Muslims
prejudice against Islam or Muslims especially as a political force like
especially as a political force like
especially as a political force like many jokes it comes in different forms
many jokes it comes in different forms
many jokes it comes in different forms Islamic phobia can be manifested in
Islamic phobia can be manifested in
Islamic phobia can be manifested in physical actions such as murdering
physical actions such as murdering
physical actions such as murdering harassing or physically injuring an
harassing or physically injuring an
harassing or physically injuring an individual based on the fact that they
individual based on the fact that they
individual based on the fact that they are Muslim there are also the
are Muslim there are also the
are Muslim there are also the psychological and emotional aspects of
psychological and emotional aspects of
psychological and emotional aspects of Islamophobia where Muslims are subject
Islamophobia where Muslims are subject
Islamophobia where Muslims are subject to verbal assault suspicious stares and
to verbal assault suspicious stares and
to verbal assault suspicious stares and are just in general treated differently
are just in general treated differently
are just in general treated differently than non-muslim would be treated whoa
than non-muslim would be treated whoa
than non-muslim would be treated whoa whoa whoa whoa wait wait America is a
whoa whoa whoa wait wait America is a
whoa whoa whoa wait wait America is a progressive country
progressive country
progressive country everyone is welcome here yeah that’s
everyone is welcome here yeah that’s
everyone is welcome here yeah that’s what I thought too it’s hard to ignore
what I thought too it’s hard to ignore
what I thought too it’s hard to ignore the rise of Islamophobia when president
the rise of Islamophobia when president
the rise of Islamophobia when president elect Donald Trump’s popularity rose
elect Donald Trump’s popularity rose
elect Donald Trump’s popularity rose almost three percentage points after he
almost three percentage points after he
almost three percentage points after he endorsed a database to track Muslims in
endorsed a database to track Muslims in
endorsed a database to track Muslims in the US according to an NBC News poll
the US according to an NBC News poll
the US according to an NBC News poll half of Americans supported banning
half of Americans supported banning
half of Americans supported banning Muslims from entering the United States
Muslims from entering the United States
Muslims from entering the United States FBI reports show that anti-muslim hate
FBI reports show that anti-muslim hate
FBI reports show that anti-muslim hate crimes are five times more common today
crimes are five times more common today
crimes are five times more common today than they were before 9/11 these facts
than they were before 9/11 these facts
than they were before 9/11 these facts don’t sound progressive to me they don’t
don’t sound progressive to me they don’t
don’t sound progressive to me they don’t surprise me either Aslam is the second
surprise me either Aslam is the second
surprise me either Aslam is the second most practiced religion in the world
most practiced religion in the world
most practiced religion in the world with 1.8 billion followers yet many
with 1.8 billion followers yet many
with 1.8 billion followers yet many people don’t know what the religion is
people don’t know what the religion is
people don’t know what the religion is all about most of what people here come
all about most of what people here come
all about most of what people here come with from what they see on the news
with from what they see on the news
with from what they see on the news giving the public a terribly inaccurate
giving the public a terribly inaccurate
giving the public a terribly inaccurate view of what most of what Islam really
view of what most of what Islam really
view of what most of what Islam really is and allowing for subtle forms of
is and allowing for subtle forms of
is and allowing for subtle forms of Islamophobia to become normalized even
Islamophobia to become normalized even
Islamophobia to become normalized even to some Muslims which brings us to my
to some Muslims which brings us to my
to some Muslims which brings us to my next point
next point
next point the punchline now that we’ve done a
the punchline now that we’ve done a
the punchline now that we’ve done a little deeper into the meaning of the
little deeper into the meaning of the
little deeper into the meaning of the joke let’s talk about the punchline US
joke let’s talk about the punchline US
joke let’s talk about the punchline US Muslims
Muslims
Muslims we’re what makes the joke the Pew
we’re what makes the joke the Pew
we’re what makes the joke the Pew Research Center asked people to rate
Research Center asked people to rate
Research Center asked people to rate groups of people based on how they feel
groups of people based on how they feel
groups of people based on how they feel using a thermometer on a scale from zero
using a thermometer on a scale from zero
using a thermometer on a scale from zero to 100 with higher warmer temperatures
to 100 with higher warmer temperatures
to 100 with higher warmer temperatures being more positive and lower colder
being more positive and lower colder
being more positive and lower colder temperatures being more negative the
temperatures being more negative the
temperatures being more negative the group with the lowest rating with an
group with the lowest rating with an
group with the lowest rating with an average temperature of 40 degrees was
average temperature of 40 degrees was
average temperature of 40 degrees was Muslims
Muslims
Muslims when this is how the public feels about
when this is how the public feels about
when this is how the public feels about us it isn’t hard for these facts to
us it isn’t hard for these facts to
us it isn’t hard for these facts to haunt us whenever we leave our homes for
haunt us whenever we leave our homes for
haunt us whenever we leave our homes for them to follow us while we’re shopping
them to follow us while we’re shopping
them to follow us while we’re shopping while at school we’ll at work while the
while at school we’ll at work while the
while at school we’ll at work while the public I personally I’ve become immune
public I personally I’ve become immune
public I personally I’ve become immune to the stairs I receive wherever I go
to the stairs I receive wherever I go
to the stairs I receive wherever I go partly because I don’t pay much
partly because I don’t pay much
partly because I don’t pay much attention to my surroundings which can
attention to my surroundings which can
attention to my surroundings which can be a bad thing and partly because I’ve
be a bad thing and partly because I’ve
be a bad thing and partly because I’ve just gotten used to it however whenever
just gotten used to it however whenever
just gotten used to it however whenever I am conscious of those around me I feel
I am conscious of those around me I feel
I am conscious of those around me I feel people’s eyes burning holes into my body
people’s eyes burning holes into my body
people’s eyes burning holes into my body some curious others like they want to
some curious others like they want to
some curious others like they want to burn holes into my body whenever I am
burn holes into my body whenever I am
burn holes into my body whenever I am conscious of those around me I become
conscious of those around me I become
conscious of those around me I become uncomfortable I feel unwelcomed and I
uncomfortable I feel unwelcomed and I
uncomfortable I feel unwelcomed and I get defensive sadly we Muslims are so
get defensive sadly we Muslims are so
get defensive sadly we Muslims are so used to being the punchline that we kind
used to being the punchline that we kind
used to being the punchline that we kind of just assumed the role of the
of just assumed the role of the
of just assumed the role of the oppressed a few years ago I went to a
oppressed a few years ago I went to a
oppressed a few years ago I went to a fundraising event and they had a
fundraising event and they had a
fundraising event and they had a comedian a Muslim comedian by the name
comedian a Muslim comedian by the name
comedian a Muslim comedian by the name of site Dora and he told us a story
of site Dora and he told us a story
of site Dora and he told us a story about a time he was at a gas station he
about a time he was at a gas station he
about a time he was at a gas station he was pulling his car up with gas and
was pulling his car up with gas and
was pulling his car up with gas and there was a guy across from him who was
there was a guy across from him who was
there was a guy across from him who was looking between sides Boston strong
looking between sides Boston strong
looking between sides Boston strong t-shirt and studs faced with this look
t-shirt and studs faced with this look
t-shirt and studs faced with this look going uh-huh
going uh-huh
going uh-huh keep in mind this was after the Boston
keep in mind this was after the Boston
keep in mind this was after the Boston Marathon bombings
what’s after what’s I thought was once
what’s after what’s I thought was once side was taking in this situation he
side was taking in this situation he
side was taking in this situation he drew down to the hose and was like what
drew down to the hose and was like what
drew down to the hose and was like what you have a problem with my shirt I can’t
you have a problem with my shirt I can’t
you have a problem with my shirt I can’t wear this because I must be some
wear this because I must be some
wear this because I must be some terrorist ha is that what you’re
terrorist ha is that what you’re
terrorist ha is that what you’re thinking man I was born in Detroit I’m
thinking man I was born in Detroit I’m
thinking man I was born in Detroit I’m as American as you are and you know gets
as American as you are and you know gets
as American as you are and you know gets mad and goes off on the Strand after
mad and goes off on the Strand after
mad and goes off on the Strand after that the guy just chuckles and says now
that the guy just chuckles and says now
that the guy just chuckles and says now yeah just don’t look like the type of
yeah just don’t look like the type of
yeah just don’t look like the type of guy who runs marathons so the punch line
guy who runs marathons so the punch line
guy who runs marathons so the punch line if you have a really good punch line
if you have a really good punch line
if you have a really good punch line then that’s what makes a joke funny if
then that’s what makes a joke funny if
then that’s what makes a joke funny if you have a good punch line people are
you have a good punch line people are
you have a good punch line people are bound to laugh sometimes the laughter
bound to laugh sometimes the laughter
bound to laugh sometimes the laughter doesn’t mean we’re laughing at the joke
doesn’t mean we’re laughing at the joke
doesn’t mean we’re laughing at the joke sometimes laughter is our way of coping
sometimes laughter is our way of coping
sometimes laughter is our way of coping with traumatic events the laugh we laugh
with traumatic events the laugh we laugh
with traumatic events the laugh we laugh the is this for real laughs its but
the is this for real laughs its but
the is this for real laughs its but you’ve got to be kidding me right now
you’ve got to be kidding me right now
you’ve got to be kidding me right now laughs it’s like when I laughed at the
laughs it’s like when I laughed at the
laughs it’s like when I laughed at the joke the boy told me I didn’t laugh
joke the boy told me I didn’t laugh
joke the boy told me I didn’t laugh because I thought the joke was funny I
because I thought the joke was funny I
because I thought the joke was funny I laugh because I didn’t know how else to
laugh because I didn’t know how else to
laugh because I didn’t know how else to react I laughed the comedian story not
react I laughed the comedian story not
react I laughed the comedian story not because it was funny
because it was funny
because it was funny sometimes we make jokes about things we
sometimes we make jokes about things we
sometimes we make jokes about things we struggle with for example we all make
struggle with for example we all make
struggle with for example we all make jokes about school the workload the
jokes about school the workload the
jokes about school the workload the stress not because we think it’s funny
stress not because we think it’s funny
stress not because we think it’s funny but it’s our way of dealing with it we
but it’s our way of dealing with it we
but it’s our way of dealing with it we Muslims are so conditioned to feel
Muslims are so conditioned to feel
Muslims are so conditioned to feel judged to feel unsafe whenever we leave
judged to feel unsafe whenever we leave
judged to feel unsafe whenever we leave our homes to not be surprised when were
our homes to not be surprised when were
our homes to not be surprised when were the ones randomly picked to be randomly
the ones randomly picked to be randomly
the ones randomly picked to be randomly searched this isn’t funny it’s
searched this isn’t funny it’s
searched this isn’t funny it’s concerning I realized that sometimes a
concerning I realized that sometimes a
concerning I realized that sometimes a joke isn’t supposed to make you laugh
joke isn’t supposed to make you laugh
joke isn’t supposed to make you laugh it’s supposed to make you think it’s
it’s supposed to make you think it’s
it’s supposed to make you think it’s supposed to make you read between the
supposed to make you read between the
supposed to make you read between the lines and question everything as you
lines and question everything as you
lines and question everything as you know it okay okay what’s the point of
know it okay okay what’s the point of
know it okay okay what’s the point of half of telling a joke if you don’t have
half of telling a joke if you don’t have
half of telling a joke if you don’t have an audience to tell it to which brings
an audience to tell it to which brings
an audience to tell it to which brings us to our final component of a good joke
us to our final component of a good joke
us to our final component of a good joke the how others react to it now that we
the how others react to it now that we
the how others react to it now that we know this problem exists in the
know this problem exists in the
know this problem exists in the different forms it comes in and who the
different forms it comes in and who the
different forms it comes in and who the victims are what can we do about it
victims are what can we do about it
victims are what can we do about it firstly don’t tell Islamophobic jokes
firstly don’t tell Islamophobic jokes
firstly don’t tell Islamophobic jokes trust me they’re not funny second don’t
trust me they’re not funny second don’t
trust me they’re not funny second don’t encourage llama phobic behavior if you
encourage llama phobic behavior if you
encourage llama phobic behavior if you see someone saying or doing something
see someone saying or doing something
see someone saying or doing something Islamophobic stop them don’t laugh at it
Islamophobic stop them don’t laugh at it
Islamophobic stop them don’t laugh at it don’t high-five them don’t stand around
don’t high-five them don’t stand around
don’t high-five them don’t stand around it’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable
it’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable
it’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable calling them out in front of everyone
calling them out in front of everyone
calling them out in front of everyone talk to them privately send them a text
talk to them privately send them a text
talk to them privately send them a text do something finally always take the
do something finally always take the
do something finally always take the phrase don’t judge a book by its cover
phrase don’t judge a book by its cover
phrase don’t judge a book by its cover to heart and not only when it applies to
to heart and not only when it applies to
to heart and not only when it applies to you don’t be so quick to judge an entire
you don’t be so quick to judge an entire
you don’t be so quick to judge an entire group of people based on the actions of
group of people based on the actions of
group of people based on the actions of a few
a few
a few no one ever holds all Christians
no one ever holds all Christians
no one ever holds all Christians accountable for the actions of the KKK
accountable for the actions of the KKK
accountable for the actions of the KKK no one ever holds all white people
no one ever holds all white people
no one ever holds all white people accountable for the actions of Dylan
accountable for the actions of Dylan
accountable for the actions of Dylan roof who walked into a church and killed
roof who walked into a church and killed
roof who walked into a church and killed nine innocent black people or Adam Lanza
nine innocent black people or Adam Lanza
nine innocent black people or Adam Lanza who walked into Sandy Hook elementary
who walked into Sandy Hook elementary
who walked into Sandy Hook elementary school and shot a classroom full of
school and shot a classroom full of
school and shot a classroom full of first graders we didn’t call them
first graders we didn’t call them
first graders we didn’t call them terrorists we didn’t ask them to leave
terrorists we didn’t ask them to leave
terrorists we didn’t ask them to leave the country we didn’t say this was a
the country we didn’t say this was a
the country we didn’t say this was a crime against all Americans we treated
crime against all Americans we treated
crime against all Americans we treated them as individuals and we said they
them as individuals and we said they
them as individuals and we said they acted alone and represented no one but
acted alone and represented no one but
acted alone and represented no one but themselves why is it so hard for us to
themselves why is it so hard for us to
themselves why is it so hard for us to extend this kind of thinking to someone
extend this kind of thinking to someone
extend this kind of thinking to someone who practices a different faith or has a
who practices a different faith or has a
who practices a different faith or has a different skin color I guess you could
different skin color I guess you could
different skin color I guess you could say it’s kind of funny that I have to be
say it’s kind of funny that I have to be
say it’s kind of funny that I have to be up here telling people how to act like
up here telling people how to act like
up here telling people how to act like decent human beings you know the same
decent human beings you know the same
decent human beings you know the same kind of funny someone means when they
kind of funny someone means when they
kind of funny someone means when they say oh I just think it’s funny that yeah
say oh I just think it’s funny that yeah
say oh I just think it’s funny that yeah normally isn’t if there’s one piece of
normally isn’t if there’s one piece of
normally isn’t if there’s one piece of advice you take from this speech let it
advice you take from this speech let it
advice you take from this speech let it be this no it isn’t just a joke people
be this no it isn’t just a joke people
be this no it isn’t just a joke people can make jokes about anything they want
can make jokes about anything they want
can make jokes about anything they want but you should never be the punchline
but you should never be the punchline
but you should never be the punchline thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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