we’re gathered here today to talk about taking flight and that’s a bit ironic
taking flight and that’s a bit ironic
taking flight and that’s a bit ironic for me and to give you some context
for me and to give you some context
for me and to give you some context about why that is
about why that is
about why that is my name is yad and I’m an American
my name is yad and I’m an American
my name is yad and I’m an American Muslim student from Princeton New Jersey
Muslim student from Princeton New Jersey
Muslim student from Princeton New Jersey and I’m just interested in biting my
and I’m just interested in biting my
and I’m just interested in biting my tongue you see the thing is for American
tongue you see the thing is for American
tongue you see the thing is for American Muslims taking flight isn’t easy
Muslims taking flight isn’t easy
Muslims taking flight isn’t easy metaphorically or physically I took a
metaphorically or physically I took a
metaphorically or physically I took a flight to come here to go on a trip with
flight to come here to go on a trip with
flight to come here to go on a trip with my friends and taking flight as a Muslim
my friends and taking flight as a Muslim
my friends and taking flight as a Muslim can be in angst and anxious almost every
can be in angst and anxious almost every
can be in angst and anxious almost every Muslim can tell you stories about being
Muslim can tell you stories about being
Muslim can tell you stories about being profiled in airports but I’m not here to
profiled in airports but I’m not here to
profiled in airports but I’m not here to talk about what it’s like to fly as a
talk about what it’s like to fly as a
talk about what it’s like to fly as a Muslim there are hashtags for that I’m
Muslim there are hashtags for that I’m
Muslim there are hashtags for that I’m here to talk about metaphorically what
here to talk about metaphorically what
here to talk about metaphorically what taking flight means to Muslim
taking flight means to Muslim
taking flight means to Muslim communities around the world and other
communities around the world and other
communities around the world and other communities taking flight to me means
communities taking flight to me means
communities taking flight to me means thriving and it isn’t easy always is an
thriving and it isn’t easy always is an
thriving and it isn’t easy always is an American Muslim to thrive to have the
American Muslim to thrive to have the
American Muslim to thrive to have the spaces to thrive because my question to
spaces to thrive because my question to
spaces to thrive because my question to all of you is what do you need to thrive
all of you is what do you need to thrive
all of you is what do you need to thrive our answers might vary but invariably
our answers might vary but invariably
our answers might vary but invariably the one constant is that we all need
the one constant is that we all need
the one constant is that we all need space to thrive an airplane can’t fly
space to thrive an airplane can’t fly
space to thrive an airplane can’t fly unless it has the air to navigate and in
unless it has the air to navigate and in
unless it has the air to navigate and in the same way we can’t thrive realize our
the same way we can’t thrive realize our
the same way we can’t thrive realize our full potentials if we don’t have spaces
full potentials if we don’t have spaces
full potentials if we don’t have spaces schools like this one but so many spaces
schools like this one but so many spaces
schools like this one but so many spaces where we can realize our full potential
where we can realize our full potential
where we can realize our full potential where we can I haven’t used an
where we can I haven’t used an
where we can I haven’t used an opportunities to be our best selves and
opportunities to be our best selves and
opportunities to be our best selves and that’s why I started an organization at
that’s why I started an organization at
that’s why I started an organization at the end of my eighth grade year
the end of my eighth grade year
the end of my eighth grade year rediff I we’re a collection of nearly
rediff I we’re a collection of nearly
rediff I we’re a collection of nearly 500 kids from around the world
500 kids from around the world
500 kids from around the world advocating unapologetically for social
advocating unapologetically for social
advocating unapologetically for social justice too many of us feel alone
justice too many of us feel alone
justice too many of us feel alone unheard belittled marginalized and we
unheard belittled marginalized and we
unheard belittled marginalized and we exist to advocate and to enfranchise
exist to advocate and to enfranchise
exist to advocate and to enfranchise because we all deserve spaces to speak
because we all deserve spaces to speak
because we all deserve spaces to speak about the truths that we’re grappling
about the truths that we’re grappling
about the truths that we’re grappling with and feel and actualize our full
with and feel and actualize our full
with and feel and actualize our full potential so that’s what I do and that’s
potential so that’s what I do and that’s
potential so that’s what I do and that’s my contact
my contact
my contact but when I think about taking flight I
but when I think about taking flight I
but when I think about taking flight I think about how lucky I am to be in a
think about how lucky I am to be in a
think about how lucky I am to be in a platform like this today I think about
platform like this today I think about
platform like this today I think about the privileges my intersecting
the privileges my intersecting
the privileges my intersecting privileges that have informed this
privileges that have informed this
privileges that have informed this moment and I think about how many people
moment and I think about how many people
moment and I think about how many people have been granted those same privileges
have been granted those same privileges
have been granted those same privileges those same opportunities because taking
those same opportunities because taking
those same opportunities because taking flight is hard for so many of us and
flight is hard for so many of us and
flight is hard for so many of us and I’ve been so fortunate to be on stages
I’ve been so fortunate to be on stages
I’ve been so fortunate to be on stages like that some people ask me what is it
like that some people ask me what is it
like that some people ask me what is it like to the American Muslim today and I
like to the American Muslim today and I
like to the American Muslim today and I tell them I characterized the experience
tell them I characterized the experience
tell them I characterized the experience of American Muslim young people that’s
of American Muslim young people that’s
of American Muslim young people that’s constantly being on the defense and what
constantly being on the defense and what
constantly being on the defense and what I mean by that is similar to the
I mean by that is similar to the
I mean by that is similar to the characters on my jumper today football
characters on my jumper today football
characters on my jumper today football players soccer players I’m from America
players soccer players I’m from America
players soccer players I’m from America I apologize in soccer if you’re on
I apologize in soccer if you’re on
I apologize in soccer if you’re on defense all the time how can you score
defense all the time how can you score
defense all the time how can you score and when it’s liked the American Muslim
and when it’s liked the American Muslim
and when it’s liked the American Muslim today is to be constantly thwarting
today is to be constantly thwarting
today is to be constantly thwarting attacks against our humanity against our
attacks against our humanity against our
attacks against our humanity against our integrity against our quality you
integrity against our quality you
integrity against our quality you constantly feel invalidated and our
constantly feel invalidated and our
constantly feel invalidated and our faith and our identity that’s what I
faith and our identity that’s what I
faith and our identity that’s what I would characterize our experience as and
would characterize our experience as and
would characterize our experience as and how can we score and I’m not here to say
how can we score and I’m not here to say
how can we score and I’m not here to say we’re not scoring we are we are thriving
we’re not scoring we are we are thriving
we’re not scoring we are we are thriving there American Muslims all around the
there American Muslims all around the
there American Muslims all around the world who are thriving in every way
world who are thriving in every way
world who are thriving in every way possible but we have to wait for that
possible but we have to wait for that
possible but we have to wait for that little in-between moment that breakaway
little in-between moment that breakaway
little in-between moment that breakaway we should have an open field to score
we should have an open field to score
we should have an open field to score but that isn’t happening
but that isn’t happening
but that isn’t happening we’re being limited bombarded and I’m
we’re being limited bombarded and I’m
we’re being limited bombarded and I’m also not here to say that the American
also not here to say that the American
also not here to say that the American Muslim community is the first to
Muslim community is the first to
Muslim community is the first to experience this or the community
experience this or the community
experience this or the community experiencing this to the most extreme
experiencing this to the most extreme
experiencing this to the most extreme extent I am here to say that it is
extent I am here to say that it is
extent I am here to say that it is pronounced particularly right now for
pronounced particularly right now for
pronounced particularly right now for the most communities all around the
the most communities all around the
the most communities all around the world but I’m also here to say the black
world but I’m also here to say the black
world but I’m also here to say the black communities LGBT folk so many
communities LGBT folk so many
communities LGBT folk so many marginalized peoples are constantly
marginalized peoples are constantly
marginalized peoples are constantly being too mean are constantly being told
being too mean are constantly being told
being too mean are constantly being told that they don’t matter that they’re
that they don’t matter that they’re
that they don’t matter that they’re lesser and I’m here to say that we need
lesser and I’m here to say that we need
lesser and I’m here to say that we need to empower those people and it’s not
to empower those people and it’s not
to empower those people and it’s not just minorities young people how many
just minorities young people how many
just minorities young people how many times have you been told that we need to
times have you been told that we need to
times have you been told that we need to thrive and succeed later that things are
thrive and succeed later that things are
thrive and succeed later that things are for later I’m here to say there for now
for later I’m here to say there for now
for later I’m here to say there for now it’s as if people are telling us don’t
it’s as if people are telling us don’t
it’s as if people are telling us don’t score in the first
score in the first
score in the first laughs that’s ludicrous the first half
laughs that’s ludicrous the first half
laughs that’s ludicrous the first half is crucial we need to be scoring and
is crucial we need to be scoring and
is crucial we need to be scoring and contributing positively to society we
contributing positively to society we
contributing positively to society we have contributions that we need to be
have contributions that we need to be
have contributions that we need to be making we can’t be inhibited
making we can’t be inhibited
making we can’t be inhibited I refuse to be inhibited so that’s why I
I refuse to be inhibited so that’s why I
I refuse to be inhibited so that’s why I advocate the way that I do and what my
advocate the way that I do and what my
advocate the way that I do and what my idea worth spreading is what I want to
idea worth spreading is what I want to
idea worth spreading is what I want to impart upon all of you today is that so
impart upon all of you today is that so
impart upon all of you today is that so many people feel like they’re constantly
many people feel like they’re constantly
many people feel like they’re constantly on the defense right whether it’s women
on the defense right whether it’s women
on the defense right whether it’s women black communities Muslim communities but
black communities Muslim communities but
black communities Muslim communities but we all deserve to score
we all deserve to score
we all deserve to score we all deserve to have the opportunity
we all deserve to have the opportunity
we all deserve to have the opportunity to be able to take flight and soar and
to be able to take flight and soar and
to be able to take flight and soar and it doesn’t matter what analogy we’re
it doesn’t matter what analogy we’re
it doesn’t matter what analogy we’re using because whether we’re on a field
using because whether we’re on a field
using because whether we’re on a field or we’re on a plane we are experiencing
or we’re on a plane we are experiencing
or we’re on a plane we are experiencing turbulence and I’m not here to say that
turbulence and I’m not here to say that
turbulence and I’m not here to say that we’ll ever eradicate turbulence there
we’ll ever eradicate turbulence there
we’ll ever eradicate turbulence there will always be hard times but who you
will always be hard times but who you
will always be hard times but who you love how you pray the color of your skin
love how you pray the color of your skin
love how you pray the color of your skin should not free determine how much
should not free determine how much
should not free determine how much turbulence you will experience our
turbulence you will experience our
turbulence you will experience our hardships will come inevitably but it
hardships will come inevitably but it
hardships will come inevitably but it should not be that because of the way
should not be that because of the way
should not be that because of the way that I was born I will inevitably
that I was born I will inevitably
that I was born I will inevitably experience certain hardships and that’s
experience certain hardships and that’s
experience certain hardships and that’s important for us to swallow and
important for us to swallow and
important for us to swallow and recognize and challenge because if we’re
recognize and challenge because if we’re
recognize and challenge because if we’re interested in the future and the goals
interested in the future and the goals
interested in the future and the goals of our progress of our society we need
of our progress of our society we need
of our progress of our society we need to be pushing people to score so what I
to be pushing people to score so what I
to be pushing people to score so what I want to say to all of you today is
want to say to all of you today is
want to say to all of you today is something that I tell anyone when they
something that I tell anyone when they
something that I tell anyone when they ask me for advice and a lot of people
ask me for advice and a lot of people
ask me for advice and a lot of people ask me as a youth activist as a youth
ask me as a youth activist as a youth
ask me as a youth activist as a youth entrepreneur what do you want to tell
entrepreneur what do you want to tell
entrepreneur what do you want to tell other young see what do you want tell
other young see what do you want tell
other young see what do you want tell other people and what I say is run and
other people and what I say is run and
other people and what I say is run and while using a lot of sports analogies
while using a lot of sports analogies
while using a lot of sports analogies I’m not quite good at athletics oh I
I’m not quite good at athletics oh I
I’m not quite good at athletics oh I don’t mean physical running I mean we
don’t mean physical running I mean we
don’t mean physical running I mean we all have something that ignites the
all have something that ignites the
all have something that ignites the passion in our stomach that makes your
passion in our stomach that makes your
passion in our stomach that makes your eyes light up we all have that thing do
eyes light up we all have that thing do
eyes light up we all have that thing do it run with it now find that breakaway
it run with it now find that breakaway
it run with it now find that breakaway past the other players create that space
past the other players create that space
past the other players create that space and soar that’s your right that’s your
and soar that’s your right that’s your
and soar that’s your right that’s your duty we need to be running with these
duty we need to be running with these
duty we need to be running with these ideas with our passions until we can
ideas with our passions until we can
ideas with our passions until we can feel the wind against our hair
feel the wind against our hair
feel the wind against our hair and we look back for two reasons to see
and we look back for two reasons to see
and we look back for two reasons to see how far we’ve come and to see who we’ve
how far we’ve come and to see who we’ve
how far we’ve come and to see who we’ve left behind and that’s the step that
left behind and that’s the step that
left behind and that’s the step that we’re all too often missing because a
we’re all too often missing because a
we’re all too often missing because a lot of us are thriving but how many of
lot of us are thriving but how many of
lot of us are thriving but how many of us are taking the time to realize okay
us are taking the time to realize okay
us are taking the time to realize okay I’m here I’m on this platform who isn’t
I’m here I’m on this platform who isn’t
I’m here I’m on this platform who isn’t here who isn’t in this room and what can
here who isn’t in this room and what can
here who isn’t in this room and what can I do to get them to this to this point
I do to get them to this to this point
I do to get them to this to this point so we need to find those people we need
so we need to find those people we need
so we need to find those people we need to look back and see who did we leave
to look back and see who did we leave
to look back and see who did we leave behind and carry them on our backs
behind and carry them on our backs
behind and carry them on our backs forward that’s what this moment demands
forward that’s what this moment demands
forward that’s what this moment demands as an American Muslim right now if I
as an American Muslim right now if I
as an American Muslim right now if I tweet about today right now and I get
tweet about today right now and I get
tweet about today right now and I get more than 10 retweets the trolls will
more than 10 retweets the trolls will
more than 10 retweets the trolls will come out and attack me because my name
come out and attack me because my name
come out and attack me because my name sounds Muslim to them because my name
sounds Muslim to them because my name
sounds Muslim to them because my name means fear to them because where I come
means fear to them because where I come
means fear to them because where I come from is foreign to them and they hate me
from is foreign to them and they hate me
from is foreign to them and they hate me based on that alone that’s my reality
based on that alone that’s my reality
based on that alone that’s my reality and for so many of us there are moments
and for so many of us there are moments
and for so many of us there are moments where we feel invalidated and fearful of
where we feel invalidated and fearful of
where we feel invalidated and fearful of who we are and how we identify and we
who we are and how we identify and we
who we are and how we identify and we shouldn’t and my page to you today let’s
shouldn’t and my page to you today let’s
shouldn’t and my page to you today let’s pass to one another let’s create these
pass to one another let’s create these
pass to one another let’s create these spaces where we can feel full where we
spaces where we can feel full where we
spaces where we can feel full where we can be ourselves where we can join on
can be ourselves where we can join on
can be ourselves where we can join on the same team instead of being pitted
the same team instead of being pitted
the same team instead of being pitted against one another because we can all
against one another because we can all
against one another because we can all play in different styles we can have our
play in different styles we can have our
play in different styles we can have our own Flair’s we can have our own
own Flair’s we can have our own
own Flair’s we can have our own different moves we can pass one another
different moves we can pass one another
different moves we can pass one another we can be one hell of a beautiful team
we can be one hell of a beautiful team
we can be one hell of a beautiful team and I reckon we can score one hell of a
and I reckon we can score one hell of a
and I reckon we can score one hell of a spectacular goal together what so many
spectacular goal together what so many
spectacular goal together what so many millions of spectacular goals together
millions of spectacular goals together
millions of spectacular goals together cohesive collaborations and
cohesive collaborations and
cohesive collaborations and contributions to society that make this
contributions to society that make this
contributions to society that make this world a more full and beautiful place
world a more full and beautiful place
world a more full and beautiful place that’s what this moment demands let’s
that’s what this moment demands let’s
that’s what this moment demands let’s pass to one another let’s pass the mic
pass to one another let’s pass the mic
pass to one another let’s pass the mic buttsfast the ball let’s take flight
buttsfast the ball let’s take flight
buttsfast the ball let’s take flight together let’s score together I don’t
together let’s score together I don’t
together let’s score together I don’t care what the analogy or metaphor is
care what the analogy or metaphor is
care what the analogy or metaphor is let’s do it together let’s recognize our
let’s do it together let’s recognize our
let’s do it together let’s recognize our differences and do something positive
differences and do something positive
differences and do something positive with them who’s with me
how old are you I’m 18 years old see if
how old are you I’m 18 years old see if I’ve been like you 18 I think I’ll be
I’ve been like you 18 I think I’ll be
I’ve been like you 18 I think I’ll be running the planet by now I don’t know
running the planet by now I don’t know
running the planet by now I don’t know about that but I love is that you’ve
about that but I love is that you’ve
about that but I love is that you’ve come to this decision so early that
come to this decision so early that
come to this decision so early that you’ve can’t you’ve obviously spent time
you’ve can’t you’ve obviously spent time
you’ve can’t you’ve obviously spent time thinking about it and and I love that
thinking about it and and I love that
thinking about it and and I love that you’re so in touch with the reality of
you’re so in touch with the reality of
you’re so in touch with the reality of what it is to be an American Muslim and
what it is to be an American Muslim and
what it is to be an American Muslim and and as you say be in defense yeah and
and as you say be in defense yeah and
and as you say be in defense yeah and and always interested cause listening to
and always interested cause listening to
and always interested cause listening to you you know you sort of talked about
you you know you sort of talked about
you you know you sort of talked about there are people that aren’t here people
there are people that aren’t here people
there are people that aren’t here people are in the room and but you’re coming
are in the room and but you’re coming
are in the room and but you’re coming from a position of being one of those
from a position of being one of those
from a position of being one of those people yeah so you’ve made a real
people yeah so you’ve made a real
people yeah so you’ve made a real transition to saying yes I’m
transition to saying yes I’m
transition to saying yes I’m marginalized and yes I want to be there
marginalized and yes I want to be there
marginalized and yes I want to be there to support others yeah I mean the thing
to support others yeah I mean the thing
to support others yeah I mean the thing about it is there are all things that we
about it is there are all things that we
about it is there are all things that we experience privilege from and there are
experience privilege from and there are
experience privilege from and there are all things that we experience
all things that we experience
all things that we experience discrimination for right and I’ve been
discrimination for right and I’ve been
discrimination for right and I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of
very fortunate to have a lot of
very fortunate to have a lot of religious in my life the fact that I’m
religious in my life the fact that I’m
religious in my life the fact that I’m in this room right now that I could
in this room right now that I could
in this room right now that I could travel from the u.s. to the UK that I
travel from the u.s. to the UK that I
travel from the u.s. to the UK that I could experience the safety has informed
could experience the safety has informed
could experience the safety has informed my perspective right so while I might be
my perspective right so while I might be
my perspective right so while I might be marginalized in one regard I’m not here
marginalized in one regard I’m not here
marginalized in one regard I’m not here to say I’m exclusively a victim
to say I’m exclusively a victim
to say I’m exclusively a victim I’m also complicit in so much
I’m also complicit in so much
I’m also complicit in so much marginalization of other communities and
marginalization of other communities and
marginalization of other communities and and I have to be able to challenge that
and I have to be able to challenge that
and I have to be able to challenge that and see yes okay so maybe in some way
and see yes okay so maybe in some way
and see yes okay so maybe in some way I’m marginalized in a way that we all
I’m marginalized in a way that we all
I’m marginalized in a way that we all are but who else is being marginalized
are but who else is being marginalized
are but who else is being marginalized more right how can I say right that I’m
more right how can I say right that I’m
more right how can I say right that I’m experience suffering when the Syrian
experience suffering when the Syrian
experience suffering when the Syrian refugees 22 million people are displaced
refugees 22 million people are displaced
refugees 22 million people are displaced yes
yes
yes I’m suffering in some regards but I’m
I’m suffering in some regards but I’m
I’m suffering in some regards but I’m more interested in talking about
more interested in talking about
more interested in talking about collective suffering the people after me
collective suffering the people after me
collective suffering the people after me our ability for each and every person to
our ability for each and every person to
our ability for each and every person to realize their full potential and I think
realize their full potential and I think
realize their full potential and I think that that is a human want and something
that that is a human want and something
that that is a human want and something that we’re all passionate we all want to
that we’re all passionate we all want to
that we’re all passionate we all want to feel safe and loved and accepted and we
feel safe and loved and accepted and we
feel safe and loved and accepted and we all care about that it’s just a matter
all care about that it’s just a matter
all care about that it’s just a matter of finding the space to do that and I’ve
of finding the space to do that and I’ve
of finding the space to do that and I’ve been fortunate to have the flip there’s
been fortunate to have the flip there’s
been fortunate to have the flip there’s the final spaces and create an
the final spaces and create an
the final spaces and create an organization how the resources and
organization how the resources and
organization how the resources and community to do so and it’s just a
community to do so and it’s just a
community to do so and it’s just a matter of us working together to create
matter of us working together to create
matter of us working together to create those spaces for all of us oh I just
those spaces for all of us oh I just
those spaces for all of us oh I just love that thank you I love that you can
love that thank you I love that you can
love that thank you I love that you can you know you can see where you have
you know you can see where you have
you know you can see where you have capacity and you can turn other people
capacity and you can turn other people
capacity and you can turn other people when I live when I look at you when I
when I live when I look at you when I
when I live when I look at you when I look at you
look at you
look at you you know I think I think swag and swag
you know I think I think swag and swag
you know I think I think swag and swag stands for seriously wild audacious
stands for seriously wild audacious
stands for seriously wild audacious goals I love that that’s what I love
goals I love that that’s what I love
goals I love that that’s what I love standing back there working out my
standing back there working out my
standing back there working out my acronyms and I really think because you
acronyms and I really think because you
acronyms and I really think because you know this kind of idea of saying what
know this kind of idea of saying what
know this kind of idea of saying what can we do what can we do what can you do
can we do what can we do what can you do
can we do what can we do what can you do we talked before about one person making
we talked before about one person making
we talked before about one person making a difference what you’re encouraging is
a difference what you’re encouraging is
a difference what you’re encouraging is all to do is to look at ourselves and
all to do is to look at ourselves and
all to do is to look at ourselves and say so what do we have
say so what do we have
say so what do we have yeah we have all this but what would it
yeah we have all this but what would it
yeah we have all this but what would it look like if we did this what would it
look like if we did this what would it
look like if we did this what would it look like if we could talk we did
look like if we could talk we did
look like if we could talk we did together absolutely as a community so
together absolutely as a community so
together absolutely as a community so please give it up for this amazing chat
please give it up for this amazing chat
please give it up for this amazing chat thank you thank you so much
”
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