People often ask me if I get attacked for being a Muslim. Although I might get a racist/ethnic slur shouted at me every now and then, it is actually a rare occurrence. When it does happen, it usually takes me by surprise, and on a good day, my reaction will be to smile and ask […]
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How This Sign Lets Us Be Ourselves (says the Arab American Woman)
“Women-Only” On wedding invitations or party invites in the Arab American world, this rule is a given. In my Yemeni culture, it’s very rare that you’ll find men and women mingling at social gatherings, which is due to a strict Islamic interpretation on gender interactions. It’s a rule which gave me the opportunity to get […]
My Mother’s Warning: “You know if you put it on, you can’t take it off”
I remember sitting on my parents’ bed as a kid and trying to wrap one of my mom’s headscarves around my head. Standing on the bed, looking into the mirror that sat atop their dresser, I saw myself take the square piece of cloth and trying miserably to tie it in a knot like I […]
Secrets of Who’s Who Under Those Head Coverings
As a Muslim woman I choose to wear a headscarf, known as the hijab, because it symbolizes the core beliefs and ethics of Islam that I hold close to my heart. Having said that, I’ve always known that the headscarf conceals identifying characteristics that allow people to recognize those of us who decide to wear the […]
Making Your Wedding More Than a Money Trap
Weddings are the biggest consumerist traps that I’ve ever experienced – that is since high school graduations of course – with all the NEEDING of buying the class ring, senior photos, the biggest diploma frame a parent could find, etc. I speak about weddings after recently getting married. A blog about our courtship which spanned […]
Single, Muslim and Eligible. Now what?
“Are you married?” they ask as they glance at my ringless ring finger. I have gotten this question from Muslims, Christians, whites, blacks, men, women, children and especially my students. This question knows no single demographic. However, the degree of shock to my 30 years of singlehood is most dramatic within my Arab community – […]
Taking Charge of Those Blanket Untruths About Detroit
Since I’ve moved to Detroit some of my family members and friends are hesitant to visit me – or flat out will not visit me. I grew up in East Dearborn. As a minority in the U.S. I never felt the part because I was surrounded with Arabs and Muslims who looked like me, spoke like […]
What Body-Covering Burqas and Scanty Bikinis Have in Common
I recently came across this cartoon and had to giggle: I’m sure this telepathic exchange of inner-monologues isn’t an infrequent experience. I had to chuckle because I am far from a burqa’d Muslim woman, but I still feel I get this same sympathetic glance every now and then. Especially in the summer—when I wear my […]
Friend or Foe for Motown Muslim?
“Hey! Where you going?” calls the janitor of an inner city public school to me as I jiggle the handle on a locked door in the empty hallway. “Ahh, hello there,” I reply self-consciously. Actually, no matter how many times this happens to me, it’s really embarrassing every time. “Maybe you could help me…” I […]
Weaving Community: Meet the Shetroit Blog Team!
Meet the Shetroit Blog Team! Detroit is in the spotlight with many eyes focused on it, wondering what it’s like to live, work and play in this richly complicated, intriguing and culturally diverse soup of a city – with all its offerings, both the challenges and the victories. Shetroit’s bloggers are presenting a diverse showcase […]