Health,Beauty,Knowledge & Fitness: muslim womens

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Here’s Why We Need an Islamophobia Awareness Month

on November 12, 2019 0

We are about a third of the way through November, and already Muslims across the globe have been feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

Last week, the trailer for the new Apple TV film, Hala, was released. Needless to say, it caused an uproar on social media. The majority of us were appalled at how guiltlessly the writers and actors fell into white-saviour complexes, and the way the movie chose to portray a stereotypical narrative of the “oppressed hijabi.” It’s certainly on our list of popular culture Islamophobia this month.

Next, and perhaps most importantly, the treatment of Uighur Muslim women in China’s concentration camps have been thrust further into the spotlight — and rightfully so. The genocidal government has been forcing women to sleep with native men whilst their husbands are in prison camps. Ethnic cleansing at its finest, while the world’s powers remain silent.

In Britain, November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month to “highlight the threat of Islamophobic hate crimes and showcase the positive contributions of British Muslims to society.”

It can seem as though during any month of the year, Muslims face adversity, whether it’s from political parties, online hatred, or trying to go about their daily lives.

In Britain, November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month to “highlight the threat of Islamophobic hate crimes and showcase the positive contributions of British Muslims to society.”

As a young British-Muslim, Islamophobia Awareness Month is more than just a hashtag to share on Twitter to me. It’s about generating awareness for the treatment of Muslims globally. It’s about putting pressure on the perpetrating governments to change their policies.

For example, the British government rejects the definition of Islamophobia. They have also put off enquiries into Islamophobia within the Convervative party numerous times. Within schools across the country, the PREVENT legislation runs wild, which is based upon the presumption that Muslims are inherently violent and parliament still fails to create anti-terror legislation, the victims of which are disproportionately Muslims.

Whilst it can often seem frustrating and deeply saddening, as a community, we still need to come together and fight back against these crimes against Muslims through the forms of art, education, and social media.

On Instagram, a British-Muslim poet, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan (aka the brown hijabi), is doing a series of videos for Islamophobia Awareness Month. This is the first one, highlighting red herrings. The aim is to “get to grips with one of the most talked about and least understood oppressions of our time: Islamophobia!”

For any of our readers who are wondering how to help, I urge you to research further on the topics discussed within this article (and more), and take these discussions further to the people around you. It is pertinent to keep this important and life-altering conversation continuing every month, not just in November.

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The Dark World of Fast Fashion

on November 10, 2019 0

Do you ever notice how as a trend gets bigger, retailers often have massive amounts of clothing from said trend supplied to their stores very quickly?

Of course, that’s how business works — people want, people get, and at lower prices than the competing store. Suddenly, the trend is gone, and the clothing slowly disappears from stores. You don’t wear that sweater anymore. You stuff it into the back of your closet and eventually throw it out, only having worn it four times.

And the statistics are here to back it up. The average American didn’t wear 82% of their wardrobe last year which is the hallmark of fast fashion. A colossal waste of your money? Yes, but unfortunately, it gets a lot darker.

A Safe Childhood Is a Right

You’re shopping and see an item of clothing you like for an amazing price. It’s almost too good to be true! You wonder if there’s a catch, and unfortunately there is. There are an estimated 152 million victims of child labour aged 5-17 in the world according to StopChildLabor.com, and a shocking amount of them are in the fashion industry.

Whether we like it or not, by indulging in fast fashion, we are contributing to the trauma of vulnerable children.

When companies need a large quantity of clothing for a small quantity of money — to then be sold for next to nothing — the easiest way for them to do this is to exploit children who are vulnerable and voiceless. Whether we like it or not, by indulging in fast fashion, we are contributing to the trauma of vulnerable children. And with the way companies are expanding, that exploitation isn’t showing signs of stopping anytime soon.

Save the Earth

I’m sure you know about the climate crisis that is taking over the planet and how we only have until 2050 to take action. Fast-food chains have abandoned plastic straws and you might have begun carrying a flask instead of using bottled water, or invested in an eco-friendly electricity meter.

Forever 21, the ultimate fast fashion icon, and their often overstuffed shelves.

Companies that produce clothing release 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, all for the clothes they produce to go to waste (quite literally). 235 million items of clothing were sent to landfill sites last year — and that’s just in the UK according to the Environment Audit Committee. Additionally, the Environment Audit Committee found that there are 700,000 clothing fibres released in a single domestic wash. Not only does this add to the pollution of our oceans, but these micro-fibres are also eaten by fish which end up in our stomachs. All of these scary statistics, and yet we’re still pointing our fingers at Starbucks and their plastic straws?

So What Can You Do to Help?

The sad truth is, every time we pick up something suspiciously cheap at the store, each time we purchase those jeans we REALLY don’t need because we have an identical pair at home, and each time we throw out the shirt we’ve only worn twice, we’re contributing to the mass destruction of our planet as well as the mass exploitation of the lives of innocent, enslaved children.

Now, I’m not expecting you to completely boycott all clothing stores, but there are many ways to help! One of which is called Depop, a personal favourite of mine. Depop is an online thrift store which sells used, pre-purchased, and custom-made items.

Unlike with simply throwing unwanted items away, the benefits of online thrift stores are significant. Not only financial, but ethical too!

I recently bought a once-worn jacket from Depop for half of its original price. Depop and other thrift stores like it are also an amazing place to sell that shirt you don’t want.

Buying from online thrift stores would mean that there is no unnecessary production of items through illegal means and you’d also be saving money! And offering support to this new form of shopping means we are giving less wasteful shopping avenues the chance to thrive. Consider selling your unwanted items on a platform like that too. Unlike with simply throwing unwanted items away, the benefits of online thrift stores are significant. Not only financial, but ethical too!

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This Is Your Mid-Week Motivational Round Up

on November 06, 2019 0

It’s hump day people, and you know what that means! We are halfway through the week, and in desperate need of a pick-me-up. What I normally do when I need a little dose of motivational spirit to get me through the rest of the week is turn to my favorite poet, author, and motivational speaker extraordinaire, Najwa Zebian, for a choice shot of “let’s do this” that even my favorite Starbucks barista can’t manage on a Wednesday. So, for the purpose of this little round up, yours truly dove deep into the recesses of the internet to find and share some of my favorite motivational memes.

Now, some of these will tickle your funny bone, whereas some will tug on your heartstrings, and others may just offer up those moments of epiphany you’ve been waiting for your whole life. Aw, who am I kidding, all of these will do the latter two. Funny is what we save for the weekend. But these little snippets of strength are sure to propel you through the final few days of the week.

So, guys and gals, here’s a little bit of mid-week motivation to see you through to that glorious light at the end of the tunnel known as “The Weekend”:

1. Peace of Mind > Everything

2. Take Those Risks, Bae:

3. Just Ask Every Public Figure, Like, Ever:

4. We Like Leaders More Than Followers:

5. Fight Me:

6. Put That Pressure Down, Boo:

7. A Message to Remember Any Day of the Week:

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Poem: The New Bride

on October 19, 2019 0

Dolkis, ghajaras, yellow and pink dust in the air,

Laughter of mothers and aunts, cousins and nieces.

A glimpse of happiness,

Turns to sudden fears of the unknown.

Decorated eyes looking up in desperation,

The green glitter is dim but still shines.

Torn and beaten with age, you can still make out the unfamiliar words secured in the frame,

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلّمَ): ما بُنِيَ بِناءَ فِي الإِسْلامِ أَحَبُّ إِلى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلّ مِنَ التَّزْوِيجِ.

“There is no foundation that has been built in Islam more loved by Allah, (The Greatest and Noblest) than marriage.”

It was gifted to her mother from her grandmother,

Now it belongs to her.

Defeat and pain are all too familiar,

The laughter of mothers chime in again and hymns of a happy home and life are sung with plastic smiles and belie tears.

Just maybe the words echoed by old, new, and future brides can speak them into existence.

“Will she break the curse?”

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This MGxY.asmeena Collaboration for Fall Will Inspire You

on October 07, 2019 0

Summer is over; who’s ready for SWEATER WEATHER?! While you’re indulging in your pumpkin spice latte and thinking about how to be stylish this season, check out MG’s latest video. The MGxY.asmeena collaboration is the perfect video for your fall fashion inspiration! Y.asmeena has curated four fall fashion looks just for you.

The MGxY.asmeena collaboration is the perfect video for your fall fashion inspiration!

Yasmeena Rasheed, a Muslim social media influencer, has modeled for brands such as H&M and Uniqlo. Her hijab never gets in the way of her fun and fresh style; in fact, it accentuates it. She is a living example that fashion and modesty aren’t mutually exclusive.

From blazers to different footwear, these looks vary from outfits for work to a casual night out. Get your fall on!

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Poem: A Different Perspective

on October 01, 2019 0

“Yeah, I’m definitely moving to Canada…”

It’s November 7th, 2016

The day after Donald Trump wins the presidential election

and my best friend is complaining to me about America

While she shares the same thoughts with millions of others

I just can’t help but disagree…

A different perspective, you see

My grandparents are immigrants

They moved to America in their 30’s and had my father and uncles

My grandmother learned English by listening to the radio

She birthed three baby boys

One of which would happen to be

The father of me

A different perspective, you see

I was born in New Orleans

The home of Mardi Gras and red beans

My first 10 years were spent in the Big Easy

Where there’s a far majority White

I’ve known racism and White Supremacy my entire life

I’m an acquaintance of frisking

And a good friend of “extra pat downs”

I am no stranger to discrimination

Cause unfortunately

My half-White ancestry goes unnoticed

at TSA

But anyways…

Here’s a different perspective, you see

America is my home

Anywhere else I’d be a refugee

The soil we stand on holds a piece of me

So while president Trump grips my home in his child-like hands

And throws it around like a bullet in a game of Russian roulette

(quite literally)

We should be working our way up to take it away

Because this country is not a toy for him to play with

Here’s a different perspective, you see

This country was built on the bones

Of Native Americans

Of African Americans

Of Hispanics and Japanese

And everyone and anyone that has ever fought just to speak

So while you may want to abandon this place for another

I’mma stay right here and put mine back together

Piece by piece

Another perspective, you see

I am not willing to give up my home so easily

Because my brothers and sisters did not work so hard

For this measly outcome

For injustice, for corruption, for racism

And every other kind of -ism under the sun

They broke their backs for us

They swam cross oceans for us

They went through hell for us

And we’re just going to throw it away?

I don’t think so

Because my grandparent’s efforts to give me a better life

Will not be thrown away by those who despise us

I’m not moving to Canada

Because I have a different perspective, you see

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Khadijah Mellah Becomes Britain’s First Muslim Female Jockey

on September 26, 2019 0

On August 1, 2019, Khadijah Mellah (18), made history by becoming the first female British Muslim jockey to win a competitive race in the 2019 Magnolia Cup at Goodwood Racecourse.

Watch this video to see Khadijah’s story, follow her journey, find out what brought her into this male-dominated sport, and be inspired. She is an “inspirational woman.”

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#IMarchWithZahra: Muslim Organizations, Allies, and Activists Pen an Open Letter to Women’s March in Support of Zahra Billoo

on September 25, 2019 0

We, Muslim and allied organizers, stand with Zahra Billoo in the face of the vote to remove her from Women’s March national board after an Islamophobic smear campaign. We call on Women’s March to reinstate Zahra Billoo to the national board.

After Women’s March announced the new board members, the attacks on Zahra were distinct. They were textbook cases of Islamophobia and racism. They were distinguishable from the comments about other inspiring organizers taking on these positions on the new Board. To put it plainly, they were overt racism by racists. They relied on Islamophobic and Orientalist tropes that are some of the most disgusting ways to attack a person of Muslim identity.

Zahra is a tireless advocate, locally and nationally. She is with us in the streets when we are working with refugees in our communities, when we are sick with fatigue from knocking on politicians’ doors and when we are comforting the trauma of this work in our peoples. When there are no resources, and no help, she is there, and she is fighting. She always has our back and now it is time we have hers.

Like so many, we deeply value the work of Women’s March and know the struggles against racism and misogyny to be inextricable. That is why we cannot be silent in the face of this decision. The movement for women must include all women, especially Muslim women of color.

We know we must join together to uplift the most marginalized voices of our communities now more than ever.

In the Trump era, there is no space for bending to the will of racists and Islamophobes. Our communities are being attacked as we speak. As this letter is sent, the Muslim and Refugee Ban continues to ravage our communities, Kashmir is under attack, and the recent Israeli election results ensure another era of colonial violence on Palestine. We know we must join together to uplift the most marginalized voices of our communities now more than ever.

We call on Women’s March to reinstate Zahra Billoo to its national board so that the vital work can continue.

Signed,

To sign onto this letter, sign on here: https://forms.gle/sbucyWza29uQ2MZq7

Individuals

Imraan Siddiqi, CAIR-AZ

Remi Kanazi

Neda Magbouleh

Ahmad Abuznaid, National Network for Arab American Communities

Abed Ayoub, ADC

Yasmeen Ahmed

Magari Aziza, Muslim ARC

Yasmeen Obeid

Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Founder, Muslim Girl

Masih Fouladi, CAIR-Washington

Sarah Farouq, MSA West

Jehan Hakim, YAC

Sophia Armen, SWANA Alliance

Lexi Alexander, filmmaker

Steven Salaita

Jumana Al-Qawasmi

Darakshan Raja, Justice for Muslims Collective

Ramla Sahid, PANA

Rahim Kurwa

Hina Shaikh

Nairi Shirnian

Lily Tajaddini

Mohamed M Elnakib

Mohsin Mirza

Fatima Zehra Ladha

Clarissa Bitar

Hoda Katebi

Seemab Hussaini, CAIR-Oregon

Maha Hilal, Justice for Muslims Collective

Izzy Mustafa

Melina Abdullah, Black Lives Matter- Los Angeles

Thandiwe Abdullah, co-founder, Black Lives Matter – Youth Vanguard

Avideh Moussavian

Adam Soltani, CAIR-Oklahoma

Ossama Kamel

Sarah Farouq

Deanna Othman

Professor Hatem Bazian

Sana Qutubuddin, Indian American Muslim Council

Professor Rabab Abdulhadi, Director and Senior Scholar, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies, San Francisco State University

Danette Zaghari-Mask

Asha Noor

Afaf Nasher, CAIR-NY

Riffat Ajmal

Megan Fair

Marwa Elbially

Irim Yasin

Haitham Abulhaija

Sophia Andary, Women’s March San Francisco

Yasmin Almokhamad

Nerdeen Kiswani, Within Our Lifetime

Noura Erakat

Kifah Shah, MPowerChange

Zakir Khan, CAIR-Oregon

Ekram Haque, CAIR-Dallas Fort Worth

Lubabah Abdullah, CAIR-Houston

Kristy Sabbah, Arizona Muslim Alliance

Taha Hasan

Organizations

Justice for Muslims Collective

CAIR-AZ

CAIR-Washington State Chapter

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

Adalah Justice Project

CAIR-Oklahoma

CAIR-Oregon

Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC)

US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

Musim Student Association West (MSA West)

Palestinian Youth Movement-USA

Within Our Lifetime- United for Palestine

US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

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The Attacks on Samia Assed and Zahra Billoo Are Pure Racism

on September 19, 2019 0

Samia Assed is a longtime organizer, mom, and beloved elder in the Arab and Muslim community in the United States. Like so many other youth that look up to her, when I saw she was elected to the new board of the Women’s March through their announcement on Monday, I was overwhelmed with joy and love. I was consumed with happiness. I thought — she is one of the people we always look to, now the nation will look to her.

I felt the same for Zahra Billoo. Zahra is a tireless advocate here in California. She is with us in the streets when we are working with refugees in our communities, when we are sick with fatigue of knocking on politicians’ doors, when we are comforting the trauma of this work in our peoples. When there are no resources, and no help– she is there and she is fighting. Fighting for us all.

Zahra Billoo

With all the joy and excitement that these incredible women of color justice warriors along with so many incredible others, would take the helm of the beautiful organization Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland, powerful leaders who have profoundly changed the material conditions of so many of our communities, built, I almost for a moment felt like we were free.

And then it came, the avalanche of attacks on Samia and Zahra.

The purpose is to disempower them because power is afraid of them.

The attacks were distinct. They were disguisable from the comments about the other people taking on these positions on the new Board. To put it plainly, they were overtly covered in racism by racists. They relied on Islamophobic and Orientalist tropes that are some of the most disgusting ways to attack a person of Arab and/or Muslim identity. And they were textbooks cases of racism.

A Washington Post hit piece completely lied about a press release about the new board and accused the Women’s March of cutting ties with its former leaders because of anti-Semiticism. This literally is pure falsehood. As the leaders have said publicly, the board rotates its founders, as a measure of collective building, of accountability, and of growth, all things we should be applauding.

The Washington Examiner essentially doxxed Samia and Zahra and portrayed them as anti-Semitic, Israeli-hating, extremists – all dog whistles for White supremacy. The constructions of these women in the articles literally would have made Edward Said write a response. They were flagrant displays of anti-Middle Eastern racism and Islamophobia. Whenever a woman whose ancestry is from this region speaks, she is portrayed as barbaric, an extremist, scary, hateful. The purpose is to disempower them because power is afraid of them. These attacks cannot stand.

This isn’t new, this is the vile racism that any Arab, Middle Eastern or Muslim woman attempting to confront power is faced with. And it is oppression in action.

They are the attacks so many of us know and so many of us face every day, and they must not be met with silence. Because silence is a rubber stamp of approval, it is complicit agreement.

Let me make this clear, private support of our various communities’ justice heroes isn’t needed now. Brave, public, material support is

The media needs to be held accountable, and since I, like many young organizers see, that rarely happens. They need to be condemned until justice happens. Every author of an article who has made these kinds of attacks needs to be removed from their position. The Washington Post article author, Marissa Lang, should step down, for the blatant propaganda in her piece, which in all measures, is unethical journalism, or really could be described as not journalism at all.

Let me make this clear, private support of our various communities’ justice heroes isn’t needed now. Brave, public, material support is. Everyone in this country should know the names of these women, Samia Assed and Zahra Billo. Women who have been, under great personal sacrifice, organizing our communities and specifically Middle Eastern, Arab, Muslim communities every day when the spotlights aren’t on and the accolades aren’t there. They have taken bold and unpopular stances for justice again and again. They are lifelines in their communities and they are examples for us all as young women. They are the leaders I and we all should aspire to be.

I call on all young people to learn their names and show up for them in this time – and always. I call on Muslim, Middle Eastern and Arab community leaders to publicly condemn the attacks on them, and for once stand with the women who always stand with us. I call on young women to name the intersection of patriarchy and racism at play in these attacks (and for White women to use their privilege as shields and call for repair for these blatant racist smears.) The silence in the communities, the intersections of the identities I have, is abhorrent and inexcusable. The systems of power must be held accountable, and we must be the ones who do it.

From a Birmingham jail cell, Martin Luther King wrote something that has stuck with me my whole life: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

That silence is deadly. It kills our communities all around the world.

Sisters, we have your back. We will not be silent while our friends, the friends of the people, are attacked.

Update: As of last night, September 18, Zahra Billoo was kicked off the national board of Women’s March, Inc. by vote. In response, author Sophia Armen would like to add “The voting of the board to kick off Zahra Billoo is a grave injustice that harms not only our community organizing efforts, but the feminist movement as a whole. Zahra must be reinstated.”

Sophia Armen is a 27-year old Middle Eastern-American social justice organizer born and raised in Los Angeles.

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This Is How a D.C.-Based Filmmaker Challenged Islamophobia

on September 11, 2019 0

After an Islamophobic incident that shook her to the core, D.C.-based filmmaker Samah Safi Bayazid decided that barriers between Muslim and other communities had no choice but to be challenged and dismantled. Here’s her incredibly unique, humorous, and graceful take on the challenge:

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This Twitter Thread Proves How Important It Is to Commemorate Ashura

on September 10, 2019 0

The day of Ashura is marked by Muslims as a major religious commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, at Karbala in Iraq. Commemorated on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ashura is viewed as a a time of intense grief and mourning.

Below, a senior producer from AJ+ tweets about why it is so important for all sects of Islam to come together and commemorate the tragedy that unfolded at Karbala:

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Whirling Dervishes in the Mosh Pit: Islam and Punk Rock

on August 27, 2019 0

It is a fact that in a world with 9 billion people, there are many who do not agree.

Communities as a whole can be in conflict over their world views. However, I have noticed that in general (or at least in my circles), Muslims really like punks. And why is this true? Because we share many important values with punks, and if you ask most Muslims they will immediately agree that certain core values of the punk rock community are essential sunnahs of our beloved Prophet, peace and blessings upon him. Some of these shared values are listed here.

We Are Committed to Animal Rights

“Hooray, hooray/The bullfighter dies/Hooray, hooray/The bullfighter dies/And nobody cries/ Nobody cries/Because we all want the bull to survive” – Morrissey, “The Bullfighter Dies.”

Allah’s Apostle (SAW) said, “A woman was tortured and was put in (Hell) fire because of a cat which she had kept locked till it died of hunger.”

The concept that animals need to be treated with love and respect is a core teaching of our Prophet, SAW. He (SAW) was well-known for talking to animals, including a lizard and a gazelle. The Prophet SAW was a huge advocate of animal rights, and basically, you will never find a Muslim who doesn’t respect that about punks, even if we’re not fully there with the “meat is murder” dogma.

We Are Against Corporate Fascism

“No war/No KKK/No fascist USA” – MDC, “Born to Die.”

A man asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “What is the best jihad?” The Prophet said, “A word of truth in front of a tyrannical ruler.”

The idea that resistance to tyranny is obligatory and a duty for every human person is a central pillar of both punk rock and the teachings of the Prophet (SAW).

From Rage Against the Machine’s “Take the Power Back” to Public Enemy’s call to “Fight the Power,” it is a central value of the punk rock community, as well as the Muslim community, to fight against racism, classism, and the oppression of the many in the interest of the few. The famous chant, “No war/No KKK/No fascist USA” is actually a punk rock lyric, chanted by Green Day at an anti-Trump rally, and originated with the punk band MDC’s song, “Born to Die,” released in 1982.

The idea that resistance to tyranny is obligatory and a duty for every human person is a central pillar of both punk rock and the teachings of the Prophet (SAW).

We Share Straight-Edge, Drug-Free Values

“I’m a person just like you/But I’ve got better things to do/ Than sit around and smoke dope/’Cause I know that I can cope/Laugh at the thought at eating ludes/Laugh at the the thought of sniffing glue/Always gonna keep in touch/Never gonna use a crutch.” – Minor Threat, “Straight Edge.”

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Let there be no harm and no harming.”

The idea that people need to face life without dependency on anything but Allah is a core value of Muslims. The straight-edge dogma of freedom from being enslaved by drug addiction, or rejecting the cultural value of tuning out life and being numb and asleep is also a punk rock value. Also, Muslims are against hurting ourselves with drugs, just as straight-edge doctrine preaches.

We Have a Tendency to Be Conformist

“She just couldn’t stay, she had to break away/Well New York City really has it all, oh yeah, oh yeah/Sheena is a punk rocker, Sheena is a punk rocker/Sheena is a punk rocker now” –Ramones, “Sheena is a Punk Rocker.”

“Knowledge is the conformity of the object and the intellect” – Ibn Rushd, Decisive Treatise and Epistle Dedicatory.

Ok, so some of us try to pretend that we’re counter-cultural and really, we’re thinking for ourselves. Maybe to a point that is true, but the reality is that beyond that, our tendency towards cultural conformity is extreme. Punks have the punk rock bucket list: dogs, tattoos, a vegan diet, a record collection with bands no one can name but them, and bicycles. We do beards and hijabs, and we are serious about conformity to standards as well, with our collective obsession with fiqh and doing things the correct way.

There is potentially an additional reason for this because, sometimes, for example, when you see a niqabi sister on the street with her mahram, maybe, some people think “that’s extreme,” but at a halal food fest she fits right in and has status. Likewise, a punk rocker with a red, 5-inch mohawk looks extreme until you see her at a Green Day concert with 100,000 other people with studded belts and leather jackets. Our intense obsession with conformity gives us a sense of identity in the face of the cold world and our existential crisis as human beings.

Finally, a comment about one thing. In my experience, many punks unfortunately are brainwashed by the media into being very Islamophobic. It’s a sad truth that many punks don’t understand our views, or our diversity of views on gender and sexuality. The homonationalist punks exist, with their obsession that their definitions of gender and sexuality are the only viable way to understand and frame sexuality and gender.

It continues to upset me, especially because I have been really aggressively attacked by punks who don’t care to understand what we have in common. The idea among many people that everyone in hijab is a homophobe or a transphobe, and their complete lack of interest in having an open mind is really frustrating and oppressive. So to the punk rock community, we really have a lot in common. Can you please let go of your Islamophobia, and your homonationalist tendencies towards being colonizers?

To end with a punk rock thought, let’s all practice unity. It’s important for our collective goals and we have so much in common.

Images courtesy of PETA and Fatherly.com

You can also follow Sarah Huxtable Mohr on Twitter and Instagram!

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Preaching and the Art of Manipulation: Here’s Why You Should Care

on August 26, 2019 0

On my campus, I met two preachers. I was with a group of friends, but two of my friends had the good judgment to walk away. The preachers we had encountered previously had a tendency and reputation for talking without end. The two preachers then proceeded to corner the remaining friend and I—but individually. I recognized their tactic immediately—the old divide and conquer rule (Thanks, Robert Greene).

My friend got Bucky, I got Joe (not their real names, of course).

My rule-of-thumb is to allow them to speak as they please. I’ve been taught to appreciate knowledge of every kind and to listen as someone is attempting to share wisdom with me. Not only is it respectful, but considering my belonging to a misrepresented people, this was an opportunity to establish a positive connection with someone who may be misinformed.

Joe was very kind. He explained to me his personal relationship with Jesus and how he merely wishes for others to have this wonderful relationship with him as well. He spoke to me about his missions and how he felt in his heart he was doing the right thing. His swore that Jesus speaks to him and he wanted that for me as well. He explained his logic to me, that if Christianity was the correct religion, then all other religions must be wrong. And vice versa, if Islam was the correct religion. I informed him that Christianity and Islam have common beliefs, such as the return of Jesus to guide the people. He acknowledged this, and continued to go on about how Christianity was the only correct religion and shamed other religions for not being more like his own.

I share this story with an audience, not to bash these two men or their religion…Rather, I share this story as a warning.

It was only after he attempted to disprove and trash talk my religion that I decided to speak up and deliver my rebuttal. I proposed that a popular reason people rally behind organized religion is so that they have a guide on how to be a good person. People pick religions based on what resonates with them. Applying that logic, there is no “incorrect” truth. There is no incorrect truth because the truth is relative. There are unethical truths, but no wrong truths.

Joe handled my counter argument pretty well. He didn’t try to refute what I was saying. Instead, he changed the topic and asked about the hijab. When he was overseas with his wife, he noticed a niqabi staring him and his wife down. Because her eyes was the only visible part of her, he swore he read resentment and willfulness in her eyes. For this reason, he felt bad for her and assumed she was forced into wearing the veil.

But every Muslim knows what she was really thinking: “Why is this white man so loud and why is he staring at me? Look away. Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

Anyway, despite the content and exchange of our conversation, Joe seemed like a great person. I was beginning to feel bad about my initial deduction based only on first observations. Maybe my divide-and-conquer conclusion was nothing more than me reading the situation incorrectly. They weren’t being manipulative. Joe even asked if he could write my name down because he liked the sound of it. I caught a glance of his notes, I noticed he had written, “Momina, the beautiful Muslim girl.”

I proposed that a popular reason people rally behind organized religion is so that they have a guide on how to be a good person.

Throughout our conversation, he called me beautiful and told me it was a shame that I covered up with hijab. Normally, this would come off as creepy but because he was so kind and fatherly, I wrote it off as genuine and an honest misapprehend.

He went on to talk about his mission trips to Pakistan. At this point, half an hour had passed and my attention span was nearly depleted. I felt myself zone out and overheard my friend and Bucky’s conversation. My friend was wrapping up his point and Bucky exclaimed, “You’re an intelligent man!” That remark brought me back to reality. It hit me for a second time what was going on.

They were using flattery.

Flattery — the oldest, most overused rule in the history of manipulation and seduction. After years of using such tactics, you’d think humans would have grown immune to it. But no, the ego will remain the powerhouse, allowing flattery to be effective until the end of times.

Instantly the good feeling I had about Joe vanished. He was building up my ego to butter me up so that he could deliver his preachings. This way, I would associate all he said with a good feeling and the thoughts he planted would linger. If I were to recall any of what he said later, the good feeling would be expected to return. This creates a positive atmosphere when such thoughts occur.

As they walked away, I felt myself get angry. I don’t appreciate being taken for a fool. Hidden agendas belong to the likes of politicians, and therefore I cannot respect it when people of any religious orientations apply it when preaching. It’s deplorable and dishonest. If a religion is truly authentic, allow it to speak for itself. If you ask me, to manipulate translates to insecurity of one’s religion. I haven’t a clue if Bucky and Joe were aware of what they were doing. I suspect it’s the way they were trained, considering they both used the same method.

In a world of artificial advertisements, fake news, and two-faced leaders, now is the time to be aware.

I share this story with an audience, not to bash these two men or their religion. I, of all people understand that individuals are not necessarily representative of their claimed religion. Besides, I’m sure it happens in every religion, mine included. Rather, I share this story as a warning. If the religious are capable of manipulation, who isn’t?

I credit Robert Greene for equipping the public with the kind of knowledge that allows us to see through to someone’s intentions. His books, “The 48 Laws of Power” and “The Art of Seduction” should be added to your reading lists ASAP. Not all of us have to deal with politicians or dictators, but con artists and cheaters are alive and real. We don’t live in a utopia, and that’s a harsh truth to stomach.

In a world of artificial advertisements, fake news, and two-faced leaders, now is the time to be aware.

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10 Things Every Mother Wants Her Children to Know

on August 25, 2019 0

There was a time in life where all I had to worry about was myself. School, homework, teachers, friends, peer pressure, fashion, parents, etc. Everything that only related to ME. Then marriage happened.

With marriage came a new perspective in life, a new dimension. Knowing someone and living with someone are two very different things. You have a partner in crime, someone whose opinion matters sometimes more than your own; someone to cook with, and do the dishes with.

And then, sometimes even before you get used to the new, married dynamic of life, you get some special news through two lines on that stick. PREGNANT. BABY. And your entire world is spun into a whirlwind.

If marriage is a different perspective on life, then having a child IS a different life. A whole new world in which you basically come last. And you wouldn’t have it any other way. So this is a love letter to my two children, a list of things I want them to know throughout their lives:

1. Your Opinion Matters

I know that as a child, the tools on offer for decision making are quite limited. So many grownups who know what they are doing and trying to squash down your ideas. It gets frustrating. But just know….it doesn’t end there. You might have friends or acquaintances who think that only their opinions matter. And that isn’t true. Be a loud and clear voice. If you think your opinion is worth talking about, do it. But do the research, educate yourself, and in voicing your opinion, educate others as well.

2. Do Well And Do Good

Of course as your mother, I want you to get the highest grades that you can, and get into an amazing university. However, I want it to be so that whatever you achieve, you make the world a little better with your achievements and skills. If you work hard enough, you have the power to make your own dreams come true. But a step above that, would be to help others achieve their dreams.

3. Be Humble

Arrogance is a dangerous thing. It’s also very easy to get this way if life is constantly kind to us. But ground yourself in prayer. When your forehead touches the ground in salat, what can be more grounding than that? Thank Allah for every single thing in your life, and be humbled about how blessed you are. Allow that truth to wash over you and take every speck of arrogance away. It will leave you humble, and able to do more good in the world.

4. Material Things Do Not Matter

Trust me when I say, I know how difficult it is to want something you can’t afford. That designer purse everyone seems to have, the shiny car a friend just got, just anything! But this goes hand in hand with being humble and grounding yourself. Think of all the things you DO have. The very basic of things that everyone in this world should have. A roof over your head, food to eat, clothes, a bed. Also, trust me when I say that I have every intention of taking you both on trips to help the less fortunate. These experiences have a way of ridding your mind of the whole “I never have what they have” mentality.

5. Love Means Respect

Love and respect are both a two-way street. If you love someone who has no respect for you, better believe their love for you is out the window as well. And you deserve more, which sounds like a cliché but it is true. YOU deserve to have a partner who not only speaks their love, but shows it as well. Love and respect for your opinions, your experiences, your thoughts, and your body is non-negotiable. It is also equally important that you reciprocate your love and respect. I will run through halls of fire to protect you from anyone who might hurt you. But I will also do the exact thing to make sure you are not doing the hurting.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

Making mistakes is crucial to learning in life. As a mother, I wouldn’t want you to make any mistakes that could potentially harm you. But as a person, I know how important it is to fall down and be able to get back up. Just know that when you do get back up, you are stronger and little wiser. So when you are older and making those decisions on your own, sometimes those decisions might be a mistake. And you could get hurt. But I will be here always to comfort you and guide you.

7. Accept And Own Your Mistakes

I have seen many a people in complete denial about the mistakes they have made. Which basically means they didn’t learn from them or are ashamed of them. Not good. I myself have done things that I am not proud of, yet I learned from them. I hurt people along my way, but I owned up to my mistakes and apologized. And I will expect nothing less from you. You hurt anyone, even if it’s someone you are not particularly fond of, you apologize for that hurt you caused. Some people will say, “your apology means nothing.” And yes, sometimes words are empty. However, there can be so much heart in that small phrase, “I’m sorry.” A small phrase that morphs into a huge lesson and requires maturity. So be mature, own up, and accept your faults.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Dream And Dream Big

I had many of my big career ideas shot down with excuses that they were too big for me to achieve. Don’t let people do that to you. Though I will be your biggest cheerleader, other people may not be. Unfortunately, we live in world where sometimes, some individuals will want to see you fail. And while failure is a part of life, we cannot stay in that frame of mind. Let the negative comments and ideas roll off of you. Surround yourself with optimism and people who also have big dreams. Anything can be achieved when you work hard (like really, really hard) and have genuine love and support.

9. Own Your Emotions

For my oldest, my daughter. The world will tell you to stop being such a girl when you cry. To stop being dramatic and stop being emotional and crazy. Don’t listen to them. To my youngest, my son. The world will tell you to stop being a little girl when you cry, to man up and grow a pair. Don’t listen to them. To both of you: Own your anger and your sadness. Channel them the right way and see what magic comes of it. When you are happy, you add more light and color into the world. When you are angry, do what your father says and drink cold water, and remember Allah in that moment. He knows you even better than I do. Pray for calmness and peace to be replaced into your heart. And when you cry, release the pain your mind and body hold. It’s toxic to hold onto that. Let it go and be happy again.

10. I Will Love You No Matter What

Also, a cliché, but it comes from my heart and from every fiber of my being. No matter what you do in life, what you achieve, what mistakes you make, I will always love you. Even if I am not here in your world anymore, I will be present in your heart to love you and to guide you. Don’t forget that, my loves.

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What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Been Offered?

on August 24, 2019 0

They say that in times of great strife, when it literally feels like there is no way out, there’s no greater solution than the one gained by seeking advice from someone who is able to look at the situation at hand with fresh eyes, and a brand-new perspective. After all, you never know what type of refreshing insight an unexplored perspective might inspire!

And so, we asked some of our writers a burning question: what’s the best advice they have ever received, in any context? Take a read at what they had to say, because remember, when coming face to face with a tsunami of an issue that might seem insurmountable, you never know what gems a new perspective might surprise you with!

1. One Destination, Many Paths

“The university I went to had the motto ‘one destination, many paths’ and it’s proven to be really impactful in my life. We might have a plan for how we want our lives to be, but then get discouraged when things fall through. So this serves as a reminder that you can still get where you need to even if it’s via a different path.”

– Anum Ahmed

2. Don’t Let Your Tank Hit Empty

“Not sure what the best advice was, but what I use most is to always fill your gas tank when it’s half empty. It’s a metaphor for life. Granted, very upper middle class as far as gas-filling protocols.”

– Sarah Mohr

3. Go With the Flow

“I’d say for me, it has been to not worry about my future after school so much to the point where I obsess over it and try to plan out my entire life. Also, that whatever I do decide to do at university is entirely my choice! Whatever flows organically and naturally will happen, so just put faith in Allah that it will all work out!”

– Imaan Asim

4. Remain Centered

“My dad always said that as long as your remain centered in your sense of self, nothing that happens around you will ever affect you. And that has helped me out when I feel negative because of where I am at, or who I am around, tbh.”

– Noor Masr

5. The Company You Keep

“For me, I would have to say that when I was struggling with making company I was comfortable around/company that I felt was positive (I was slowly becoming a more jaded person as a result), my father advised me to take up volunteer work. I distinctly remember him telling me that in an activity where people have voluntarily given up their time to help others, I was sure to find endlessly positive people. Not only was he correct, but I also discovered how much I adored volunteer work! You heard it here first, folks: you can never truly go wrong by trying out something new!”

– Anonymous

6. Benefit of the Doubt

“Give people the benefit of the doubt where possible. We will almost never be able to experience the combination of circumstances that led them to the point that they’re at.”

– Arif Farooqui

7. Trust the Timing of Life

“It’s better to be happy and unmarried than unhappy in marriage. A lot of my cousins and friends have been getting married and settling down, and that hasn’t happened for me yet. Sometimes, there’s this feeling of ‘Why not me?’, or ‘Was I too picky?’ etc. So this is a reminder that I’m in a good place right now, and that piece will fall into place when it’s time. But rushing the process or getting married for the sake of being married can lead to unhappiness and conflict that I don’t need.”

– Anonymous

8. Your To-Do List

“Tackle the most difficult thing on your to-do list first. The rest of the day will get easier and easier from there.”

– Arif Farooqui

9. Save Some Love for Yourself Too

“So, I was never the type to do what made me happy. I mainly focused on what made others happy, even if that resulted in me being unhappy. And as I have grown up, I listen more than I speak at times. I realized that my happiness meant more to me than it ever did before. I realized that my life had meaning, that I held a purpose in life, whether it was for myself or for others, and I knew that I needed to give myself more respect and dignity. I allowed many toxic people into my life to please them and others. I am not here to please you, or anyone else. I am here to please myself, selfishly or not. I cannot be the best version of myself if I can’t love who I am first and foremost. And with that, people who are not good for you, will quickly remove themselves. You don’t need to do the cleaning up, especially when people are quick to get up and leave when sh** hits the fan. It’s the people who stick around, and dig you out of the mess, those people are worthy of your friendship. If you can hit rock bottom and people are still going to be there for you, those are the true people you want in your life. Not the ‘here when it’s convenient’ people. Those types just take up valuable space and we all deserve what is meant for us. Sometimes we just need to make room for it. Simply put, my life has meaning, regardless of what others may think. I owe no one my happiness. That rightfully belongs to each individual. It’s your choice if you wish to share that part of you with others. But you are entitled to keep it for yourself. Selfish or not, you can’t be your best self if you aren’t happy with yourself first and the world’s expectations of you are irrelevant. You do, first and foremost, what you would expect out of yourself. Be your genuine, original self, even if it results in people leaving your life. You were better off without them if they couldn’t accept you as yourself.”

– Amina Radwan

10. One Step at a Time

“‘One step at a time.’ This was not so much advice itself but the lead by example way in which my parents taught me this. I think our generation is in such a rush to achieve success (which we have no real concept of in my opinion) and we are under such immense pressure to do so quickly (thanks to social media). Because of this, we are missing out on the key learning experiences that will inevitably lead to said success. I wouldn’t normally be able to grasp this concept, if not for my parents actually applying this in their own lives and showing me that it works.”

– Adil Moazzam

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Let’s Talk About Privilege

on August 18, 2019 0

Let’s not sugar coat things. Privilege is out there, and it sucks.

It sucks if you don’t have it, because you are systematically denied the advantages and opportunities that people with privilege have. And as a result, you have problems that people with that privilege would never have, and most frustratingly, often don’t even have the experience to understand.

Of course, if you are a decent human being with actual feelings, privilege sucks for you too, because it makes you feel guilty. You know what I say to that? I say, seriously?! Boo-hoo! How sad and hard it must be to tackle that burden of guilt! I don’t mean to be mean or anything, but the truth is that the worst thing that faces those with privilege is the washed out emotion of “feeling guilty.”

That’s not to say that privilege is a cut-and-dry concept. It definitely isn’t. The planes of privilege are vast and complex, but the first step to unravelling it all, is to understand it. So consider this a surface-level crash course in the nuances of privilege.

I like to remind myself that I have an unspoken duty to prioritize helping those who don’t have the privileges I have.

For example, I have some privileges that make things easy for me — such as physical safety or access to an education — but I am also acutely aware that in other areas, I am woefully underprivileged. Whenever I find myself sad or frustrated, I remind myself, “I’m feeling down while people are living at the rock bottom,” and that I don’t have the right to victimize myself, because I am still utterly privileged. On the flip-side, even when I’m feeling completely on top of the world, I like to remind myself that I have an unspoken duty to prioritize helping those who don’t have the privileges I have. I remind myself that there is a need for me to help and raise awareness for the lives of the people without the privileges that I enjoy on a daily basis.

Every privilege has a different level of impact and importance in changing lives.

There are so many different types of privileges: Economic privilege, White/light skin privilege, the privilege that comes with your country of origin or your passport, functional family privilege, and so on. To give an often overlooked example, if you have the means to earn a living or board a plane, that was made possible by a form of privilege. The point is, though, every privilege has a different level of impact and importance in changing lives. For example the privilege of growing up and learning two languages is cool, and can help you in high school, but that is achievable for a lot of other people as well. On the other hand, if you aren’t born in what is considered a “developed” country, or if you’re dark-skinned, you most likely have to endure A LOT more obstacles than anyone else, whether it’s at the hands of the police, or a bigoted president who wants to ensure that the dominant population of the country he oversees remains White.

Most of us have at least one or two privileges, and a small number have all the privileges. Fun fact: those same people with all the privileges run the world, and make everything, from laws to taxes, go in their benefit. Maybe it’s time to give a damn about everyone else?

Why? How do I know this? Look around you. Look at the world we live in. Why do we have climate change? Why are people forced to leave their homes? Why do we have actual, honest-to-God concentration camps? Why are women still protesting for their rights? Why are so many people suffering from mental illness? Why do we still have wars going on?

All this aside, we can all make a difference. Every small act matters, whether that means speaking up when we witness injustice, or through our buying power, or even through our votes. Because, yeah, those in power don’t really seem to be helping those who need it the most. But then again, who’s giving them their power?

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What Do Islam and Hip Hop Have in Common?

on August 16, 2019 0

Did you know that the story of hip hop began in the South Bronx during the 1970’s? It came into being as a form of revolution to combat the inequalities many African American and Latinx communities faced because of inequalities regarding unemployment, the loss of quality housing and public services and the flight of private investment.

As many Muslim families, mainly from Arab and South Asian backgrounds, began to settle into these urban communities of Black and Latinx life, the immigrant children engaged in a relationship with hip hop as a way to relate to their surroundings, and became profoundly impacted by hip hop. First, second, and third generation kids as well as the culture of hip-hop, were both hungry and deprived of success. They both are constantly met with criticism and restraint to be heard.

“While it was brought to life by the African American community in the United States, hip hop’s ruptures into different cultures around the world were not driven by any of the homogenizing forces of Western culture that usually seek to take over local and indigenous heritages. Instead, hip hop continues to locate its narrative space in the margins of each society.”

Although these two phenomena may seem contradicting, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Usama Kahf, author of “Arabic Hip Hop: Claims of Authenticity and Identity of a New Genre” states, “Hip Hop is a unique form of expression that has crossed social, cultural, and national boundaries in the last couple of decades, from Europe and South America to Africa and the Middle East.“

He continues on to make another valid point, claiming that in the liberating form, hip hop has taken the world amass: “While it was brought to life by the African American community in the United States, hip hop’s ruptures into different cultures around the world were not driven by any of the homogenizing forces of Western culture that usually seek to take over local and indigenous heritages. Instead, hip hop continues to locate its narrative space in the margins of each society.”

Simply put, hip hop is as free of an expression as can be. It exists and leads not through power relations or the need to dominate or otherize, but through love and commonality in our varied experiences.

Today, hip hop continues to be inspired and influenced by Islam and its teachings, with its subtle references to Islam, teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), or references to influential Muslim leaders such as Malcolm X, Minister Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam), and Muhammad Ali. Some may be surprised to learn that a large number of rappers they follow avidly are Muslim, but that doesn’t stop Muslim rappers such as Ice Cube, Brother Ali, Lupe Fiasco, and others extend Islamic teachings and lyricisms into their own raps, keeping the link between Islam and hip hop going.

Given the times that we live in, and the undeniably growing isolation some may feel within the United States, American Muslim kids are looking to hip hop as a way to let out steam at the socioeconomic inequality they often experience. They use hip hop as a diplomatic tool to combat the growing divide amongst those who identify with Islam and the so-called western world.

At the end of it all, surprising though it may be, elements of hip hop are rooted within the same spiritual and social justice narratives so deeply embedded within Islam. Both are about uniting people and standing firm for the truth and justice.

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A Love Letter to My Perfectly Imperfect Body

on August 15, 2019 0

You know, writing about my struggles for the rest of the world to read is not easy. Sometimes you feel vulnerable. Other times, you feel a knot in your stomach because you’re afraid of what others may think of you. Although I have gotten past the concerns of the dreaded “what others may think of you” phase, I do still sit and criticize what I think of myself.

I will be the first to admit that I am hard on myself. I have high expectations of myself, yet I have a hard time fulfilling them. Although I am all about self-love and body positivity, I still struggle to listen to my own advice. Sadly, I would rather help others than help myself sometimes. And with that, I start to put myself down while uplifting others. Lately, I have been feeling down, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am a human being with feelings. Sometimes, we let certain things get the best of us, and it’s up to us to overcome those challenges at our own pace.

Since I was in the 6th grade, I have struggled with my weight and my appearance. While other girls were developing, I was a late bloomer. And with that, I got made fun of…a lot.

Society, Will You Ever Give Up?

“Amina, you still didn’t get your boobs in?”

“Amina, you still didn’t get a period?”

“Amina, you still didn’t grow?”

Not that the status of my development should have concerned anyone other than myself, but apparently, it did. Due to those individuals who always left me feeling behind, I began to judge myself and criticize everything I did when it came to my appearance. From the 6th grade, until my senior year of high school, I struggled to accept my weight. My weight would fluctuate. What I was not realizing was that the weight I carried in middle school to high school was “normal”.

When I was about 17 or 18-years-old, I lost a significant amount of weight. It was not done in a healthy way either, but I lost about 25 to 30 pounds in just one month, weighing in at my lowest of 128 pounds. And even after losing so much weight, I still viewed myself as being heavy.

It is hard to accept yourself for all that you are when you have struggled to accept yourself at your “best” as defined by society.

Shortly after getting married, days after my 19th birthday, I began to gain the weight back. I believe that a change in my life contributed to my weight gain. Being married and moving out of my parent’s house, to going to college full time at night, and working during the day played a massive role. After all those changes, a girl who once weighed 128 lbs, weighed in at 220 lbs.

It is hard to accept yourself for all that you are when you have struggled to accept yourself at your “best” as defined by society. Even at the 128 pound phase, I still saw a larger figure reflected in the mirror. You know, people who see me now can never figure out my weight. Although I am proportioned and my weight is “evenly distributed,” I cover the parts I am most insecure about.

People do not realize that I hear comments all the time. Some comments start off nice, and end with ignorance. A few examples of what people have said to me:

“Are you pregnant, or did you just get fat?”

“Oh, I remember you when you were skinny and tanner.”

“Yeah, you gained some serious weight, I remember you being a lot thinner.”

“You have such a pretty face, but your body doesn’t match it.”

“You have such a pretty face, you really should lose some weight.”

“You need to lose some weight. You don’t want your husband looking elsewhere because of your appearance.”

“Did you start a diet yet?”

“Do you know who needs to work out? Amina does… not you.”

“I remember when you were skinny… you looked good! What the hell happened?”

… and the list goes on.

Self-Love Isn’t Easy

Some people will never experience the feeling of looking at yourself in the mirror and truly disliking what you see. I always have to keep in my mind that I have a husband who loves me for me…not for my appearance, and that I should not put myself down for the opinions of other people.

I will be the first to say it is so hard to love yourself in a world filled with photoshop and constant editing. Will I ever look like those Instagram models? Will I ever be comfortable enough to show off my arms, legs, and other parts of my body? I doubt it, but my main goal is to be able to look at myself in the mirror and be proud to rock whatever body GOD has given me. To be able to confidently wear what I want, and feel beautiful in it.

This also goes for any factor that society has deemed beyond the realm of normal. Take acne as another example. We are so accustomed now to putting a filter over our photos, that people are unable to accept flaws because everyone is trying so hard to alter how they look! I will not deny that I use filters, but at the same time, I wish I didn’t feel the need to. I have flaws…some more than others. I have acne…which a lot of people have. And God knows we all possess pores! No one’s skin is perfect. IT’S OKAY, PEOPLE!

I aim to be the face and voice for women who have a hard time loving and accepting themselves because of the harsh words society uses when describing the plus size in them, and “flaws” in them.

I will also be the first to admit to and embrace my STRETCH MARKS! Stretch marks do not discriminate in size. Thin people can get them, too! So stop bashing people and pointing out their stretch marks like it’s something new! And for the people who are “embarrassed” to be around individuals who have extra weight on them…shame on you! A person’s appearance should not change the way you interact with them. That person could be the best thing to ever happen to you but because of your ignorance and judging ways, you would lose the opportunity to have someone amazing in your life that may contribute a lot of good in it.

I’d like to end off by saying that although I struggle with accepting how I look sometimes, I will always accept that I am a work in progress. I aim to be the face and voice for women who have a hard time loving and accepting themselves because of the harsh words society uses when describing the plus size in them, and “flaws” in them. It isn’t anyone’s business how someone looks, feels, or expresses themselves. It is your choice to express who you are, unapologetically.

We, as a society, have a lot of work to do! A lot of self-doubts, eating disorders, depression, and many other negative situations could be avoided if society stopped insisting on labeling women a certain way in order to deem them “acceptable” and “attractive.”

WE ARE FREAKING ATTRACTIVE! WE ARE BEAUTIFUL! WE ARE WORTHY OF BEING LOVED! WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF LOVING OURSELVES, IF WE STOP GIVING A CRAP ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SAY AND JUST DO IT!