By Eaman Zayed
The scene was frightening, because my mom was pregnant with my sister. Had it not been for the security cameras and the other customers in the shop, my dad would've been arrested. My mom had pushed me in to the corner, fearing for my life. All I could do was just stand there in shock with tears streaming down my face. For the longest time whenever I saw man that was shaved head and had tattoos, I would should start to shake violently. I had the fear that he was going to reach out and hurt me and my mom. My dad had to keep my mom away from the shop for a long time, he always had the fear that the gentleman would be back to cause more problems. I am not stating that everyone would be as bigoted as this guy, but if I was a young girl of four years and I can remember such a scene: then he did his job of instilling fear in me.
There were so many scenes that I can recall, it's frightening. Yet I chose not to let that define who I would become. I decided that no one would tell me what to wear. Even though hijabi's weren't as common in the 80's and 90's, there were the people that would be intrigued with it and those who were 100% against it. I remember a lot of the situations my mom, aunts, and sisters dealt with.
The worse was when 9/11 took place. Just watching the whole tragedy unfold on t.v. broke my heart. Many people at the time blamed any and every Muslim for the attack. Our lives took a 180 degree turn, as many decided to make Muslims suffer for something they had nothing to do with. No one wanted to hear that we condemn these types of actions. We, as Muslims were to suffer at the hands of those who believed we partook in such a atrocious circumstance. What did I have to do with this act that happened in another state? Why should anyone be held liable for the actions of another? Why should over one billion believers be subjected to ill treatment? The hatred for hijabis was so terrifying.
One scene that I will never forget was when I was walking with my very pregnant sister in the mall and a "gentleman" walked by us. This "gentleman" turned around and called us "rag head Jihadists: terrorists." He then proceeded to walk up to my sister and stick his finger in her face screaming other profanities. That was when I lost my cool, and wedged myself between them and stood eye to eye with him and instructed him to step back. I was called a "Muslim hugger," and was threatened to be beaten. Now lemme tell you something: you never stand in anyone's face and threaten them, let alone a pregnant woman. Immediately, my defenses went up and I refused to back down. Had security made it there in time, there would've definitely been a brawl. My sister just stood there dumbfounded, that guy probably would've hit her. You see, the difference between me and my sisters is that I will not allow anyone to disrespect me, my family, or my friends.
Regretfully, there are more situations than I would like to remember, in which I was put in such circumstances.
Don't get me wrong, not everyone was ignorant to the situations that took place. However, these people need to educate themselves on why someone would be pushed to such extremes.
to be continued...
The scene was frightening, because my mom was pregnant with my sister. Had it not been for the security cameras and the other customers in the shop, my dad would've been arrested. My mom had pushed me in to the corner, fearing for my life. All I could do was just stand there in shock with tears streaming down my face. For the longest time whenever I saw man that was shaved head and had tattoos, I would should start to shake violently. I had the fear that he was going to reach out and hurt me and my mom. My dad had to keep my mom away from the shop for a long time, he always had the fear that the gentleman would be back to cause more problems. I am not stating that everyone would be as bigoted as this guy, but if I was a young girl of four years and I can remember such a scene: then he did his job of instilling fear in me.
There were so many scenes that I can recall, it's frightening. Yet I chose not to let that define who I would become. I decided that no one would tell me what to wear. Even though hijabi's weren't as common in the 80's and 90's, there were the people that would be intrigued with it and those who were 100% against it. I remember a lot of the situations my mom, aunts, and sisters dealt with.
The worse was when 9/11 took place. Just watching the whole tragedy unfold on t.v. broke my heart. Many people at the time blamed any and every Muslim for the attack. Our lives took a 180 degree turn, as many decided to make Muslims suffer for something they had nothing to do with. No one wanted to hear that we condemn these types of actions. We, as Muslims were to suffer at the hands of those who believed we partook in such a atrocious circumstance. What did I have to do with this act that happened in another state? Why should anyone be held liable for the actions of another? Why should over one billion believers be subjected to ill treatment? The hatred for hijabis was so terrifying.
One scene that I will never forget was when I was walking with my very pregnant sister in the mall and a "gentleman" walked by us. This "gentleman" turned around and called us "rag head Jihadists: terrorists." He then proceeded to walk up to my sister and stick his finger in her face screaming other profanities. That was when I lost my cool, and wedged myself between them and stood eye to eye with him and instructed him to step back. I was called a "Muslim hugger," and was threatened to be beaten. Now lemme tell you something: you never stand in anyone's face and threaten them, let alone a pregnant woman. Immediately, my defenses went up and I refused to back down. Had security made it there in time, there would've definitely been a brawl. My sister just stood there dumbfounded, that guy probably would've hit her. You see, the difference between me and my sisters is that I will not allow anyone to disrespect me, my family, or my friends.
Regretfully, there are more situations than I would like to remember, in which I was put in such circumstances.
Don't get me wrong, not everyone was ignorant to the situations that took place. However, these people need to educate themselves on why someone would be pushed to such extremes.
to be continued...