Ramadan Dia Seis: Salaam safe zone
Aug. 6th, 2011 07:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akilanajmahNakia, crafty lady, smart and all around spiffy woman that she is, commented something to the effect of "Hey, sisters who don't cover? Go ahead and say hi to me! I'm a salaam safe zone."
It led to a lot of discussion about how women who don't cover (me) get flack for being friendly to people who do cover (me).
I commented that I always smile and say salaam when I notice a hijabi woman walking about. Usually, people look at me like I'm insane.
In law school there was a woman who covered her hair and she always smiled at me but I never talked to her. Most of my friends in law school (and this is weird right?) were Persian and did not cover. Finally, my friend Bita said hi to this woman as she walked by and commented to me "She's Muslim you know."
Looking back on this I'm sure I should've given Bita the sideeye and said YOU DONT SAY?!??!
But I think it was the first time that Bita had actually spoken to her.
And that is sort of sad.
I went to a party hosted by a bunch of immigrant rights/newcomer groups and I was covered. I talked to lots of people and there was one older Muslimah, a white woman in her 50s maybe, wearing a kurti and a very shimmery hijab and she never EVER made eye contact with me. She saw me, I caught her staring out of the corner of my eye, but I don't think she wanted to interact with me at all. And I could guess a million reasons why, but it really isn't important.
Hijabi or not, we need to up our game.
I can walk down the street and if there is a single Muslim man in a 10 block radius, he will find me and beam asalaam alaikum sister!! The yay!s nearly pouring out of his skin.
So from here on out, covered or not, I too am a salaam safe zone. I will speak to every sister I see to wish her peace and hope she has a great day.
I'm wearing this right now.
I was wearing this, but it was too slippery.
I'm wearing jeans, sandals, a long "sweater duster" and a black tanktop which I have pinned to the scarf and my shirt.
Going to get some GRUB!!
It led to a lot of discussion about how women who don't cover (me) get flack for being friendly to people who do cover (me).
I commented that I always smile and say salaam when I notice a hijabi woman walking about. Usually, people look at me like I'm insane.
In law school there was a woman who covered her hair and she always smiled at me but I never talked to her. Most of my friends in law school (and this is weird right?) were Persian and did not cover. Finally, my friend Bita said hi to this woman as she walked by and commented to me "She's Muslim you know."
Looking back on this I'm sure I should've given Bita the sideeye and said YOU DONT SAY?!??!
But I think it was the first time that Bita had actually spoken to her.
And that is sort of sad.
I went to a party hosted by a bunch of immigrant rights/newcomer groups and I was covered. I talked to lots of people and there was one older Muslimah, a white woman in her 50s maybe, wearing a kurti and a very shimmery hijab and she never EVER made eye contact with me. She saw me, I caught her staring out of the corner of my eye, but I don't think she wanted to interact with me at all. And I could guess a million reasons why, but it really isn't important.
Hijabi or not, we need to up our game.
I can walk down the street and if there is a single Muslim man in a 10 block radius, he will find me and beam asalaam alaikum sister!! The yay!s nearly pouring out of his skin.
So from here on out, covered or not, I too am a salaam safe zone. I will speak to every sister I see to wish her peace and hope she has a great day.
I'm wearing this right now.
I was wearing this, but it was too slippery.
I'm wearing jeans, sandals, a long "sweater duster" and a black tanktop which I have pinned to the scarf and my shirt.
Going to get some GRUB!!
