I’m a Midwestern-born American who’s white and was raised Christian. Sixteen years in the past I transformed to Islam. For a lot of of these years, I’ve worn a scarf. It’s not all the time simple. I’ve had impolite feedback made to me, been stared at, and had folks shout terrible issues as they drove by.
There have been occasions when I’ve feared for my bodily security. There are such a lot of random acts of bodily violence in opposition to hijab-wearing girls on the planet taking place each day. However I’ve been protected by Allah and have by no means been bodily assaulted, alhamdulillah (Thank Allah).
To keep away from such occurrences, I ensure to observe good self-defense tips corresponding to all the time being conscious of my environment, trying folks within the eye with a smile, and fascinating with folks round me. I ensure I do all I can in order that they see me as an individual and never only a image they don’t perceive and concern.
However even by means of all of this, I particularly attempt to remember the fact that any of my hijab-wearing (in addition to not hijab-wearing) sisters of shade have it a lot worse than I do.
My hijab doesn’t erase my white privilege.
Privilege isn’t one thing you may “unchoose.”
I’ve heard so many white convert (or “revert” as some Muslims say) Muslim girls complain about how troublesome carrying hijab is (and it’s.) How poorly they’re handled. That they’re stared at, mocked, and yelled at. They’ll inform all of the sisters at Jummah prayers how they skilled some type of hate as a consequence of their hijab.
I do know all of these issues are horrifying, in addition to a brand new expertise for them. I’m certain they’ve by no means had something prefer it occur earlier than. The necessity to talk about with others one thing new and unknown is pure and may be comforting to the one that skilled it. However have we considered our viewers and the way they really feel?
A part of white privilege is the power to turn into invisible.
I can’t blame any sister for selecting to cease carrying a scarf out of concern. However we, as white girls, should be delicate to the truth that after we take off our scarves, we appear to be everybody else and will not be a goal anymore. When sisters of shade take away their scarves, they’re nonetheless girls of shade and nonetheless must take care of the every day realities of racism.
As white girls, any hazard we could be in may be averted by merely eradicating our scarf. Even Muslim clothes corresponding to an abaya can appear to be a maxi costume on a white girl with out a headband. The targets on us disappear fully after we take off our hijab. Even masking our hair in a fashion that does not look particularly spiritual makes us invisible to the haters.
Racism makes you a goal for belongings you did not select.
Sisters of shade must take care of the repercussions of prejudice and hate each day. Each time I see a sister carrying hijab, I really feel such a swelling of delight for her. For her power and bravado. Regardless of her pores and skin shade or nationality. However once I hear a white sister mindlessly complaining in regards to the difficulties of hijab, I cringe and really feel ashamed of my race.
White sisters definitely have a proper to really feel what they really feel. Additionally they have a proper to take away their scarves if that makes them really feel safer. Even the Qur’an helps doing so if there’s hazard. I simply consider we ought to be much less vocal about it and keep in mind our sisters of shade. Not everybody was born with the privilege we have been.
You don’t complain of stubbing your toe to an individual with out a foot.
We, sadly, can’t erase our privilege (although we ought to be working towards that), however we shouldn’t wave it round thoughtlessly both. There shouldn’t be any racism in Islam. Allah made us all equal. Allow us to work in the direction of making {that a} actuality for everybody.
One of many largest steps in the direction of equality that we will take is to acknowledge and be delicate to these conditions the place others don’t have it nearly as good as we do. Then we will start to appropriate the issue.
And amongst His wonders is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variety of your tongues and colours. For on this, behold, there are messages certainly for all who’re possessed of innate information! Quran 30:22
HF Sylaj is an American author who moved to her husband’s homeland in rural Europe the place she retains a flock of chickens and tries to be taught the native language. She writes frequently on Medium.com in addition to the Fb web page “This Albanian Life.”
This text was initially printed at Medium. Reprinted with permission from the creator.
