probably wondering who I am and where
I’m from and what I’m going to say but
what you’re probably wondering is what
on earth am I wearing on my head what I
am wearing on my head is called the
hijab it comes from the Arabic word to
cover and to protect many Muslim women
like myself who choose to wear it wear
it for one reason above all God Himself
people often have different perspectives
on the hijab they think it’s a and cruel
but I really don’t get what’s so
oppressive and cruel about covering my
head I mean it’s a bit different from
the Victoria’s Secret runway but it’s
2017 and every woman has the choice to
wear what she wants to wear now I know
although in this room and at home for
those of you watching you may not be
Muslim you may not even wear the hijab
but I can assure you we have stuff in
common raise your hand if you like to
eat food raise your hand if you hate
waking up early on a Monday morning and
finally raise your hand if you think
babies are cute see I told you we have
stuff in common and I probably don’t
even know your name now with wearing the
hijab it doesn’t mean that I’m not able
to accomplish what any other woman has
done I will give you three examples of
what Muslim American women have been
able to accomplish number one if the Haj
Mohammed Team USA fencing number two in
hand Omer the first Somalian Muslim
American female elected to Minnesota
State Legislature and number three Linda
Sarsour women’s rights activist and
co-founder of the women’s march on
Washington now tell you about my
background my parents are Pakistani
Muslim immigrants who sacrifice very
much to provide my family and I a better
life they are the epitome
the American dream my father worked very
very hard to become a doctor not only
was he studying this difficult field but
he was adjusting to a new country a new
lifestyle and a new growing family later
after marrying my mom and moving to
America he finally settled in Delaware I
remember my mom telling me a story about
when she first came to America as her
flight landed into JFK International
Airport overlooking the bright green
lady know the Statue of Liberty Whitney
Houston song I will always love you was
the top hit Cindy Crawford and Brooke
Shields
ruled the runways and New York City was
the melting pot of different cultures
from all around the world having
attended many different private schools
I want to share my experiences that I
learned from you I even learned
something shocking that I experienced
Islamophobia even before wearing the
hijab my visible symbol and being a
Muslim shocking right on the first day
of fifth grade I was called a terrorist
I’ll tell you what I was wearing a navy
blue polo applied kill leggings and a
plaid headband for my long hair that I
wore down as I entered my classroom I
took my seat like any other ten-year-old
I was nervous and excited for my first
day I introduced myself to the front of
the classroom I proceeded with hi my
name is Arriba I live in Newark Delaware
I like to play tennis and my family is
from Pakistan and we are Muslim that
very moment a blond-haired blue-eyed
girl stands up at her desk pointing her
finger at me screaming terrorist
terrorist terrorist I can tell you that
at the age of 10 years old I didn’t even
know what the word terrorist met I
didn’t even know what 9/11 was and I did
even know the name of this girl who had
called me this horrific word
luckily my teacher stepped in and
resolved the situation over the course
of the year I befriended this girl I
treated her with kindness and empathy
the Golden Rule treat others the way you
want to be treated pushing aside our
differences he bonded over our
similarities we both enjoyed listening
to Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift and
were obsessed with acnes chocolate chip
cookies we ended up becoming us friends
and invited her to my home for a
playdate this is the power of kindness
this is the power of dialog this is the
power of a ten-year-old changing the
mind of a bigot into a friend this
situation that no ten-year-old should
ever have to experience taught me some
lessons about to share although bigotry
exists within our society we need to
remember that as Africans we were a
nation built by immigrants seeking to
escape religious persecution not the
only way for America to move forward is
when we unite our diversity as our
strengths before I leave you from our
time spent together I want you to
remember some things be proud of who you
are we all wear our job in one way or
another whether you’re black or Catholic
or Jewish or Spanish or female you are
special
on your identity and be proud of who you
are your hood job is beautiful your head
job is beautiful your head job is
beautiful I’m going to use these lessons
to be a part of America’s future will
you thank you [Applause]