All of my blog posts have been the negative side of being young and arab in america. I have neglected the positive side, which is a very large part of being arab in america. In the book when things are getting bad, often times a group of arabs just go to mask or somewhere else that they can feel like they belong. It is a great outlet where you can just be yourself and not worry about anyone else. I have done this since I was a child because I attended school until 1st grade at a mask. I was always surrounded by other arabs and it gave me a lot of comfort and a sense of belonging. It shaped me into who I am today.
I was never exposed to the adversity that arabs had to go through in the real world because I was sheltered in my house and at my school. My whole family is arab and my whole school was too. I think that is a large reason as to why I am not racist, because I just viewed everyone as people and not as a certain race or religion. My parents also rasied me to view others as equals and not to factor in anything that they could not control such as their looks or the color of their skin.
In 2nd grade after 9/11 that is when I first experienced racism because some kid asked me what I was and I told him and he told me he did not want to be friends with me anymore. I went home and cried and my mom explained to me that things like that are going to happen all of the time in my life and the only thing I can control is the way I react. After that I went back to my mask and just talked to the people there and it really helped calm me down. The mask is a place of peace and a place to just enjoy your life and relax and appreciate the little things. It really has gotten me through a lot in my life and that is one of the biggest advantages to being an arab american.
Islam has taught me to always be positive and persist in the things that I want and enjoy. Being an arab american is one of my biggest joys because of the support group that I have and the honor that comes with it.
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