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Tags: hijab and identity
I try to avoid identifying myself as an American, because strictly speaking only Native Americans (what we called Indians when I was a kid) have that right. I say I am from the States, because there are 3 Americas, and it’s insulting to the others to assume that the only one that really counts is a mere portion of North America.
So I identify as a Heinz 57 Varieties: generic British Isles, German, Polish, and a smattering of Danish, Portuguese and even African thrown in.
Here in Poland, people can usually hear I have a faint accent, so they ask where I’m from. That hasn’t really changed in frequency since I began covering. There’s also the fun problem that having been here 18 years, I also have a faint accent when I speak English. It’ll be interesting to find out how people react when I go back to the States this year for the first time as a covered woman.
Salaam ‘Alaykum,
I totally agree with you, Sis. Caraboska. You always have a very “progressive” and mature perspective on issues. I apologize for asking this on a public forum, but did you tell me in a previous post that you are a non-Muslim but you do adhere to the principles of hijab? Sorry, for stealing your platform Sis. Mariam
Salams all
Caraboska that’s a nice perspective you have, I’ve never really analyzed my nationality to such a degree. Personally I feel torn over identity all the time. But will elaborate on that later.
Mimie.. feel free to steal the platform lol any type of discussion is welcome. I’m sure lots of people are wondering the same thing
I am a proud Muslim woman who happens to be an American convert. Next time we go back to Jordan I will get my Jordanian passport though inshaAllah.
Mimie, Yes, I am a Christian hijabi. I don’t wear jilbab outdoors yet, but that is only a matter of time. Let’s say that while I may be covered, I do like to dress pretty fancy sometimes. But it’s not always appropriate for everyone to see that, so I only wear such things if the people I’m visiting are ‘appropriate’ in that regard. And obviously I can never know whom I will come across on the street.
And so I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea to wear jilbab for that reason, even if I don’t believe it is ‘always required’ according to the principles of my faith. For the moment, however, I cover everything except hands and face. Interestingly, I normally do that at home too, because for a Christian woman, headcovering in particular is more connected with prayer (read: ‘pray without ceasing’) than with modesty.
Mariam S., I have my mother’s family to thank for all that detailed info about my ancestry – a number of them are into genealogy. And then when I went to apply for permanent residence in Poland, I had to answer a question about my ‘nationality’ – as a separate question from my citizenship. After thinking about it for a bit, I put down Polish-Scottish. Because my mom’s dad was of Polish ancestry, and my father’s dad’s ancestors in the paternal line apparently came from Lowland Scotland. I think I may even have explained in detail on the form why I do not describe myself as American.
The nice thing about the States is that no one is going to ask you to stop being [whatever - in your case Pakistani I gather] or say that it prevents you from being a ‘real’ member of US culture. If anything, they will think that you are enriching that culture by your presence. At least that’s been my impression from the years I lived in the States (27 of them) before I moved here. So apparently, you don’t have to choose and you can be both American and Pakistani and whatever else you may be on top of that
Kelly, I gather you are either of Jordanian ancestry or married to a Jordanian? If you don’t mind my asking…
PS Take a look here http://www.hijabshigh.com/ – scroll down a little, you will see it.
Caraboska, my dh is Palestinian, but grew up in Malaysia and Jordan. His family is currently in Jordan. He used to hold Malay and Jordanian passports, but now hold American.
More than you ever wanted to know I’m sure lol.
Very interesting indeed! He’s even more of a globetrotter than I am!
i am bi-racial and before converting i would get asked what my nationality was… i am adopted and all i was ever told was my mother was white and my father was black but come to find out in the time period of my birth all that was around in new bedford were Portugese and Cape Verdians, so inshaa Allah if i pursue my birth parents i will find out but i am just a ‘light skinned’ girl with green eyes..
Anyway since i started covering i would get the question where am i from..that would shock me because i just look like a black girl and have no accent except a little boston accent that comes through sometimes, so the first time i was taken back but i realised immediately that is was because of my scarf… my last incident was at my school.. a palestinian guy politely asked me if he could ask me a question i knew what is was and i explained i was born and raised here. he asked about my family, nope they are irish caucasian catholics… then he asked me where my husband was from…lol i cant be wearing hijab and not be married to at least someone of foreign decent right…lol, so i explained that my husband is just your basic black man from dallas texas and it seemed like he was dissapointed, lol. but he explained to me what he was and how he didnt practice but that his mother is palestinian and was just wondering.. i am the only hijabi in the college so i thought he may have thought i had to be foreign.
as far as nationality goes i consider that to be what is in your blood. i liked to say that i am ‘mixed’ and that i am ‘from here’.
so i was born here but feel foreign and not because of my scarf, lol. it shocks me still when people ask me and some people dont even know i am muslim and ask me what does it mean but its a good way to start a dialogue
carbooska is soooo right! i started reading ‘the peoples history of the united states from 1492 until present’ by Howard Zinn and i honestly think my kids wont be going to school on columbus day anymore!!!
I identify as a Jamerican (Jamaican and American). Most of the time people think I’m from “somewhere else.” Somewhere else could mean Northern Sudan, India, Dubai etc. I’m like sera in that I feel foreign but it IS because of my scarf. Before I wore hijab nobody asked me where I was from except for the people who would come up to me speaking Amharic.
Carib Muslimah, Oh man! Seriously, you had folks coming up to you out of the blue and speaking to you in Amharic???? Wow… Who would have thought???
PS Do you speak any Amharic?
I guess I consider myself somewhat bi-racial or multi-national. My mother is American with Swedish/British/Danish roots and my father is Lebanese with Syrian/Palestinian/Lebanese roots.
However, I identify most with being American. I tried to fit in with the “Arab” side and although my husband is Arab what I find is I can understand the culture and speak the language but will never truly feel a part of it. Maybe it’s because I grew up most of my life here in the States with my mom’s side of the family and lived briefly overseas when I met my dad’s side of the family.
I don’t mean to ramble on and on lol. But yeah I think because of my hijab like Carib Muslimah and Sera people assume I’m foreign. Occasionaly someone will think I’m a convert, but ppl always assume I’m pakistani which is funny. Cab drivers will talk to me in Urdu and get mad when I tell them I don’t speak it. As if I’m one of those kids raised in America who’s not in touch with my culture looool.
But in answer to the question from the video I see myself as an American Muslim woman. This is my country and this is my religion and that’s that.
I am a Christian who has made the decision to wear hijab. I’m starting a “Christian wearing/starting to wear hijab” group through. I started this group to educate and provide support for those Christians that want/are wearing hijab or covering their hair. If you are interested in joining this group, please email me God bless you all.