Field Notes/Transcripts
February
We divided into groups based on interest in different topics
March 7
We submitted our abstract:
Research Project Abstract
The main issue we are discussing as part of our research project is hate crimes. We will
begin this discussion through determining what the definition of a hate crime is according
to the three areas we will be focusing on: the police force, attorneys, and hate crime
victims/offenders. One of our subtopics will discuss the system of reporting a hate crime
and how it is effective/ineffective. Furthermore, we intend to look at how much of a
problem hate crimes actually are on this campus and perhaps beyond.
This will be accomplished by interviewing the previously stated parties, examining police
reports, looking at other sources of information such as local media and even university
organizations directly or indirectly addressing this issue. These tasks will be undertaken
in the form of direct interviews with willing participants and also through polls.
Potential Sources
• Police force (officers)
• Police reports
• Local and greater Chicago-land attorneys
• Victims of hate crimes
• General Public
• Daily Illini
• University Organizations (STOP, CAIR, etc.)
March 30
We met after class to discuss the distribution of work and to find everyone’s specific
focus.
April 1
We exchanged our lists of questions we had prepared and helped each other hone them
April 3
I conducted my first interview. I interviewed a faculty member considered to be an Islam
expert. The interview was quite lengthy and took place in her office. We went off on
several tangents and I felt that some of my questions were unnecessary or redundant. Her
answers to some questions were surprising. I asked questions pertaining to Islamic
history and campus history. She spoke very openly and was not hesitant in the least.
April 5
To check on the progress of the group and to offer each other tips and feedback, we
decided to meet. We realized that everyone had moved slightly away from their original
topics and the focus of the research has been changed slightly from the original abstract.
Our main goal of the project will be to explore the effects of racism and the conditions
that facilitate it. The premise is that racism directly creates hate crimes. Our operational
definition of racism as it applies to Racism is the discrimination or assignation of a
particular characteristic to an entire group of people when the only differentiating
characteristic is race, while Muslims are not a "race" of people, the only differentiating
characteristic used to target Muslims for racism is their religion, and physical
characteristics such as the hijab, beard, and skin color are associated as visual markers of
Muslims. The following are our areas of research:
1) How the "other" is constructed in the minds of people
2) The system of reporting acts of hate to authorities and the contrast between attitudes of
Champaign/Urbana Police with Campus Police
3)Exploring the role of administration—what they do when they are approached, how
they handle it, process of contacting, investigating, recording, protecting, personal
opinions and definitions, questions about the forum.
4)Exploring effects on faculty and students of racialized populations and the history of
racism on campus
5) Exploring effects of racism and history of it as it relates to Muslims
The fourth area is my own area of research
April 6
Conducted an interview that went very well. The interviewee was a junior in political
science. She was quite eloquent and informed. She spoke of personal instances of racism
and hatred against her. She suggested changes the university could make. The interview
took place in the mosque and took over an hour. She was quite comfortable and spoke
with ease.
April 9
Had an interview with another female Muslim. She is a junior in MCB. She was more
hesitant to speak. She had experienced quite a traumatic event. Did not give many details
until I drew them out. She seemed like she wanted the interview to be over soon. She still
answered all my questions.
April 14
Conducted interview with a Muslim activist. Junior who has formed her own major. She
is involved in several organizations. She has been quite outspoken in the past and
apparently has been targeted for doing do. Had several disturbing stories. The interview
took place in a classroom in the mosque. She was very emotional and disturbed by what
had happened to her and to others. This interview was eye-opening to say the least.
April 16
Interviewed a foreign Muslim student. She came directly from her home country to the
UIUC campus. She had minor difficulties but actually found this campus to better than
the one she has been on in her hometown. She claimed she is freer to practice islam here.
It was nice to get a different perspective. This interview was also conducted in the
mosque. She spoke quickly and seemed eager to have the interview done with quickly. I
did not bother her with too many questions but I got all the information I needed.
April 19
EUI conference
April 20
Another interview with a junior in Sociology. She was not too informed of the
happenings on campus. Was not involved in muslim organizations or any organization.
Interview was still fairly long. Conducted in mosque again. She spoke openly,
comfortably. Went off on many tangents. She did not wear hijab and was from a very
small town.
April 22
I was able to interview 2 guys today. One was a freshman, the other a sophomore. Both
felt that there was no discrimination on campus. They looked like polar opposites. One
could pass for an average Joe, while the other looked Hardcore Muslim. Interesting to see
how much their views coincided. The first was active on campus while the second was
virtually unknown by the community.
April 25
Interviewed two female Muslims. One wore the hijab while the other did not.
Interviewed both in Grainger library. They had differnet views. One was much more
sensitive to discrimination and racism although she was on campus for only a year. The
other was more attune to things she heard in classrooms and felt was inappropriate. By
now, I’ve become quite adept at learning when to ask certain questions and when to allow
tangents and how to go with the flow.
April 27
Had a very very long interview with a grad student. She has been on campus for a long
time and seen the campus and mosque communities change quite a bit. She spoke about
racism against her and discrimination within the masjid community. She seemed very
pensive, reflective. She did not seem to have any answers but had many many questions
about the state of the people in urbana champaign. Her answers have given my research a
new dynamic. She was of pakistani origin.
April 30
Had two interviews with two female Muslims. One was Arab, the other African
American. Both had stories of being discriminated against. The former had something
occur just a few days prior. She was troubled by the event but she still had a sense of
humor about it. The latter interviewee had many experiences to discuss. She also went off
on a tangent and told me quite a bit about discrimination within the Muslim community.
She had specific examples of events that were not pleasant. The first interview was not
too long. The second, however, turned into a discussion that took a few hours before we
were done. Both interviews took place at the mosque.
My general questions were:
how long have you been on campus?
During your time here, Have you ever been discriminated against, ever been the victim of
a hate crime, act of intolerance, racism?
What has your experience here been like?
Do you know anything about other people’s experiences here on campus? Have any of
your friends or acquaintances been discriminated against? Have you heard any stories?
How do you feel about the current campus climate? In your opinion, is there a problem of
racism on campus or any environment of discrimination?
How does the campus climate compare to the one in your hometown?
Do you think there is anything the university can do about this (if necessary)?
what do you think about required 1 -2 hour sensitivity class that would require the
students to be exposed to different ethnic and religious groups, among other things?
Of course, I altered the questions or added new ones when I felt the need. I also allowed
the interviewees to go on tangents and speak about whatever came to their minds. I typed
all the interviews as I conducted them. Therefore, the transcripts may not be that clear but
they make sense to me when I go back to look at them. I can remember each interview
quite clearly. Because my interviews were so long and I have 13 of them, it is a bit
difficult for me to go and organize them all due to time constraints. If possible, this is
something I hope to attempt in the near future.
INTERVIEWEE 1
female, Junior in Sociology
Have you ever been discriminated against?
When I was in second grade some girl was talking about me to other kids in the class.
She was a mean, bully type. But the kids at her table, who she was talking to. They were
my friends.
I had a hole in my pants and I thought she was gonna tell everyone. But another kid told
me, go watch the news and see what your people are doing. I would ignore stuff like that
though. From a small town. The other kids were just worried about me. I didn’t even
understand at the time, but I know she was saying something like, people don’t like your
people.
In 5th grade a trouble maker in my class said to me “Your skin tone is the color of dirt,” I
never got mad or anything. I new I was different and I didn’t care. My parents raised me
to know I was different. My school was all white. I never even thought about this
incident again until recently.
What has your experience been here at U of I?
Its been fairly… I’ve kinda just hung out with my own kind. No one really did anything
to me. Because of that I didn’t even interact with other people enough to say anything to
me. But I think even if I did people would be curious but not negative about. Not
everyone cares about other ethnicities. I think the non- Muslims I interacted with
probably would care. Maybe people would feel like its inappropriate to ask so they just
made their own judgments about whether I’m Muslims or not. . They probably think I’m
just like them, do the same thing as them. They might think I’m Christian, and Hispanic
or something like that. People don’t care enough and are educated enough, so they’ll
assume everyone just like them. Cause we dress the same, talk the same, a lot of
similarities externally.
Do you know anything about other people’s experiences here on campus.
I think there is discrimination, but maybe not so like violently portrayed but amongst
non-Muslims I think they would be prone to talk about how Islam is bad. Though a lot of
people come to the masjid to find out about us, but most probably go off the news and I
would think they assume Musims are bad. Some try to find out and learn more most
people’s interest isn’t to picqed by it so they accept what they here off the news. …But
this is just me. I don’t even talk to non-Muslims that much anymore like I did in high
school.
I’m sure there are people everywhere who say bad things and it flares up when things
happen, like the cartoons.
My roommate was speeding and a cop pulled her over. She explained that she was trying
to get a friend to class on time and the cop just asked “can tell me why you wear that on
your head?” the friend was glad he asked, cause she likes to spread awareness too. and
she explained, you know for modesty reason, etc and he was like okay, and didn’t give
her a ticket. So there are people like that who are open minded and interested, can’t
assume everyone is bad.
How do you feel about the current campus climate.
I don’t really feel ike its anything threatening to me as a Muslims b/c in everyday
situations you are more preoccupied with errands and what you gotta do. Its not on my
mind until things happen like the cartoons, and then everyone’s labels come out. Oh
they’re Muslims, they’re Christian. Jewish. But only then things come out.. Its not an
everyday issue but depends on events. Like after the recent Islamophobic speaker (Nonie
Darwish) that is gonna raise some more hate and suspicions against Muslims. I would
tyhink it makes Muslims feel more tension. In general though, not too much tension.
Just because people are busy worrying about their own everyday lives.
There could be some hidden good in it as well because there are always those good
people who come out and defend islam. Events like that make people point of views
come out more, their like and hate for Muslim. I think Muslims focus on the hatred more
than anything, because it’s a bad thing that exists and we don’t want it to exist anymore.
You think the negative stands out to Muslims more because of their anxiety over
islamophobia?
Yeah because we are openly hated against, in the media, and considering how they are
portraying us. Some Muslims are more likely to feel like other people hate us, rather then
like us.
Side story. A friend from HS called me freshman year and told me that her professor was
saying bad thing a about Islam in one of her classes, and she defended Islam cause she
knew he was wrong and knew what Islam was really like cause of mar’s family. My
family was really open in Carmi about what we believed.
Do you think anything could be done do improve this campus climate.
When I did research on discrimination, stereotyping, mostly against black people.. I was
thinking sometning that might help fix that problem at least on this campus would be if
more white people be more involved in stuff. Like if there was a club that had majority
white people, and some minorities. As a group that would fight against discrimination
against black. Of course there were black people for sure who would join that but I think
if the majority were white, you know if you had a lot of white people fighting for it, it
would make a big difference b/c they are dominant group. So I feel like people would
listen to them more. I’ve met white people who are passioanately against rascism against
black and they would do anything in their power to stop it, You need a group like this
nationwide actually. And I think the same thing could happen for Muslims. If there were
an organization made up of a lot of different faiths and would help fight discrimination
against Muslims.
If there were more people like ****, but white, and would speak out like that at every
occasion, I feel like that would cause more awareness and you’ll see, b/c even the
character of people can tell you so much about religion, people, and culture. That would
cause a lot of awareness people would become more open minded and willing to learn.
And there are people like rami nashashibi, who are very powerful and have a name
amongst Muslims, and he helps so many people around Chicago who aren’t even
Muslims. Like “Takin’ to the Streets.” A lot of African Americans and Hispanics come
out, even if not for Islam, for other things and all the people become part of one
subculture through everything they have in common.
I think what people need to do is be informed about what Islam is and what we don’t
stand for, which is violence and hatred. So when there are people like Rami and big
names like that, those people need to use their influence and popularity, like milk it for all
its worth and spread the word of Islam, and they should get non-Muslims to help them.
There are a lot of tolerant people out there who are willing to friends with people of other
religions and they are not gonna believe what they see on the media, and they have good
relations with everyone. They should find people like that, make an organization and
keep spreading it, spread mor awareness. That’s what the media is, it reaches people in
mass , everybody knows about that. Something big like that needs to happen to
everybody can get some form of awareness and knowledge. Maybe we need a Muslims
channel. That probably wouldnt be allowed.There are some, one or two, unknown….okay
If that got bigger and more well known.
Mandatory class?
Benefit but could see people resenting it. Still, if narrow minded people are forced to take
the class they might become more openminded
INTERVIEWEE 2
almost 3 years
have you ever been discriminated against?
On campus, not anything that I can think of, but I do think that as long as you don’t put
yourself out there so much, campus is petty segregated, the places you puyt yourself are
places that are not where u’ll get discriminated against
Have you noticed any difference between campus climate and climate back home?
Here its more educated racism, there are more groups of people. I don’t think they are
even comparable because they are completely different, in terms of races and classes. In
decatur, they were mostly white with some black, there werent enough of other
minorities. There you were either white or black. You either had white privilege or you
didnt. I had white privilege.
The things Iexperienced were like in classrooms, in discussions, english and history,
people would make generalizations. Sometimes they would refer to me, they owuld jsut
repeat things they heard somewhere, ask me weird questions “are you Afghanistan”.
I’ve taken psychology classes, a psychology class called Race and Ethnicity, I thought
that a lot of what people said was ridiculous. I think we didnt have a lot of scholarly info.
A lot was brought in from the media and ppls experiences. And ppls experiences were
very limited and they brought that into the classroom and when the teacher wouldnt say
anything against it, it would become part of the students mind set or soethng
we would have discussion so if topic went to AA experience, somehow convo. Would be
shifted to few AA in the class and everyone in the class would rely on those individuals
even though they wouldnt represent all AA and if you weree talkin bout a specific
minority group and they were there you would become afraid of them. Just to make a
point, you couldnt say it,
have any of your friends ever been discriminated against? Or have you heard any stories?
I do know after 9/11 I was sophomore in high school, freshman hijabi (I had white
privilege and she didnt), she was non privileged, discrimination I would get was more ppl
trying to be smart and intellectual but being wrong. One time she was walking down the
hallway and some kid pulled off her scarf. To us also, if that happened in our community
its totally different, but because it was from the non-white part of the school, it was a
different situation, it wasnt seen as barbaric or anything, it was just another day. —that
girl appeared to be lower class, didnt have friends, personality,
recently, in the evening, a friend was walking down Lincoln Ave. And this car came up
to her and said Osama Osama and she kept walking and he kept yelling at her and then he
drove off. Something that bothered her was that he was a minority and he still did that to
her.
In your opinion, is there a problem of racism on campus or any environment of
discrimination?
Yes, there is. Its so segregated, theres animosity, I think that even if its hidden and
something you have to look for, the fact hat socially and academically groups are so
segregated is enough proof that there is something wrong, even in my classes, they ask
questions like do you get discriminated against, always women and minorities that have
lots of stories to tell.
In terms of daily life, personal interaction, thats something you have to look for and cant
be documented, soemthing in terms of body language
I think when there are major events, it demonstrates what peoples real sentiments are.
Danish cartoons, Chief, Tacos and Tequilas, being muslim on this campus, its just
another minority, if ppl have tendency to discriminate against one minority whos to say
they wont against another. If one group is safe at one time its cuz another one is in the
forefront, as soon as one thing passes, its just a matter of time before it rotates
Do you think there is anything the university can do about this?
I was on the 22 and I thought I was going a certain way and I went another way and I got
to see a part of campus I never seen before, and I saw all these white people outside of
these beautiful huge buildings. I think the setup of the campus, with greektown and real
estate is set up in such a way to create racial lines. The nicer housing is closer to campus
and the less nice housing is farther away.
My idea was that if a day came where they would wnna sit down and do
something about this, kind farfetched, committee could be formed and they could target
things students are famiiar with like rso, encourage different departments, give funding to
minority study groups, invest more money in minority staff and minoriry houses, I think
the chief things was a big step and thats good, as far as housing I don’t really know but I
do know that even the dorm there is segregation. Peopl eassociate a lot of minorities with
LAR and PAR and white students with ISR and 6 pack. Take active steps to integrate the
studnets and living situations more.
Why is there racism?
I think in a climate like this it’s a reflection of the whole nation but with different twists,
majority ppl are privileged in middle calss sense, suburban areas, with high school
funding, maybe diverse, maybe not, I think a lot of ppl who come here have not seen a lot
of poverty, theres just differnet groups of people and different dynamics, history, Native
Americans, wiped out, another race rules, antoher race comes, they rule, politics and
money, theyre in charge and any minority that wants to do somethbnig they have to do it
with permission and in line with the ruling groups
so when minority groups do something thats not in agreement with or with majority
culture
people have to know what race people are, its embedded in our culture, you have to know
wher a person is originally from even if its their ancestors are from 5 generations ago
what do you think abbout required 1 -2 hour sensitivity class (explain the class)
I think in the end of the day it would benefit people, moreso than it would
hinder, if anything the status quo would remain the same. It might however do something
to enforce stereotypes
INTERVIEWEE 3
have you ever been discriminated against or victim of hate crimes or racism on campus?
Not a hate crime, not so much discrimination in the explicit sense, but I can sense
sometimes how people get uncomfortable around me, I can feel people distance
themselves, not so much young ppl but older ppl, pppl that don’t know much about hijab,
in that sense I feel theres discriminatoin but not explicit sense
is the environment here any different from back home?
Im from chciago and I feel like theres a lot more diversity, even in older age groups,
theres more discrimination here on campus, espec. With older ppl, I feel like the more
south I go the more racism I experience. A lot of ppl that are old hav enot been exposed
to diversity and theyve held beliefs for so long theyre not willing to change,
I live in the dorms there are a lot of older white people that work there and I don’t get
positive vibes from them. I say hi and I smile cuz I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable
around me.
racism in more suburban areas,
have any of your friends been discriminated against or heard any stories
not really on campus, no one has ever said anything about anyone saying anything, but
my friends have talked about how ppl generalize or stereotype.its not necessarily about
being muslim but about being indian or desi, more about what race you are, not explicit
discrimination.
Is there a problem on campus?
I htink there is but I think its more hidden and u do have to look for it, you can see it in
subtleties, way ppl act around you, I don’t think there is overt discrimination, at least not
taht I’ve seen
racism because it has to do with what ppl bring to the campus
from whatever age they been taught to think a certain way, they look for thingsto reaffirm
theoir stereotyes and anything that even slightly hekp
they automatically assume it exists
a lot is a lack of information, one person fulfiling stereotype and they assume it aplies to
aall
Where does racism come from
ignorance, traumatic event happens with a certain race or religious group its hard to let go
of that, like 9/11 a lot of racism exists
Cant really blame people
race is an institution and constriction that has always been there so unless you can look at
a person and not put a race on them, I think racism will always exist
is there anything univresity can do
the most they can do is offer information but discrimination and racism is up to
invididual ppl, whether or not they want to solve the problem
they can offer resources but they could never solve the problem
I think ppl forced to take that class would resent it but its bette rthan nothing. It might
enforce some stereotypes (personally believe that stereotpes have some element of truth
to them) and if one person finds some small thing that enforces their preconceived notion
then it would just confirm their previous beliefs
INTERVIEWEE 4
2 years on campus
have you ever been discriminated against or victim of hate crimes or racism on campus?
Nothing at all.
environment here any different?
People in chicago are much less tolerant of other people.
Have u ever experienced anything in chicago?
We were driving on Lake Shore and these kids rolled down their windows and yelled
Osama’s at me and my brother. My brother got so pissed off, he cut these assholes off so
bad.
Have you heard any stories, any friends been discriminated against?
No. I’ve heard stuff but I don’t really remember it. It doesnt happen so much. Nothing
significant. ******* case, he was becoming a pilot in Arizona, but then he had to drop
out a couple weeks later because so many people were giving him a hard time and saying
stuff to him.
Do you feel theres a problem on campus racism or discrimination?
Discrimination. I would say theres a differnet concentration ethnicities, black, whites,
asians, not too many Mexicans. On this campus, there is no hate against people just
because of the way they look, in my experience.
Where does racism come from?
9/11. Iraq. Terrorism. Acts against humanity that people attribute to muslims.
People just don’t trust Muslims anymore.
Is there anything Muslisms can do about this?
Educate others, more interaction, giving back to community
Do you think its necessary for university to do anything?
Kind of. Maybe they should sponsor events to sponsor Muslims and ppl of different
ethnicities together.
What do you think of mandatory class?
A good idea. It would benefit freshmen, give them a larger outlook. A mandatory clss ppl
haveto take
INTERVIEWEE 5
2 years
Have you ever been discriminated against, hatered, racism?
I felt that some of my professors don’t like Muslims . They didnt say anything
directly. But the way they treated me. For example, wiht one, if someone asks a question
they treat them differently and when I ask the same question they treat me differently.
They were rude to me on purpose.
is the environment here any different from back home?
I feel really safe here and more respected here. In Turkey if you are a practicing
Muslim everything is against you, the definition of democracy is so different. People
from different ideas cannot stand other people.
For example, you are not allowed to wear hijab, in schools, or in government,
universities. For example, there was a man running for P.M. Parliament (very high
position) and they didnt let him because his wife was wearing hijab, people discriminate.
Discrimination is legal.
have any of your friends been discriminated agains or heard any stories?
Yes. The Tacos and Tequilas. I’m taking a Diversity class and some of my
friends, expecially African Americans, are discriminated against a lot. Even when they go
to the store, people suspect they will steal something.
Muslim people?
No
Is there a problem on this campus?
In general the U.S. has a discrimination problem, but invisible, for example, it
was legal 50 years ago, now it isnt legal but still application includes discrimination.
Discrimination is less on campus than on outside, I believe the system of education
(middle schools, high schools)
Is there anything the university can do?
Yes, but I don’t know. I believe that people in charge and is position cleanse their
hearts, apply rules equally, treat fairly, then it will affect others, if they don’t do so, its
hard to bring about equity, thers a difference between equal and equity
for example , we are muslim if someone says we are not allowed to eat in class, and its
ramadan and I cannot eat because the professor would not allow it
think of class?.
Really good idea, I think we had a class like this in turkey, I dunno wanything about
chrisitanity, if I didnt go to religious school, I wouldnt know anything about islam either
6
3 years
have you ever been discriminated against or victim of hate crimes or racism on campus?
I’ve been the victim of ahte crime, I was stalked by a guy, green street, broad daylight
rexpereinced that, when ppl told me they experienced hate crimesi was like no way, but
afer experiencing it I was traumatized, he pulled off my scarf and he tried stpiiting at me,
I ran to the union and called the police
they came and I actually followed up on it too, they had a lineup of 6 suspects but I wasnt
able to identify him later on.
I was really surprised, I thought they would not be nice about it but they were really good
they followed up and he was persisent, he had to drop the case, but I weas really proud of
the way he handled it.
environment here any different?
Not really. Except for that one inceident. For exampl,e I don’t feel like I would
experience anyhting like that in chicago but now u never know, this was just some
random guy
Have u ever experienced anything in chicago?
Have you heard any stories, any friends been discriminated against?
I’ve heard stories about friends but I never really beleived them, I was like it cant be that
intense,
stuff like what happened to me, and yah.
Do you feel theres a problem on campus racism or discrimination?
I really don’t think theres a problem on this campus, like I said, I personally think that it
was just one guy who was out there.
Is there anything Muslisms can do about this?
Educate others, more interaction, giving back to community
Do you think its necessary for university to do anything?
They could have more security people, but I don’t know how could they stop the ppl
from expressing their opinions, the city could something, tyhe uni should try to make the
campus more safe, but theres only so much u can do because of resource limitations, I w
guess awareness of these issues is a big thing
What do you think of mandatory class?
That would be really good, intro class, ubt I don’t thikn not mandatory but an elective for
freshmen, thay would be a really good idea, cuzs the more ur exposed to it, the more ur
outta that box
7
3 years
have you ever been discriminated against or victim of hate crimes or racism on campus?
Yes. The most recent, Iwas walking down green street and as I was crossing the street,
some black guy in his car yelled out at me and called me Osama, 3 times, and then he
called me a Wench, I don’t know why he called me that, no one uses that word, I had to
go look it up as he said it
How did you feel?
I felt targetted for no reason, and a bit scared cuz I didnt know what was in his head, it
was late and I was alone, and I kind of felt stupid cuz I wasnt saying anything back but I
didnt wanna start a scene, start fighting or provoke him more.
that was one
occasionally I’ll be driving and people will flick me off and people have yelled out go
back home and stuff.
The cartoon controversy really sticks out in my mind as well.
environment here any different?
In my opinion, ignorance is everywhere but I have a feeling that when I came here
from back home I met a lot more open minded people. I feel like I experienced more
racism back home, students are definitely like, more aware of whats going on in the
world.
Have you heard any stories, any friends been discriminated against?
Im sure theres a lot but the one thats pops in my head right now, **** was running to her
class and her hijab was like flying and a group of guys started pointing and laughing at
her.
**** had a lot of threatening phone calls and I know she had a lot emails, people
yelling at her on the streets while she was riding her bike,
OH theres a bunch
******** went to get her bus ticket at suburban express and the main dude who works
there was clearly discriminating against her, he was treating her like she wasnt good
enough to stand in the building because of her skin color, he kicked her out of the
building when she wanted to use her cell phone, even when she tried hanging up, he kept
yelling at her , she started crying because he kept yelling at her, and said if u don’t leave
right now, im calling the police, thats it im calling the police, he didnt even give her time
to leave, the cops came and he was just like whats going on, he talked to ****, I guess
this guy has a history, the cop came and he already knew whats going on, so im sure hes
done it before, so ****** was crying to the cop, she said I didnt do anything wrong, he
said don’t worry about it, the cop was helpful (African American cop)
she tried to follow up on it, complained and tried to get him fired
that guy does this a lot to girls, cuz the guy who works next door was saying “man if I
swear if I see him make one more girl cry I’m gonna do something”
***** was walking somewhere and a guy ran up and pulled her hijab.....
I swear to God if anyone ever touched my hijab I’d kill ‘em
Do you feel theres a problem on campus racism or discrimination?
Yes. I just feel like a lot of people just don’t know the real facts about different
religions and they just go on based on what the media tells them. Thats why we have
people hating on one another. Cuz then when u sit with someone one on one and you
teach them about ur religion and ur culture, its not that big of a deal anymore.
Do you think its necessary for university to do anything?
I don’t think the university can actually change people’s minds. With the whole
chief thing, u tell em to stop but ppl sstill gonan believe what they wanna believe, its not
gonna end racism if the university tells us what to do or not to do. I think the only thing
that can change are the students themselves.
What do you think of mandatory class?
That would be awesome, but it really depends on who is teaching, u cant get, if someone
is not fo that religion that they’re teaching, they should not be teaching it. Just like a
white person is not the ideal person to teach about slavery, but teachers can get affected
by what their own beliefs are and their own experiences and that is important.
8
8 months
have you ever been discriminated against or victim of hate crimes or racism on campus?
No.
Ever felt that people have acted differently towards you, body language, treatment
anything?
Yes. I think at McDonalds. They were just very rude to me but then the next guy they
were really nice to
environment here any different?
Back home there is more racism. Cuz ppl are older, here students prbbly are more
accepting.
Have you heard any stories, any friends been discriminated against?
No, cant remember any offhand
what about back home?
At our masjid, the lady that lived next to the masjid put up a huge cross and a huge star of
david
Do you feel theres a problem on campus racism or discrimination?
I don’t feel any, but then again I haven’t been here that long.
Do you think its necessary for university to do anything?
I mean I guess don’t really see much on the universitys part to celebrate or promote
diversity actively, other than that not really
What do you think of mandatory class?
I don’t think that would be effective, anything mandatory doesnt achieve the effect it tries
to achieve. They have the mandatory fycare and rape workshop, people are there just to
be there, if its gonna effect u, ur prolly not the person theyre trtying to effect
I think maybe a celebration, actually they do do one, like quad day they have nevada
street, but they could do more intercultural celebrations that are embraced by the
university rather than just rsos and stuff.
9
1. Have you ever been discriminated against, racism, hate crimes
Yah u always get comments when ur woalking around, whats that thing on ur head, if
your out late at night, sometimes ppl yell things from their cars, but u get kind of immune
to it after enough times.
People I know on this campus, Ive herad stories, like someone will say “oh they gave me
a weird look, or they made a comment”
But I tend to ignore these things
You know what It is, growing up in a small town im used to it,
Being visibly muslim in a small town, u laugh em off
I went to a catholic school, especially when political situations would arise, Palestine,
irag, you always hear comments
But I wouldn’t get upset about it, just laugh it off
I can remember things from grade school and high school, but after that I just stopped
letting it affect me.
I experienced more discrimination, within the mosque community than from outside,
those thingsf I remember more, and It hrt more cuz more internal and u have higher
expectations of Muslims. U just expect it from the outside, but when from the inside, u
kinda stop and say why are these people saying these things
One situation when I was on shura my soph. Year, we had IAW going on, we were
organizing for it and I was helping out the committeee head and I came to the masjid to
discuss the situation like where the visitors would sit, so I was discussing it with the
leader of the masjid and he looked at me and said is there some brother I can talk to about
this because Id rather talk to a man about, I said why im on executive committee, he said
I would just prefer it, those gender things have gone on a lot here.
I wasn’t looking for trouble I was just doing things how it made me comfortable, how
close you sit up, which door you enter from.
Within the MSA there are a lot of class issues and race issues.
We hav a right to speak up and theres a lot that’s going on and we have to talka bout our
experience snad say we feel unfomfortable in our own skin sometimes becuz of what we
believe in but at the same time theres this thing that we never talk about
And then we have these high morals and high examples, prophet said when ur joking
don’t lie in joke, don’t hurt someone in jest
In high scool they would say ur wearing a sheet on ur head, honestly half the ppl in high
school that would say that to me didn’t know it was offensive
And advance level history teacher had a matching column
One word ---one word
In one section it said, Mexican nad in the other column it had Wetback
A lot of the students were like its just a worksheet and ****** was like What the Heck
A lot of comments like we know most of the doctors in this community our Asian, you
know that right, because your family came here and they’re like this and like that. Very
inappropriate things to be said. But kids just discuss it like its not a big deal, their teacher
is discussing it, so the words said in the classroom do carry out and effect everything
that’s going on.
When we say these things and we let these things pass, like not knowing what chupta
means, but isn’t it our business to know what we’re saying.
I’ll never forget this one soring camp that rami came down, we phrased the title and he
stopped in the beginning and he said I just wanna talk about the word beign used here
He said I just wanna ask and who made this title and why this word
This word was used in a negative sense and by slaveowners in the south and he gave a
lesson about words
I just think words cant go unchecked
2. how long have u been on campus
4 undergrad, left for a year to work in brigeview, pls 3 more years
3. as far as the outside community, do you think there has been a difference in
reaction to Muslims?
I think definitely, I think we’ve toned it down a bit, what I mean by that is that I think
We’re definitely more non-confrontational now, we used to do a lot of rallies and
things. It was from both sides Israel thing on the quad, certain people used to bring
Israeli flags and red paint and ppl stood on top of it
We walked around the quad hands tied and blindfolded and then we carried a coffin
and we had a janazah prayer for the ppl that passed away
It was very different, the level of communication was very low, in msa events
There was SFP, Israeli students would come nad disrupt things,
So in terms of interaction with non Muslims, even with Indian students association,
but there would be MSA security guards to make sure they wouldn’t go to afterparties
The relationship then was not on an intellectual level at all, now I think theres much
more dialogue going on, IYC,
Once in undergrad we tried to do dialogue but it turned out really bad and odd, like
conspiracy theories, we had to have emergency meetings,
Now those rallies have stopped, that whole aggressive attitude
Post 911, this whole smile and come to our mosque please, these sudden changes to
find similarities, we bleiev in the same god that you believe in, we fast like you fast,
alluva sudden we’ve become very similar, instead of
Now the suspicion has been turned around. Now they have the big magnifying glass
Once 911 happened its been this big shift, its almost like all the secret policing we
were doing, it was turned around on us
I think we are very slowly learning how to communicate
911 was the trgger for change
4. do u notice any difference between the atmosphere here and back home?
5. do you think there is a problem on campus?
Yah I think there is, there is an opposition to nayhting that’s different
But lemme differentiate I think theres a difference between, since it is a campus
community, dialogue and discussion is available
One of my classmates talked about a PBS documentary on the quran, its very nice
But then there are people in the faculty even, I think there is still discrimination in how
they teach us, what type of material they teach, I don’t think its just against us, but
anyone that is a minority, anyone not in the situation o fpower, I did history in u ndergrad
and its very obvious that theres a lot discrimination, u feel like ur nothing, u feel
invisible, or when they do talk about u, its 911 and stuff like that, any they wanna know
who we are?
6. anything the uni can do about it?
We just sit and we speak empty words, we say the whole point is saying, we don’t know
anything about each other. We don’t even know where we situate ourselves. We cant sit
thorugh a lecture, we cant even communicate amongst ourselves
Then we worry about how the outside sees us
The commonsense thing would be to know whre ur at, where are ur coordinates
Why are we trying to see ourselves through the eyes of others
Everything that’s being said comes back to us, why cant we be the ones saying things
about ourselves
Right now I don’t know if theyre really looking at us, I don’t know if thryre looking to
see and understand us
Yah it can definitely do something about that.
They could do seminars nad blah blah but they are doing things, IYC, people have put
things out there,
What about sensitivity course, that’s great those are good things to do
But look at all these corporations, human resources department, they have sensitivity
training for their employees, these are great ideas and should be tried out,
But what im afraid of is yah we’ll do this but what if it doesn’t work?
The university can claim they give the options, but I mean u can walk into that class like
most undergrads walk into classes
I think it’s a good thing and should be tried out but it shouldn’t be just there and like an
outward cover up
We say that u have to do this, but really the outcome and output isn’t exactly
But there need to be different ways, and I cant think of alternatives,
I think one of the things as Muslims, as Muslims we never bring our religion, we’re so
afraid to bring quran and hadith into discussions, why do you read quran if you wont
share it with people. That should be a place of departure for us, even if its not quoting,
the motivation and inspiration, I don’t think we’re using the tools that we have
I think that campus can do a lot fo things but if we’re not on board, part of this endeavor
I don’t think we should be afrai dto bring up the prophet in our discussions, I think people
will respect that and the reverence we have for him
My sister plays soccer and sthey went to away game at a Quahog, majority AA area
She was playing and they were making weird noises and her teammates and coach were
defending her
The next day she went in the principal said we love you and we respect you for doing
what you believe. For doing this, that’s one of the primary reasons that we love you. We
have so many ways to talk about our beliefs and our morals and I think we’re just afraid
because we live in a secular society, we downplay the spiritual side, and lets bring up the
politics and Whats “really affecting people” and I think the fac thtat we leave out the
spiritual is the reason theres no heart in what we say, I don’t mean being like jehovas
witness, and knocking on the doors
Theres a lot of beauty that comes from someone who is spiritually motivated, they use the
quran and the hadtih, we’ve learned all this rhetoric, its become quotations, its an aspect
of the culture tahts overtaking us, we’re using their way of thinking of doing things,
we’re adopting it and we don’t even realize it I think in the way that we function, we’re
forgetting our own tradition, a very rich tradition, so much creativity and positive things,
innovations. Theres hope but we don’t realize but we’re becoming the OTHer when u sit
so long and watch the other witht hese longing eyes, mor enad more and more you start to
disappear. More and more your just taking all that in, along with the negativity of what
they’re saying about is. I think once we become in control of our selves, our own
thoughts and actions, nobody can stop us.
10
American Born and raised
–began hijab upon coming to U of I
—never noticed any odd behavior before
—after hijab, getrs strange looks from some people, some people blow you off, people
whisper and point (sporadically, when it happens its strange) (a few times a year)
—once someone shouted when walking down the street, vulgar language
— made her nervous about wearing headscarf
—generally had positive treatment, more common than negative
— people approach with questions, men are generally more respectful and polite
— people assume foreign, ask where you’re from, surprised to hear I’m American even
tho no accent
I feel like there is a general ignorance on campus more than hatred, because when I
explain myself, people are surprised at what I say (why I wear hijab, religious issues,
etc.). Ignorance leads to a climate of hatred as well with some people, but its more
anonymous. You find it on blogs or discussion boards where people have code names. Its
not really outright, on the surface, it appears there is not much hatred at all.
— maybe University could have sensitivity training classes mandatory, where they learn
about the diversity on campus, different groups, part of the class is to meet different
organizations
—The problem is that people on campus are so segregated (voluntarily) they don’t
branch out to meet other groups. The groups just don’t mix; a freshman class that forced
these groups to mix would destroy some preconceived notions
INTERVIEWEE 11
1. In Muslim history, has there been a history of racism? (That is, have there been
manifestations of racism through hate crimes, etc. against Muslims simply because they
are Muslims) (focus on more recently, in America, within the last 50 years)
No, not until recently, so often because for example the first middle easternrs who
came in 19th century from lebanon, integrated so easily into american culture, im not
saying racism doesnt exist but muslims arent a race. So certainly people have experienced
racism on racial basis, for example syed qutb part of the reason he turned against western
culture becasue as a farily dark egytpian ppl treated hima s balck in the 1950s which then
was a pretty bad wayt o be treated. So im sure pppl experience it taht way, but here in
americamost muslims were intent on integrating until the 1960s when 1964 when they
stopped having raical quotas with regard to immigration so new immirgants from all
racial groups came here, 60s coincided with rise in muslims to preserve onw culture,
language, dress, so the mere fact that they were trying to integrate in the same manner
that eariler immigrants did, any group that triesot maintain its distinctnes is going to be an
object of target, like Jews, trying tot retain tehir distictiveness as Jews caused more
suspicion, but on the other hand obbviously the Rab-israeli disupute ahs been a mjaor
factor which has led to arab hatred and has sugued into agaisnt muslims, im thinking the
1967 war is when arabs as the enemies against our beloved isreal,
Rashed Khalidi said americas main itnerest throughout Cold War was really hte soviet
uniion not Isreal, nbecause SU was backing egyot iraq, we had isreal and jordan so a lot
of it was other purposes besides loyalty to isreal. But I think that real fear of Muslims is
somethnig that has accompanied a rise of violence, terrorism perpatrated by muslims and
justified by muslims, the guise of jihad, all of that makes islam seem fragmented
its not to say islam is not a positive religion, most ppl didnt have a clue with regards to
anyhting with islam, but I think taht arabs couyld always be seen as the noble pppl, like
noble savages, lawrence of arabia, but I think the arab israeli dispute, the rise of violence,
especially 1970s in lebanon, american hostages there, that was a new thinfg that really
poisoned a lot fo peoples attitudes towards arabs, but clearly as terrorism has escalated its
only natural that peopls fears of muslims will escalate as well.
2. How have Muslims generally reacted to these situations?
See I don’t jjst see it, I se it as a more dynamic process, I think muslims reacting
to american antagonism and americans reacting to muslim antagaonsim, but I think that
until 911 most pulpits in most mosques have been very pliticized platforms to denounce
the american government nad im not saying I disagreee with that but often created a
feeling of alienation from american culture I really think the amount of venom that came
from pulpits and the constant feeling of being we are victims and not undersdtanding the
basis of american feras whether they are correct or incorrect. Nonetheless, even if tehy
are based on an exaggerated realirty, its not on any foundation at all
911 made muslims realized the extent to which they had identified with islam as
something not american, they saw themselves as muslims in america rather that Muslim
Americans, its only since 911 that there has been any emphasis on muslis taking part in
broader civic life. That has been increasing but its very slow, muslims has been intersted
in onlu muslims issues , not PTAs and city council, and not onlyt o support muslims but
for environmental issues and others
muslims naturally cant have all one reaction, its pretty horrible some things that have
happened to muslim americans since 911 and I think that the raescion to that and the
anger from being targetted its completeyl unterstandable, wahts going to brin g an end to
it> it would be nice if the gov stpped profiling but I think ordinary ppls feears need to be
quelled as islamic centers as hotbeds of terrorism, setephen emerson making
documentaries about jihad in america,
if people come to see muslims as just americans, and harith at-tamimie got an award for
being a great teacher, thats what people need to see.
Last year ruveiza irfan got an award for daughters of the american revolution. Isnt that
great that our society can have that kind of thing happen, its very encouraging.
4. On campus, do you think attitudes towards Muslims have changed? In what way?
Actually, if anything, I think ppls attitudes are actually better now, but when I
first came here no one knew antything about islam and ppl were very ignorant and even
other faculty members
somone said “ugh islam, frightening religion”
what raelly impressed me was 911 the response of our community. Really what happend
was that umm, for one thing all local religious groups immediately declared their
solidarity with local muslims, osme women even started wearing hijab in solidarity to
thwart discrimination, local churches offered guards, offrered their premises to worship,
mosque was taken aback because at that point there was no outreach, it was a shock
buecause after yeras of venom from pulpit they find out that all these people are tehir
friends, im sure there is harassment,
someone saying something to someone is gonna happen, I’ve been impressed with the
fact that articles in the press are more acturate than they used to be
after 911 all over the place, professors of islam had to give free lectures everywhere,
especially among older people they all knew that 911 was not islam, I didnt even have to
convince them of that, that was really striking to me, in general attitudes towards muslims
are more general and accurate than they were when I first came in 1983. In some places
there were incidents, we didnt happen to have them here, for example in arizona a sikh
man, horrible things have happened, that kind of targeting of muslims is new since 911,
but on campus what I’ve seen here in our community, is actually much more positive.
You know I acrtually dropped a line once to ibrahim hooper because when cair sends out
its things, there was a story from long island about a sikh who was attacked at a long
island railroad. Im from there so I clicked on it, the rest of the story was about how the
rest of the passengers ran to the man’s aid and subdued the theif and the sikh siad I love
ameirca
I think when ur in the business of cataloguing every instance of hatred, thats certainly
gonig to color your experience.
All biases and prejudices are based on something distorted and I think of white people
who have african american friends and they talk about balcks in a really disparaging way.
Im sure there is hatred and discrimination against muslims but I have not seen it here on
our campus. I would get questions from non muslims that were very loaded and I could
tell that they had certain impressions of islam.
I think there is much more awareness, more curiosity, more openness on the
campus as opposed to outside,
isnt it amazing how many people have converted since 911, so it’s a mixed response isnt
it
to me its odd to cast it as racism because it’s a prejudice based on something other htan
reace because so many muslims, whther they are asian, european, whatever, they look so
caucasian that it owuldnt be racism
5. Have you heard of any hate crimes occurring against Muslims?
6. Why do you think hatred against Muslims is present?
I think there is a perception tha tislam is a violent religion, I thnk tahts the main
reason for hatred, I think before the hatred there was and still is the idea that women are
oppressed so a lot of the talk against islam was about women but now more violence,
which is the basis for fear
lets face it, some fo the thing that are going on are very frightening, its terrifying the
indoctrination of little children that their goal in life should be to blow themselves up, its
awful
im thiknig in certain contexts, summer camps that islamic jihad in palestine has for
children, taught to chant that their goal is to be a martyr.
If a little kid says I really wanted to be a doctor, no no no u wanna be a martyr, I think
thats abusive to a child, its not characterisitic to muslims as a whole but the fact that its
happening in the name of islam is frightening, obviolsy I know that its not islam thats
causing this but for odrinary people, its islam
during the lebanese civil war, ppl asked what is it asbout islam that makes muslims and
christians fight
bosnian genocide happend, did people ask what is it about the serbian ortho church that
makes them attack muslims
there has been this tendency I think to attribute everythnig to islam
I remember back in the 70s when I was still a grad student, in the tribune, 3 of the comic
strips had a villain that was an arab with a turban, it wasnt terrorism, just villanoius but oi
thought u know that arabs are the new black,s cant get awya with doing it about blakcs
but nothing wrong with doing it to arabs.
7. What can the University do to change this?
8. What can do the community do?
9. What can the Muslims do?
10. Have you experienced any discrimination when people find out you are related to
Islam?
Well, im trying to htikn have I at all
I wouldnt say anything serious, if its in a completley neutral situation outside the
university, maybe at a family reuinion or something like that, theyre shocked but I
wouldnt say I’ve encountered any discrimination at all. When I was first entering the
field, my parents were shocked, my fathers intial reaction was, if you’re going to study
non-western people, why not study one thats civilized, but hes totaly changed his mind on
that, he worked with ppl who worked in egypt,
lack of appreciation of how incredibly sophisticated islamic history and tradition has been
middle eastern history just has not been taught in our schools
my daughter at high school had been taught islamic civilizations I was so happy.
>Do you have any stories to share of discrimination you have faced on campus?
Stories that you have witnessed?
>How do you feel about the student that threatened another with a tomahawk was not
expelled? Tacos and Tequillas
The extent to which that happens at all says there must be a real problem out there
that is going to be expresseed in situations where people feel freeer to express their baser
incstincts liek frat parties and online, of course it’s a big problem its horrifying, I have no
idea if it indicates anything widespread, im sure there are aspects of GREek Life that are
good but any cultivation with a party atmosphere with that, etc, theres so much about
popular culture thats very decadent but thats just one type of decadence of so much out
there,
its hard for me to grasp, whty have unofficial, why have Girls Gone Wild or whatever it
is, theres so much taht is very alienating not just as immigrants but for anything witha
conscience or religious sensitivity. What avbout ppl going on tv just to be on tv
racism is rampant and I think its part of human nature, when I was in grad school my
roommate was AA and I had a mutual friend was very close to us, and she told me that
this mutual friend was racist against A.A. and she said Most people are,
im just not that aware of it beacuse im not a target but it must be that racial prejudice is
there in the psyche of most people but I think tahts less likely to happen if you grow up
ina diverse environment
12
1. How long have been on campus
Since August 2004, so close to 3 years, 33 months
did you feel immediately any difference on campus and environment back home?
No
Have you ever been discriminated against, hatered, racism
Yes
When did that begin
umm, so I’m gonna answer in a roundabout way, the reason I said the short answer is no
is becasuse generally I’ve had a problem in self reflection and taking time to evaluate my
surroundings and where im at, I’ve generally been pretty bad about that, but its been
changing
for example, I have no memory of middle school, what I thought about, who I spent time
with
if I think back now, I know that my (and this si sort of post understandng of the past, so
in terms of did I feel alienated, im thinking how to pinpoint that, cuz there are certain
momnets, instances of overt hate crimes or discriminatin, where you realize, but theres
this longer process in identification of muslim s and what happensnig to muslims to otehr
peopke and nationall,y internationally
not really one moment , where you realize yesconstructed as the other, bu thres a longer
process
almost my entire adult consciousness is a post 911 consciousness
cuz when I was in high school is when it occurred,
as a frehsman in hgih schoo
I didnt wear head scarf so I wasnt immediately identifiable as muslim
lived in an affluent suburb, #2 best suburb to raise your children
just very excelled a lot in a lot of things, musician, athlete, scholarship realm, people I
knew I knew them since middle school,
the thesis im trying to get to is that I know that, we lived in saudi arabia, when we got
here my parents wouuld say don’t tell anoyne we lived there cuz people will think bad of
u
in high school I would talk about islam in class and no one knew what I was talking baout
on the other hand we hera these stories, cuz my family is affulent, doctors, backbone of
muslim comuntiies, hear about muslim parties and the FBI comes cuz maid hears talk
about politics, every single person got put on a list and interviewed
so it becomes part of the consciousness
that sort of understanding was part of my consciousness, as far as discriminatio
and I can tell stories but not really stories that are flags of my consciousness
and I was involved in CAIR right,
so why did I find CAIR to be so important
summer, freshman year I hear radio on the way to work, hear islamophobic rants by
Mancow, having people say im violent and counter to society and even when I say im for
peace they say im anti societyy
and people are airing this on a radio station, taht was a defining moment cuz it also
defined how I engaged in it, went to cair and involeved with cair
soph., year second semester, danish cartoons
that was hurtful,
weeks following that I got disturbing phone calls, that was anonymous, violent, sexual
harssamnet
website got hacked into, blood, gore, curfixion, other people will describe is as
euphemism, like oh danish cartoons
I see a mna on a cross with blood andnails put through his body, I don’t see it in terms of
euphemisms, desensitized description
while it turns out that harassment wasnt “hate crime”, painful when ur trying to
differentiate, well you cant prove that it was , but I can talk about how being a muslim
and being different played into that and how that situation made me feel alienated, hated,
taregeteed, and I had to make myself feel safe, played into isntitutionalized problems on
campus, people of color, marginalized targeted people
those are the experiences I can talk to at the point
its interesting how u can say u sympathize with something but never know what it feels
like till ur in those shoes exactlt
I support my sisters wiht head scarves and its good thing and sunnah and its really bad
how theyre targeetted but until u wear it and get some of the comments
Opressed and mesed up and not right
I wouldnt call it a headscarf or hijba right now Id call it a headwrap, never in my entire
life been asked so many times where you from? And gotet question point blank like what
bout the way they say the headscarf is oppression, and that sort of question
never got that before, until u actually walk in those shoes it’s a whole other experience.
And since I’ve started practicing islam more also, um, I dunno what you would call it
when u receive it from ur parents and family memebers
but the larger ohenomen I would talk about is this fear of practingcing islam
the assertion taht when u rpactice islam ur brainwashed, fanatical, forcing ur religion on
other people, disconnected with reality, u have no sense of what actually matters, to aside
effect no one will marry u if have a headscarf or a beard or something like that
theres such arange of whos saying it because as somone who monitors media actively, I
can talk about what the media says
I have been told by people, GO back to your Country, if you don’t lke it, why are you
complaining about stuff here, go back to Pakistan, we should send you to Madrasssa, you
Saudi Slave, very hurtful things, I could talk a lot about it
but a lot of that especially , if you don’t like it here, if you don’t like things
the reason its so inronic, the love o f islam and practicing it and asserting that as idenitity
is absoulutely intertwined as bein g american and loving american and being born and
raised as indigenous muslim
in the sense that America is about pluralism and about religious plralism specificually
and being founded on religious vlauses, moral, upright humna beings, and where you
derive the moral sfrom and I’ve been brought up saying that religion is where u derive ur
morals from and the cavet to that is it doesnt matter if you pray
the irony is going back to ur history and the roots and the importance and especially when
ur racialized and marginalized and
that identifications when u get immedialtey across the board, any peoples, Aas, latioins,
Japanesse
it resonated deeply, this is why im in america, I love america, everything we stand up for,
when we do stand up for it
you look at u use ur identities to affrim your identities and to justufy how they work
togethermy understanding ooif islam strenghtens my understanding of being american,
wheni l oook back at american valuses that strenthtens and affirms my right sand values
of being muslim
but theres a whole discourse of trying to convince me otherwise, hatim quotes the hadith
Holding on to religion is like holding on to burning Coal
so thats a very comforting thing
when u cant practice ur faith, I don’t know where people get ideas from, im raised to be
indepenedent to look for logic and conviction but then people try to tell u u cant and we
wont let u
highest form of hypocrisy,
surreal sense of reality,
do u think this is specific to U of I or pervasive
I think its pervasive, but every location, every institution u can trace back specific
incidents decisions policies, power sttructures, groups, ideas, trends, I could talk about
each of those very specificaully for U of I but on different scopes and different locations
and different areas and each of them informs the other
u cant alk about the way foreign policy informs domestice policy and vice versa
they way both of those infornm U of I policies na tht mass populations
academic insitutions and the way they run ifnroms the other
we lookin to reform our student policies and we lookin at other universities struggles they
went trhough and policies they made
we can talka bout development of ethnic, religious studies,
Private universities spearhead, my observation, have so much fundingm,t hey can do and
pionerer things more, public insitutuoiins follow
also depends on how affluent and well established reputation is
thats one realm but u look ato ther public unis and what theyre doing
islamic studies proghram and we look at what they doing
private unis are not liable to Churhc/state speration
but no we have public unis that have set precendence and equal to private unis
how much money allocated, professors, currciculum
each informs
histories intertwined and telling of larger patterns
media feeds into it a lot a a lot a lot
7th cent. Stoic, a man will not allow anyone to penetrate his body yet he allows anyone
who passes by to penetrate his mind.
I used to listen to music so much and now I’ve gone cold turkey, its hard to fihgt the
stereotypes that ppl put onto you especially when u think its true.
Fanatic, intolerant, I get annoyed because I can identify music by the littlest snippets and
I get really annoyed cuz to me its seems like ppl allowing this to seep into and take over
their consciousness
it relates int erms of media works and how affects people, how they treat people and
tehmselves
when muslims think about themselves, cuz ur facing problems in the family unit,
Peopls inability to acknoledge what other ppl going thru, I see things as minor but they
add up and get bad
one time im asked where im from, no problem, but so many times when never before in
ur life, it gets bad
After I began wearing the headscarf, in a matter of a few
days I was asked more times than I had in my whole life up to that point where I was
from. And people would speak slower and louder, like I got deaf all of a sudden
you have to put urself in the other person shoes, How wonderful people think im from a
foreign country and I don’t belong here, now I can change their opinions
this problem is present on campus, do u think its something the unviersity can change
Yes but I don’t htink ppl realize that or know how to articulate it or how to translate it
into reality
u look at the fac tthat we have a hostile and abuseive campus, as documented by UCLa
and reports of americna association of sociologists, psychological association
Racist Campus climate, people don’t know, people are at a loss of acknolweding that,
pinpoint why thats case, ppinopointing, whose responsibilirty, fault it is, what cahnges to
make, who makes those changes, how do you implement those change,s all of those can
be talked about
I can name names, incidents, policies, practices, thats sort of the broad scope,
the lack of knowledge that people are getting in the classrooms absolutely effects it. This
is maybe that last formal period where u gain knowledge about the world at learge before
u are deemed adults, and its sort of late in the game too but its sort of one spot, the
university is a microchasm of the larger society, the kind of garbage that in the DI is
reflective of the garbage in the national discourse, the perceptions our studfents have
reflet a large r society and communties they came from
The University can also establish an Islamic studies program, and give more though to
the type of speakers that they bring down. If you bring Islam bashers on campus, and give
legitimacy to their discourse, that will cause some problems. If you’re not bringing
people who can shape the discourse in a positive way, that is a very significant factor
Islamic studies has direct implications for foreign policy
think about what that does for career paths and access to power, who gets tenure without
the same academic rigor
our policies for hate crimes, and intolerances,
there are lots and lots of different ways
student orientations, how stuff happens in the dorms,
INTERVIEWEE 13
Have you ever been discriminated against?
Hate crime no. discriminated against, probably, I guess acts of intolerance would prbbly
qualify more. But small things that u wouldn’t think would be big.
Name some small things
Sexist kind of thingd but at the same time very directed so u know this happed cocuple
times, we were out, me and other hijabi friends and I dunno we always get very pointed
remarks, or gestures, oftentimes we get gestures, like sexualized gestures, I know its
because ur in hijab and not just cuz ur a girl cuz other scantily clad girls they are not
doing that to
Other tines ull be walking and um and I can remember one time we were walking past
and another group of drunk guys saw me and the guy just said really loudly “so how
boout them Muslims don’t u wish they would go blow themselves up” , something very
pointed and and im a very, its good thing ppl are with me, cuz when they happen I don’t
think very much, and I could end up getting hurt
I can tell from ppls body language, surprisingly that a very racialized thing as well, for
instance I get more body language that says How Dare You from African American girls,
just very like if I wlak into a room I feel like they feel like im threating or challenging
them
Most people are just, they just like to look, theyre just curious
Theres a lot of discrimination against Muslims in the community as well, in a lot of
communities unfortauntely,
Not even discrimination but insensitivity. Basically just not being aware or being aware
but just not giving enough care to the fac thtat there are a lot of other muslim sin the
world and community that don’t appear to the eye. They do appear to the eye though and
I can understand that if u have a majority things will be catered to them but at least be
sensitive to the fact that not everybody is what you are.
Specific examples, so something very small and doesn’t make a big deal and I know that
ppl who did it are good hearted but for instance at Mom and dads day, some of the msa
guys put on a skit which was funny I think but basically giving stereotypical parents
disciplining a child, south asian parent discipling their child and arab parent dsicliping
their chold and they did it in those languages, south asian did it in urdu, u could get the
gist of it but the entire time was in urdu and the entire most of the population of parents
are laughing their heads off and u ave the other people who don’t understand it just
smiling awkwardly and twiddling their thumbs and u switch to the arabs and u still have a
desi doing it, but just said Phrases in Arabic (alhamdulillha, astagfirulah)
Like sellin a product, buy this and it’ll discipline ur kids for u
U could appreciate the humor but I had to feel bad for my parents who couldn’t
undestand it, I just wish ppl would be sensitive to the fac that tyou have other ppl that u
don’t ever seem to recognize, things don’t seem to be based on race,
I want race to be ignored if it will be ignored for everyone but if its not going to be
ignored for everyone then…
Basically, I don’t think anyone should be ignored, but in a perfect world I donbt think
race should play a part unless they include every race that it is there
Would u mind if they played off AA stereotypes
Prbbly, because these are stereoptypes of Muslims, S.A. and Arab but with African
Americans there is no African American Muslims culture visible to them so they would
have just stereotyped all African Americanbs, which wouild unfortunately be very
negative, things like pimping and prostititution
What about the masjid community
It seems very diverse, even like jumuah prayers, there are so many AA muslim brothers I
see come in there, the board seems to have a wide representation, its just unfortunate u
don’t have that in the membership of the msa, and u don’t have that represented. To me
its such a diverse community, I don’t know why msa isn’t it
I don’t think we make enough effort, I don’t really know many aa Muslims on campus
and I know I haven’t done my duty to include them, never really see them , I prbbly stay
away for same reasons that msa ppl stay away cuz when ppl lead a very different
lifestyle, u can be friends and chat and find common ground but u wont really mesh if u
share very different lifestyles
But at the same time if we tried to branch out and invite people in we could start sharing
more common lifestyles
Allah will not help a people until they change themselves, insensitivity will not change
against us until we end it within ourselves.
How would u like to see them branch out
First and foremost, individual members getting involved in other otrganizations, not jus
one heavily religion based, for instance not just stuff to do with faith
Taking the rami approach and like back in the prophets time ppl who came first were
poor people, minorities, least of society so I feel like that a pretty good route, get
involved with oraganizations that are not the majority, of course that also means sending
out liaison ppl which would be like myself, if I chad closer ties to CBSA, in my first year
I felt limited and shy, if I had stayed with them we prbbly would have had closer contacts
Im sure, there are way too many black Muslims in Chicago for there to not be sizeable
here and all these people on facebook that are clearly muslim, African countries, muslim
names, its really complicated because sometimes it is kind of hopeless seeming cuz
typically in order to get into the population unlike urself u send someone like them and
that woul dbe , I grew up in arab peoples,
I would like to see us getting with more cultural organizations like la Casa and native
American students and Malaysian students also. Even though they have their own
community. Us going in and doing stuff with them, involving ourselves with their
campaigns.
What has your experience been here at U of I?
Do you know anything about other people’s experiences here on campus.
Someone walking down Lincoln in front of the mosque and someone yelled something
about osama, another one,, same thing in front of green street
Some muslim girls who don’t wear hijab were walking outta fastathon, they saw a guy
wearing Arab garb, and he had a fake bomb strapped to himseld and he yelled stuff at
them that he was dressed as a terrorist, and that he was Persian
Anything else?
I don’t really feel like thinking about it. But it is everyday life.
One of my friends started wearing hijab in college, and in the beginning she was walking
down Green Street and someone yelled at her to take that thing off her head cuz Ur IN
America
Generally things that happen are when we are together, in groups
7. how long have u been on campus
2 years, ending of second year
8. as far as the outside community, do you think there has been a difference in
reaction to Muslims?
9. do u notice any difference between the atmosphere here and back home?
I don’t know that two places kind of, lemme think, bridgeview no. downtown Chicago I
would consider mostly my home. No, the only thing I really get in Chicago is evangelical
black Muslims to get me to see the light and accept jesus Christ as my lord and savior
On campus u just get more ignorant, childhood stuff, drunk people talk, that kinda thing
But im a lot more comfortable here doing things, like praying in public
Like I used to have major problem praying back home in public because it’s a university
atmosphere I expect ppl, even if they don’t, I expect they should, and its not my fault if
they don’t, they need to be exposed, its ur duty to be exposed here to all sorts of cultures,
which is a double standard but that’s life, double standards,
10. do you think there is a problem on campus?
Yes, for one, I believe that because its kinda like the hijab issue, once u wera it ur
paranoid about everything, I think our paranoiad plays a role, we see discriminations,
stereotyping and double standards ine verything that happens and if u look for it ull
find it, but theres it,
Not coincidence thigns that happen everyday jus cuz ur Muslims
So there is a proble, unforutanely, university doesn’t acknowledge it
11. anything the uni can do about it?
Yes. I dunno they can have a sensitivity class in the beginnng of freshmen year and
transfer students.
How would that jhelp
Gtet them exposed to at least realizing that there are a lot of different ppl on this campus,
and u should at least be sensitive to the fac thtat there out there and u wont be exposed to
just ur everyday norm that u were in high school if that was the case.