A school’s Muslim students commiserate, educate, and share stories

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

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In the wake of violent attacks, both in the United States and abroad, that have been linked to Islamic extremists, many Muslims in Philadelphia feel increasingly marginalized.

They say the sometimes inflammatory rhetoric in the media and on the presidential campaign trail unfairly stereotypes their faith and ignores their individual humanity.

Muslim students at a Philadelphia public high school came together this week to counteract what they see as a narrow-minded narrative.

Eleventh grader Ijanae Alexander can remember vividly the first time she truly felt victimized for her faith.

"I was crossing Spring Garden and this man was on a skateboard. And he told me: ‘Go home, you terrorist.’ But the question that was on my mind was: ‘Is home the hospital that I was born in? Is home the house that I live in? Where is home?’" she asked. "This is my home. I was born in Philadelphia. I was born in the States, so where else is home?"

Alexander was one of about a dozen Muslim students who gathered to share stories this week at an afterschool forum held at the Academy at Palumbo High School in South Philadelphia.

Before a library packed with peers of all backgrounds, the students emphasized the peaceful nature of the Islamic faith and decried those who prejudged them for their religion.

Being harassed on the street unprovoked was a common tale.

"On the other side of the street, someone started shouting at me, saying, ‘You, the one with the blue book bag, you f—ing terrorist.’ And it took me a long time to process what happened," said Fahima Shobarna, a sophomore at Palumbo. "And as I continued walking, I got into the train because I was going home, and I started crying. It impacted me so badly, and I started shaking."

Many students expressed frustration with the violent extremists who they say distort the Qu’ran.

"You don’t say, ‘I’m a Muslim, that’s why I’m shooting somebody,’" said freshman Ahmad Ahmad. "If you were truly a Muslim, you wouldn’t be out here shooting somebody, because you know that’s not what we believe in."

Based on his skin tone, Ahmad says, people often mistake him for being Latino.

"And when people, even fellow Muslims, when they hear me speak Arabic, say, ‘Oh, you’re Muslim?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ But they’re like, ‘But you just don’t look like it.’ Which is weird," he said, "because I never knew a religion had a face."

Read the rest of this story at NewsWorks