#but my blood still boils at the islamophobia + the generalizations of arab people in general

[stuckinapril]

so fucking real !! there’s racism. and then there’s anti-arab racism

being american w ethnic origins during this time is crazy (esp if you’re ethnically arab) bc you genuinely get the vibe that americans who don’t hail from multicultural backgrounds (typically white people) do truly think that the us is basically The World. they have no concept of actual societies, civilizations, just actual human beings existing outside of it. and that is both devastating and embarrassing

[mahinourabdou]

POST #1 (WEEK 3)

“We Are Welcome Here Too!”

Oil on double primed 18x24 canvas.

It is VERY IMPORTANT if you read the whole description, because this painting is not only important, but significant to those who are victims and still now being labeled as “different” types of human beings. I stand for Black Lives Matter and the Muslim, Hispanic, Latino, and Asian communities for this.

“Do you feel oppressed while wearing that head scarf over you?” “LET ME SEE YOUR HAIR!” “Oh my god, this terrorist has a bomb in her backpack!” “*gasps* DID YOU HEAR THAT WORD (ALLAH)? SHE IS AMONG US I TELL YOU!”——These type of slurs, discriminatory commentary, and uneducated attitudes are the reason why inequality exists, and I… no, WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH! Every single day, whatever the percentage rate or most growing hate comments/crimes increased are coming from how a high or middle-high class families (mostly being white) that label us being ‘different’ in a way that makes our blood boil. If a white individual, however, stands for that person of different race, religion, and/or color, and would do whatever it takes to make them recognized just like a real human being, then that truly is what equality should feel like.

That’s why in this painting, I describe what had been going on on few parts of the Middle East (Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, etc.) and what currently is happening at the mean time (Islamophobia, hate crimes, racial slurs by bully/abuse, harassment, etc.) I finished this piece exactly on 9/11 of this month but the day after that I had to add that piece of cloth for materiality. The piece f cloth is cropped off from my old tank top I had as sleepwear from overseas of Egypt, because, well, what else was there to ear during such heated weather experience? But, I want this piece of cloth to act as a damp fabric that can occupy the feel of the subject matter (being formed of shapes and colors of blue and light yellow) as if she is entering the real world to find herself the opportunity, love, community offers, and all sorts of good benefits she would end up in without having to overthink about the opposite of good benefits not only in America but anywhere else from the whole globe.

I hope I’m not the only Egyptian American Muslim to have to exemplify this sort of situation everyday, but has anyone ever heard this term before? I sure hope this is still being said by any supremacy-like white male or female anywhere of the United States of America, or the world in general: “Why are you still here when you were the one behind all what happened on 9/11. I hope they find you and kill you!” This is just an example, or, if I’m right, a real life-threatening and heart wrenching question that would upset and yet trigger a LOT (and I MEAN A LOT) of Muslims and those around them. What is still going on today is unbelievable, because what had happened on 9/11 was a tragically heartbroken day for all, and I MEAN ALL of us ! Not just the Americans, but also those whom were refugees, foreign tourists, and immigrants coming to America for the first time, or have lived in America for quite a while, to see such a atrocious act of hijacking incident plumbing towards the unforgettable Twin Towers. Till this day, Muslim Arabs and Arab Americans are still being approached as what others see them labeled as “terrorists”—FYI I do not particularly use the term “hate” on anything or anyone, but I REALLY HATE THAT WORD SO MUCH it triggers me the most when someone insults a Muslim or any Arab for being labeled like so, and it still hurts me day after day. But, what also came across my mind from this piece that I am not only showing a representation of a Muslim woman in her hijab getting ready to experience the valid nature of the world, but it also goes to other people who are form different places across the globe as well: Blacks, Hispanics and Latinos, Asians, Europeans, Canadians, and Indians whom are also the victims facing the same discriminatory/racist outbursts form the entire Earth. If, for once, in a human being would at least take a lecture or go back to school, read a book, and take notes about how beautiful Islam truly is, because in it, everyone is welcome to learn, acknowledge, adapt, and become converted to Islam one day. And because Islam is so beautiful, there is no such thing as hate, racism, or discrimination in it—just prayers, love, generosity, kindness, and knowledge. It takes a real human being to become a hero to save people like me and you, because, as titled, we are welcome here, too!