Maybe it is not good to hold things inside, but I have. And I must write about it. In the recent weeks I have watched as my religion has once again become the source of people’s hatred. I guess I should have saw this coming. But reluctance to see the truth and my dismissal of the inevitable has made the recent events against Islam, so shocking that I feel as if I am losing my faith in my country, America. The land from whence I came.
It all started on September, 11, 2001. I was an eleven year old African American Muslim girl attending a charter school targeted to African American children in my hometown of Philadelphia. Up until that day I had learned to hide my faith, pretending I was a Christian to better be able to assimilate with my peers. When our teacher informed us that there had been “bombings” in New York (we didn’t know about the planes yet) I was taken aback, shocked. I remember some of the kids in my class already forming the conclusion that the act had been committed by Muslims. One boy with a frown on his face even asked another classmate what religion he was.
I remember the days that followed how anti-Islamic sentiment resonated all across America. In one day Muslims had went from largely unnoticed to the new Nazis bent on the destruction of the Western world. New names like Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Afghanistan once unbeknownst to me became apart of my vocabulary, thoughts, and what people associated with me. I listened as kids at my school talked about how we should boycott the “Crown Chicken” restaurants in our neighborhoods because they were mostly owned by Middle Easterners. I remember trying to convince my friends that Saudi Arabia was in Africa so we couldn’t hate them because they were African. I remember when the war in Afghanistan first began and how when I spoke out against it in my social studies class by saying “but we’ll kill their children”, my teacher and a student said in unison “they kill our children”. As if two wrongs made a right. And the killing of another’s child is okay because our children have been killed.
But things eventually started to die down over the next few years. Until once again, Muslims were put in the spotlight with the buildup of the Iraq war. I watched as people were classified as unAmerican and supporters of Muslim terrorism if they didn’t support the war. How another 9/11 would happen if we didn’t strike “them” first.
Things eventually died down again after a few years. Until a man named Barack Hussein Obama was running for president and the “he’s a Muslim” rumors started and picked up steam. Now add in the Fort Hood shootings, Anwar Al Awlaki, the Underwear Plane Bomber, the Times Square bombing attempt, and other events that have happened over the past nine years that tied Islam with evil, world subjugation, fascism, terrorism, and murder. Not to mention the reports of stoning of women, the Taliban’s treatment of women, Female genital mutilation, and the burqa that tie Islam with female oppression. I began to realize that in my country Muslim=Bad!!!
Oh yes, Muslim=Bad!!! And according to Robert Spencer, Pamela Gellar, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, France, Daniel Pipes, Ann Coulter, and FOX News; Islam is bent on the destruction of anyone who isn’t Muslim and it must be stopped! I can’t even watch a video on YouTube or read an article on Yahoo News about Islam without reading in the comments section stating how “Evil” Islam is and how the Prophet Muhammad was a “pedophile”.
Now we have the Park51 community center being built and all hell has broken loose. I watch as protestors of Park51 carry signs with Sharia written in red (to signify blood) and listen to one protestor refer to my beloved Prophet as a “pig”. I hear of a proposed mosque in Tennessee being protested with one protestor of that mosque telling Muslim women who will attend the mosque that “our laws don’t apply to you”, in reference to freedom of religion. And let’s not forget a “Pastor” down in Florida who wants to burn Qur’ans on the anniversary of 9/11, even though he’s said he has never read the Qur’an.
All this I watch from a distance and experience in my own day to day life. Whether it’s the ugly looks I get because of my hijab, the shouts of “Bitch!” at me from passing cars, the once courteous owner of the deli I used to frequent who now gives me the cold shoulder, even the scared looks I get from the same people who look like me (African Americans) who know (and still know) what it’s like to be the “other”. I still cannot believe this is the America which I came from. Maybe I should have listened to my Mother early on when she told me not long after 9/11, that things would get worse for Muslims here, that most non Muslims will prove that they hate us.
This hate from the very people who I considered my brothers and sisters in that we all share in the American Dream is tearing me apart. I know I am a Muslim and that will never change. But am I an American? How can that be when its own inhabitants don’t want me? Because to them I am a fascist, terrorist, oppressed, brainwashed, murderer bent on their destruction and subjugation. It’s either you’re American or Muslim, but you can’t be both. American Muslim has become an oxymoron. And I feel like I’ve been given an ultimatum. I guess I’ll pick Islam and live in obscurity or move to another country, crying over my lost faith in America.

Note: I didn’t really edit this much. It really just came from my heart. So please excuse the lack of structure and any grammatical errors.

Just throw on a hijab and this outfit is Fierce!

I love visiting Muslim fashion blogs, my favorite are Hegab Rehab, StyleCovered, and Hijabs High. I love each blog for different reasons, they each have a different tone and style but they all cater to Muslim women who want to Glamify (I know it’s not a word) their wardrobe.

Now I love fashion with a passion. I may wish to start my own fashion label one day (maybe!). And as a hijabi, I am always looking for a Muslimah on the street who rocking. I mean she may be properly covered, but she is still as hot as a candle. It annoys me when I see Muslimah’s walking around in nothing but black , looking like their going to a funeral, everyday! Now don’t get me wrong I loooovvvveeee black. It’s one of my favorite colors and think it looks darn good on me. But for me to wear it everyday, there is no way in hell that is going to happen! There is nowhere in the Qur’an or Sunnah that says a women can only wear all black! And if it doesn’t state it in either one of those sources, I don’t have time for it. A sister can where any color she wants! As long as the outfit is in accordance with the conditions of hijab why does the color of the outfit matter.

Now that being said, I understand that in different cultures, different colors symbolize different meanings. In western culture, black is a symbol of mourning, so to wear it everyday and especially, wear nothing else in but color, covered from head to toe will undoubtedly attract too much attention. The idea of hijab is to be modest not stick out like a freak show. Now in Middle Eastern culture, black is seen as a color of modesty, I suppose. So a sister wearing all black is not seen as unusual it is actually preferred. Now it does irritate me that in Mid East culture black is seen as the only appropriate colorfor women. I think this is an extreme they can do without. But I am not her to critique anyone’s culture, especially one I am not from.

But as Westerners color is embraced as long as it’s not too over the top. Someone walking down the street wearing all the colors of the rainbow, will definitely get some funny looks. Westerners like to have a good balance of color, not too much or too little, not too bright or not too dark.

I have a variety of colors in my wardrobe, from white to black. I have every color of the rainbow and wear them each with style and fierceness. I love to mix it up. I would love to see more Muslimah’s do this and not be afraid to step out and try something new and different. Because to be honest I see too many sisters who wear hijab with no style, they look so plain, dark, and drab that it hurts. If they threw in a little bit of color their style would increase about twenty points.

I am not here to criticize anyone’s choice of clothing or colors, for that matter. What one wears is one’s own decision. I just want to open up people’s minds about the choices they do have. If you wear all black, I have nothing against you. A sister can wear all black and still look fierce. I just don’t believe that it is Qur’an or Sunnah to only wear black. And Allah Knows Best.

Peace, Wiggy Wack ♥

A while back I wrote a post that touched on the topic of black self-hatred of nappy hair. I don’t know how popular the post is, but I suggest you read it.

Now, I am sure you have heard about the documentary “Good Hair” by Chris Rock. If you google it, there will be plenty of people who have written their two cents about the film. Some liked it, others didn’t. I have been wanting to see it since earlier this year, but when it finally came out I didn’t jump to go see it. Well, I am about to watch it now and when I finish I will write my own review on it.

Peace everyone. I just wanted to inform you all that in the coming months I will start posting vlogs on Youtube. It has been something that I have been thinking of for a while now.

I already have a Youtube account, but I only have one video on it. I really have become inspired to try out vlogging on Youtube and I think it will be fun! And who knows how far I will go.

I will make posts on a variety of topics. It will just be like this blog only in video. So, Insha ALLAH, next year around February I will debut Wiggy Wack TV. So stay tuned, I will alert you when I debut.

Note: I have put a link to my Youtube channel in the sidebar under the heading “Find Me On”.

Peace, Wiggy Wack ♥

Eid Mubarak! Ramadan is officially over. This Ramadan seemed to go so quickly. Insha ALLAH, all of you who fasted will receive a tremendous blessing for your sacrifice in ALLAH’S cause. Don’t forget to pay your Zakat-ul-Fitr. May ALLAH Reward and continue to Bless all of you.

Eid Kareem, Wiggy Wack ♥

Work Attire by Wiggy Wack featuring Brooks

This is something I would love wear to work one day.

This is the first airing of my show “Wiggy Wack Radio” on the website Blog Talk Radio. I just gave a brief introduction about myself, my show, and this blog. Please listen and enjoy.

Peace, Wiggy Wack ♥

I get a lot of people staring at me because they think I’m some Moslem terrorist who wants to kill a bunch of infidels. Now I don’t mind people’s ignorance, I try to be as respectful to all people as best I can. But what irritates me is when people stare at me when I am not looking and when I catch them staring at me, they turn their head away really fast. I want to tell these people “Hey, I saw you staring at me and I saw you trying to pretend you weren’t!”

First off, no one should stare at anyone it rude and impolite. Second, if you do stare at someone don’t turn your head away when they catch you. They see you and you look like a complete idiot!

Wiggy Wack ♥

Today, I had the opportunity to speak to three young ladies, who were Mormon missionaries. We conversed for about an hour on Islam and Christianity. It was an enlightening dialogue for everyone.

I am very fond of speaking with people from other faiths on Islam. I also like to learn about other peoples beliefs and practices.

I believe that all persons of faith should engage in more dialogue between each other, in order to overcome intolerance and misconceptions. So if you can, try speaking to someone of a different religion other than your own. You will learn a lot in the process and also educate someone else about your religion.

Love, Wiggy Wack ♥