Rio Olympics 2016: Why Ibtihaj Muhammad is Changing America

Worldview
August 13, 2016
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I saw this headline and my jaw dropped: “Muslim Fencer Wears Hijab in Rio“. I thought “Who does this and releases it in a publication” But it’s really no different from what was done to Simone Manuel. And I’m not the only one pointing these things out…that women who are doing it big in the Olympics are identified by their race and not their name along with their specific athletic accomplishment.

What is that about?

I won’t go down the rabbit hole of race and gender in America or any other country in America. I’ve got plenty of stories of my own of how both have colored my experiences and interactions with others and left a bad taste in my mouth. But what I did do is point out that these newscasters really need to get themselves straight and give these women their due. By identifying them by name and not making comments and

In Ibtijah’s case, I want to point out that she’s a person beneath her hijab and I think it’s deplorable that her hijab is even making headlines. And I want to point out that she is changing America by challenging us to recognize our hypocrisy. If we pride ourselves on being a melting pot, why are we singling out one of our American shining stars because she’s Muslim and wore her hijab? So I want to honor the person that she is.

For instance, did you know that:

-She attended Duke University

-She is African-American

-She is a businesswoman: she owns Luella, a clothing line

I didn’t either. So cheers to Ibtihaj Muhammad for representing Black women in a sport that historically has not had very much diversity and for being an accompished person in her own right. And thank you to those who are calling these newscasters out on their unprofessionalism.