The American Muslim Fourth of July
Written by Zayna, Muslim Civic Coalition Intern
The American-Muslim community comprises both immigrants who left their home countries in pursuit of better lives, education, and opportunities, and those whose ancestors were brought to the United States enslaved, forming a distinct African American identity. Many sacrifices were made with the belief that hard work and assimilation would lead to the utopian ideal of the American dream.
As a third-generation Muslim American, my perception of Independence Day has adapted over time. I have fond memories of family and friends being invited over on a warm summer evening as my father grilled burgers and kabobs. My mother bought sparklers, bubbles, glow sticks, and little American flags, that we would run around with in the backyard. Afterwards, we would walk down the packed streets trying to find a perfect spot to put our blankets and lawn chairs down to watch the fireworks at our local high school.
However, as I grew up, my perception of this holiday dimmed. In school, the idea of celebrating "Independence" became increasingly confusing. We were supposed to be commemorating the freedom of our country, yet still, I was studying the struggles for civil rights, including the Jim Crow era, the women's suffrage movement, and the Asian Exclusion Act. Learning about these systematic injustices even after our nation’s independence made me question the inclusivity of that freedom—realizing that I would not have been able to exercise the rights I was supposed to have. So what was I supposed to be celebrating?
Over time, it became clear that the rights I had memorized for quizzes did not apply to my Muslim brothers and sisters. I heard stories of hate crimes and became wary of sharing my religion with my peers. Headlines of masjids being targeted were brought up at dinner tables, and security presence increased at my masjid. I distinctly remember hearing former President Obama being called a "Muslim" as an insult and being very confused. Later, under the Trump administration, the "Muslim Ban" and the rhetoric of terrorism re-emerged in mainstream media. The discrimination I have witnessed highlights the struggles faced by many marginalized communities—being attacked and murdered on American soil, having their opportunities stripped away, and their voices silenced. So I asked myself again, what was I supposed to be celebrating?
As I observe the life that my grandparents built, then my parents built, and now the one I am starting to build for myself, I notice that Muslims have always been fighting for our voices to be heard and our lives to be valued. This is the ultimate form of patriotism. In a land where we are not always welcome in the traditional sense, our communities were able to adapt and thrive, thus redefining what it means to be an American.
As a community, we claim our lawn chairs, wave our sparklers, speak our minds, and build iman alongside our fellow Americans. We are a people who have faced adversity and deserve to celebrate. We must continue to fight as the rights of others are being threatened because we have seen this before. These actions will continue to redefine our patriotism, echoing Langston Hughes' words, "I too sing America."
I, Too
By Langston Hughes 1901 – 1967
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
