Racism, discrimination, and any form of prejudice is a gateway to oppression. As a result of that people are programmed to be discriminatory without even realizing it, as well as being discriminated against without even realizing.
I had the privilege to go on a recent school field trip to San Francisco, California for the National College Media Conference in early March.
A few days prior to my departure my mother called me with a worrisome tone. She expressed that she was nervous for me to travel and insisted that I did not travel alone but to meet with a classmate.
I assured her that me and my peers were all traveling together as our tickets were booked at the same time, and we all shared the same flight. She insisted that I wear ‘normal clothing’ such as, a jogging suit or jeans instead of my traditional Islamic dresses and head covering.
My mom expressed she couldn’t handle losing another child and that the “world is a dangerous place for Muslims right now.” She became more worried than usual due to the USA and Israel declaring war on Iran.
That morning she insisted on driving me to the airport. I made sure to wear a black and spartan blue Elgin Community College jogging suit I had recently purchased from school.
I also wore my hijab or head covering in a turban style instead of the traditional way that covered my neck.
I wanted to travel comfortably and put my mom’s heart and mind at ease. When she pulled up and saw what I was wearing she immediately said, “Thank you, and make sure you wear something similar on the way back.”
What we didn’t realize was that my wardrobe wasn’t going to prevent me from being ‘othered’.
Upon entering O’Hare airport I met up with my classmate Alex Vega.
Both Vega and I stood in line at the security check point. After finally making it to the front of the line, a Black female TSA agent working at O’Hare airport asked me to remove my hijab.
I said “no I can’t; I’m Muslim” and was then patted down. She asked me if I was carrying any gas, liquids, or batteries, and even searched my carry-on after going through the scanners.
It took me about 10 minutes to get through, while it took Vega about two. After finally reaching our boarding gate Vega and I met up with the rest of our classmates and professor.
My professor asked, “How was it getting through the check point?” When I explained my process, which I described as normal, I was made aware that my experience was not normal.
In fact, it was quite different from all of theirs.
No one had to answer any questions and their bags were not opened and searched. I didn’t realize I was being discriminated against until my professor informed me that what I experienced was not standard procedure.
At that moment, I was embarrassed that I didn’t realize I was being profiled. I shook it off, but it remained in the back of my mind.
Could my mom have been right? Was this the wrong time to be traveling? These are the questions flowing through my mind.
On the way back from San Francisco, ‘normally’ dressed in a hoodie and joggers, I and my peers navigated our way through the San Francisco National Airport. Within a few minutes, I was humiliated.
Upon reaching the security checkpoint, I was not allowed to go through the ‘normal’ detectors with my peers. I was told I had to use the Xray detector.
When I asked “why?,” I was ignored. Even though I was in the front of the line, I was held in place by TSA agents and forced to wait for others to go through detectors first.
I was once again asked to remove my hijab; this time by a white female TSA agent. Once I declined, she patted me down, went over my body with the handheld metal detector, and then she slid her fingers up my hijab so much that I had to hold it down so it would not come off.
The lady swabbed my hair and my hijab for “any chemical substances.” It was at that moment I felt like an alien.
I was being made to feel less than human. It was clear that I was once again being profiled.
I fought back tears as another TSA agent came over to check me also. They finally allowed me to go through the line and head toward my gate.
The mood grew somber as my peers looked at me not knowing what to say. I couldn’t sit in those emotions. I had to be strong for the comfortability of the group and act as if nothing had happened.
That experience reminded me of the words of a past client. He said, “To my people (Indians from India) you are equivalent to dirt. You’re a woman. You’re black, and you’re Muslim.”
For a brief moment, I felt as if that was the only way I or my children would ever be seen.
I am fully aware that not everyone thinks or feels this way. However, the majority of people do, and they don’t realize it.
To prevent yourself from ‘othering’ people, firstly and most importantly, lead in love and practice empathy. Secondly, be curious as it shows willingness to learn and genuine interest. And lastly, be aware and continuously acknowledge our shared humanity.
Celebrate and acknowledge our differences, but then find peace in knowing we are all one race and that’s the human race.
If you are someone who has been ‘othered,’ unfortunately, you can bear the burden of educating others, but always see that you do so. Educate yourself and others about the prejudices you face.
Remember, there are always resources available and to actively seek them out. Therapy helps and heals.
Also know that being ‘othered’ is not a reflection of you, but an ugly mirrored reflection of society’s biases.
