Jacksonville teen: Empathy and education pivotal in dismantling Islamaphobia, other bias
In the United States, as a proud Iraqi American Muslim teenager, I'm no stranger to the stinging reality of Islamophobia and xenophobia, especially within the walls of my school. During turbulent global crises such as the Afghan conflict ― or more recently, the war in Gaza ― baseless assumptions and hurtful comments become all too familiar.
Despite being neither Afghan nor Palestinian, I have often found myself forced to defend situations I wasn't entirely informed about, because of my faith and heritage.
A spike in bias incidents against Muslims across America over the last month has deeply troubled me. The Council on American-Islamic Relations received 774 reports of bias incidents and requests for help from Muslims across the U.S. from Oct. 7 to Oct. 24; that’s a 182% jump from the average 16-day period in 2022.
Actual Muslims aren’t the only ones at risk. Anyone perceived to be Muslim, including Arabs who belong to other faith groups or Sikhs, may also be targeted by Islamophobes. In New York, a 19-year-old Sikh boy was attacked on a bus by an assailant who tried to remove his turban on Oct. 15.
As a young Muslim striving for peaceful co-existence, this lack of understanding amongst each other is troubling. My personal journey to advocate for refugees and foster cultural understanding stems from my family's experience ― escaping threats in Iraq, seeking refuge in the United States and eventually settling in Florida.
My mother's graceful approach to ignorance, educating others about our traditions and heritage, inspires me to navigate misunderstandings with respect, kindness and compassion.
However, it's not just my own experiences that motivate me. It's the painful encounter my 11-year-old sister faced — a disturbing incident where she was targeted with disturbing anti-Muslim hate speech by another young peer in the past few weeks.
Outrage for my sister's experience, paired with my own familiarity with discrimination, serves as a potent catalyst to speak out. These days, members of our family are often told to “go back to Palestine,” even though we came to the United States from Iraq. In the wake of 9/11, I was asked if I knew Osama Bin Laden.
We look foreign and we have brown skin. Racism and islamophobia are a part of our lives in America but seeing my younger sister, who is just 11, fall victim to it all is deeply sad.
Empathy and education are pivotal in dismantling Islamophobia. Many studies, such as those conducted by the Pew Research Center, reveal the significant impact of personal connections in shaping opinions. It's disheartening that despite negative views about Islam held by many Americans, over half admit to not personally knowing a Muslim.
This lack of personal interaction contributes to the perpetuation of misconceptions about Islam and its followers. We all need to get to know each other better on a personal level as Americans.
Schools play a pivotal role in shaping young minds and it's crucial for educators to foster an environment of inclusion and understanding. Encouraging open discussions, providing accurate information and promoting cultural sensitivity are essential in dismantling ignorance that fuels prejudice and discrimination. We must be inclusive when we form student governance councils and place an emphasis on creating safe space to discuss these issues.
It's paramount that we all stand together in compassion, understanding and unity. Only through collective efforts can we combat deeply entrenched prejudices, creating a world where every individual, irrespective of faith or background, is respected and valued.
Dana Aljubouri is a 10th-grade student in Jacksonville.
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Local Muslim teen sees rise in hate speech, counters with compassion
