The Expressions Narrative Project is a platform dedicated to the voices and perspectives of Muslim women, from activists and artists to professors and political representatives. This blog showcases personal narratives expressing Muslim women's thoughts, opinions, and lived experiences.
Seeing my parents succeed in their small businesses infected me with the same entrepreneurial bug. From a young age, I wanted to do my own thing and be my own boss. I would pitch my ideas to my mom, and if she liked my pitch, she would lend me a few dollars to get started. I was always a great saleswoman, so I would use her loan to buy stock—clothing, jewelry—and sell it to my friends and my peers.
Read MoreAs I read my way through the books in my high school library, I saw a stark disconnect between Muslims in the media and the everyday Muslims I saw in my community. Mainstream books skew Islam as either 1) a backward culture that the protagonist must overcome and redefine or 2) a superficial aesthetic in which Arabic or South Asian names and Islamic architecture are used, while everyday practices like prayer, charity, or hijab are foregone. This observation paved the way for Shaherazad Shelves years later.
Read More
