As a Muslim who lives in the West, lately I’ve been thinking about belonging and identity. Something that, like many other Muslims in the west, have been reminded of constantly having grown up in a post 9/11 world. Where my community is designated fifth column status, a suspect community. And especially now, as the horrific genocide of the people of Gaza continues, the world turns a blind eye, because Palestinians do not conform to the more desireable demographic; they are Arab, Muslim, non White. And with that in mind, I wanted to mention some books that speak to these themes. Some of the books mentioned are books that have helped me to understand the world around me, and how I move as a Muslim in this world. In particular, Malcolm X’s autobiography is unbelievably insightful and Asim Qureshi’s collection of essays truly is a love letter to the Muslim youth of this country. I have also included books that I have yet to read but touch on these topics.
Books
I Refuse to Condemn
A virtue of disobedience
Malcom x autobiography
Tangled in Terror
Seeing for Ourselves
It’s not about the burqa
Veiled threat
Don’t forget us here
Between two moons
