CELEBRATING CULTURAL MUSLIMS
A Creative Artistic Competition
The Results are In!
Our panel of celebrity judges have selected the best entries from our first-ever Celebrating Cultural Muslims creative contest.
People of cultural Muslim heritage are a growing part of America’s national tapestry – and a growing influence in American society. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, we cultural Muslims engage in a classic American tradition of creating roots infused modern identities. Muslim heritage becomes one component of our layered individual experiences.
This essay contest was designed to highlight these unique, individual stories and experiences. The winning entries are:
1st Place
“The Roots of My Science” [artwork] by Reyhaneh Maktoufi
Excerpt: “I have seen my cultural identity being separated from my scientific identity, whereas in reality, my cultural identity is built on a long historical line of scientists, explorers, and inventors…”
Excerpt: “When I was not being judged… I was comfortable and happy to call myself Muslim – it represented the foods, holidays, clothing, scents, and superstitions of my family… My Muslim heritage is a part of me, and I am not defined by stereotypes that others outside me hold.”
“I, Too, Am a Karachiite” [essay] by Alizay Jalisi
Excerpt: “As the receding tide bids me good night, I realize that I do not need to be able to speak Urdu – a rich rekhta (mixture) of Persian, Hindi and Arabic and the lingua franca used by Muslims under British colonial rule – to find meaning and belonging in my city and in my rich Muslim heritage. Karachi throbs with messages that are very fundamentally human – hope, persistence, self-advocacy and creative passion – and they will resonate with me if only I pay attention.”
“Dealing with Judgement” [essay] by Rana Elmorsy
Excerpt: “It’s clear that people need a deep reimagining of how diverse Muslims are. A gay girl with short hair and a nose piercing can be muslim. A man with tattoos covering his body can be muslim. A woman who got three divorces can be muslim. Ignorance is setting us back and it makes cultural muslims such as myself feel shame & guilt.”
“Time Differences” [essay] by anonymous
Excerpt: “The day in America is done at 6:30 pm. But there is no such thing in the depths of Anatolia. Pouring the scorching hot tea for guests, always visiting, dark red in the small glass cups, I would carry the tray cautiously, my hands shaking. The dark would hug me as I walked outside barefoot on the ochre-colored mosaic, which cooled my feet against the warm breeze of the night.”
“I Like to Think that Americans Aren’t Ignorant” [essay] by Rafay Adnan
“The culture of our religion is too beautiful to hide from the rest of the world. Our heritage is rich and vibrant, and we should work to share it and show the rest of the world that someone can be part of this culture, even if they don’t identify with the faith.”
“Breaking with Tradition” by Mary Johnson
“What was I doing anyway, a New Englander making Moroccan food? Where did New England fit into Ramadan? Was there room in Ramadan for the bright red maple trees and the long winters of my childhood? For the steeples and the statues of my heritage? Was there room for me?”
We would like to thank everyone who participated in this contest, and emphasize how many amazing entries were sent in; it is a shame we can only select so many.
Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you all!