My direct cultural environment is a research cohort of eight diverse and talented students from various parts of the country (Oklahoma, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Virginia). We are all united based on age, gender identity, and similar interests. Many of us come from psychology, law, sociology, criminology, and social work backgrounds, where many of our theories, practices, and beliefs intersect. All of us have varying personal beliefs in terms of religion and perspective, which I have found extremely satisfying and fulfilling. One of the researchers is Muslim, and we all came together to celebrate the holiday “Eid,” which was a very fun holiday to partake in! We listened to pop Arabic music, made chocolate cake, and played games. Partaking in that helped shape my understanding of the religion. Muslim identity has become extremely polarized in the US, and being immersed in a holiday celebrating Muslim religion made it a more tangible and familiar concept for me. Christianity is the most common religion in the United States, and while I am spiritual and not in a practicing religion, participating in this holiday made me realize just how little I knew about the Muslim faith.
In addition to this, I have accompanied one of the researchers who is a practicing Muslim to the local Arabic grocery store. Just experiencing this was a neat experience in itself, as it was a taste of an aspect of Arabic culture and language. Understanding both Muslim and Arabic cultural nuances, as well as the scope of cultures that Muslim identity encompasses, has been incredible to learn about. I have learned so much thus far about what it is like to grow up in the US with a background that has been highly polarized, and feel like this program and my experiences within it based on friendships has opened my eyes to this almost accepted discrimination.
For our social outing this week, we toured Central High School, where the Little Rock Nine attended school during the desegregation era. This was an incredible experience that demonstrated a monumental and inhumane experience that these nine high schoolers experienced due to the intense racism present within the South, and the immense strength that is difficult to fathom that they possessed despite the severe obstacles they faced.
HSF House Blogs 