BY SAFIYYAH ABD’LLAH
In November, I was one of several “books” in Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington’s first Human Library event. The Human Library is an international project “designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue,” according to the website humanlibrary.org.
The Ivy Tech–Bloomington project had 10 human books. “Books were selected on a category basis,” says Brad Thurmond, an assistant professor of psychology at Ivy Tech and a member of the Ivy Tech Diversity Committee, “but specifically geared toward individuals who have experiences that have brought about discrimination
or stigma.”
Approximately 130 patrons attended the event. As patrons arrived to select the books, the librarians (members of the Ivy Tech Diversity Committee) were responsible for making sure the books were available and, if so, checking out the book requested by each patron. It was similar to the procedure you use at your local library, only in this case the books were humans.
Some of the book titles were: Atheist; Living Life with My Anxiety and Depression; Elbe, A Transgender Woman and So Much More; and Single Mother of an Autistic Son. My book title was Muslim Woman.
At my first checkout, there were four young adult women sitting at a round table ready to hear my story. I started by introducing myself and briefly describing my time as an Ivy Tech student. I was somewhat relieved but also nervous to be talking about life as a Muslim woman and the conflicts I have endured because of it. Three groups checked me out that evening. In all I spoke with 15 individuals.
I have been going through a time of religious questioning, and many patrons’ questions were related to my decision to stop wearing the hijab (the traditional covering that many Muslim women wear), my parents’ reaction to this decision, and my feelings about my religion today. I responded to each patron’s questions, and ended each discussion by emphasizing my human right to choose my own path in life.
As for my stance on the religion today, I quoted the words of one of my favorite poets, Nayyirah Waheed, as she sums up my feelings perfectly:
“Islam is still in my life
we are old soul mates
who could not work out the knots against skin
but we still
sip tea
share our hands
touch hearts
every now and then.”
Safiyyah Abd’Llah, 21, is a student at Indiana University and an intern at Bloom Magazine.
