Dalia Mogahed is one of the American-Muslim community’s leading activists and writers. She co-authored the book Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, and is currently Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Not to mention you can often catch her on a cable news show, always shining an intelligent light.
In 2016, she gave a powerful Ted Talk, opening with a simple question: What do you think when you look at me…? A woman of faith? An expert? Maybe even a sister? Or… oppressed, brainwashed, a terrorist…?
She continues and takes us through what being a Muslim woman living in America means – from her decision as a teenager to “come out” (i.e. her decision to wear hijab) to the brutal impact on 9-11, saying, “In a flash, somebody else’s actions had turned me from a citizen to a suspect.” She discusses on a personal level how Islamophobia affects her and her family, and talks frankly about extremism and ISIS.
Her Ted Talk is a must listen…. relatable, touching, funny… and real.
