America, a Dish for Others?

By: Nina Salameh

Throughout my childhood, I thought that America was a dish reserved for others. Growing up in a post-9/11 world, other kids took my Arab identity as a threat and a joke. Every day, people would grab my school lunch to see what new “foreign food” I’d brought, calling it stinky. It felt normal for me to see my grandparent’s home country, Syria, in bright red letters on CNN, normal to worry for their safety. Finally, I realized something was deeply wrong with this treatment; I went with my mom to her drivers’ license exam, only to have her be turned away at the door. When she asked why, an employee looked at her with disdain saying, “You know what you did.” Seeing such blatant discrimination towards my own mother shook me to my core, especially after being desensitized to my own experiences.

I entered high school with a newfound belief; that identity didn’t mean anyone deserved discriminatory treatment. Because of America’s incessant involvement in my ancestor’s land, I was aware of how politics can selfishly destroy a country—and decided there would be nothing better than using this avenue to empower my community. I got involved with the ACLU, working on policy to help other minorities, and started the first Arab Student Union in my high school. I also interned for a local congressman, which allowed me to learn the ins and outs of policy making. I realized that politics, though the cause of my community’s downfall, would also be the key to our liberation. 

Now in college, I see the people who used to bully my “stinky” food dining at the newest Middle Eastern brunch place. The culture around me has shifted, at least on the surface level. As a queer Arab-American, maybe I should be celebrating; but as social justice becomes ingrained within social clout, everyone suddenly seems to care about my community. And serving as the political director of the Middle Eastern Center, I don’t see those who post in “solidarity” at any of our fundraisers. So, I remain where I know power lies—local politics. Organizing has given me a venue for my advocacy, given me hope. It has made me realize America is a dish for all to share. I just have to take the first bite.