Diversity is something that was so common and comfortable at the same time when I first came to America. Dressing differently than other people from different religions didn't make me feel any less or awkward. It felt like home when people accepted me and showed love, even the strangers. That was the America in an era full of respect for each other, freedom of wearing whatever you want, and supporting the citizen no matter what background they are from. I have never realized the comfort I felt back then would vanish after seven years even after becoming the legal citizen of the US, I'd be treated like an outsider fearing when they would attack me. And this fear didn't come from my fellow citizens, it was aggregated by the leader of the country I was thinking my own. It's not just my story, it's the story of every girl who is considered outsider and weird just because we choose to show our religion on our head. It takes a lot of bravery to accept the fact that we will face hate and disrespect and still walk out everyday with covered head. My religion is accused of many things, one of them mainly that concerns me is being the religion of terrorist. I have not done anything yet They still make me feel like I'm a criminal. This is what I showed in my collage, some issues I carry with me for just being muslim. Background colors shows the flag colors of Pakistan, that is a huge part of me. Colors on my face and body is the flag of the US, as it's what I am now, a part of America. I took this picture holding the whiteboard kind of resembling to the one taken at police station when you are charged for a crime. On white board I showed some parts of the issues I or other muslims face cause they are being associated with Islam.
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