Scan barcode
A review by drbooknerd
Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad
5.0
I already had been so proud (no pun intended, but for the lack of a better word) of Sr. Ibtihaj and how she has represented us American Muslims as far as I had seen on television and print media prior to, leading up to, during and after the 2016 Olympic Games. Of course, I had no idea of the things she had faced even during the triumphant moments - these broke my heart - especially when it came to her fellow Team USA colleagues. Honestly, I lost my respect for one certain Olympian who hails from the same city I grew up in and have lived most of my life in.
But aside from that - this book brought me great joy, and even brought me to tears a few times while reading - both because of the hard times she faced, as well as the success that followed. I loved hearing about how her parents met in the opening pages of the book, their early struggles as they raised Ibtihaj and her siblings. In some ways, I could relate to what her parents expected out of her - the high standards when it came to grades and the like.
In short, hearing her story through her own words only increased my respect for her, increased my desire for her to continue to succeed in all that she does in life and gave me hope in my own life, though my struggle may be of a different flavor. Yet, of course, the same lessons, hard truths and challenges are not unique to the human experience - and knowing that I am facing some of the same stigmas (though I will never be able to relate to being a Muslim, Black woman in the present moment, especially given the increased anti-Muslim sentiment in this nation) as a Muslim in America, it gives me so much hope and optimism that we have someone like Ibtihaj carrying the torch so-to-speak. and though she details that as her platform as a voice for American Muslims increased she felt some trepidation about this fact, I think she has handled it with such grace and poise.
This book is great for fellow Muslims of course, but also for those who are on the outside of this experience - as this will give them a glimpse of someone that may seem to have reached such a high pinnacle and enjoying all that comes with it, still suffers from the pain that comes with ignorance and hatred from others, be it her teammates or others, even though she had proudly represented our country on the world's biggest sporting stage - that it's not all smiles. And there is clearly a much longer journey still ahead on that account sadly. But I have full faith that given the difficulties she's faced thus far, she has all the tools to continue to prove doubters wrong, as she continues to achieve her dreams.
But aside from that - this book brought me great joy, and even brought me to tears a few times while reading - both because of the hard times she faced, as well as the success that followed. I loved hearing about how her parents met in the opening pages of the book, their early struggles as they raised Ibtihaj and her siblings. In some ways, I could relate to what her parents expected out of her - the high standards when it came to grades and the like.
In short, hearing her story through her own words only increased my respect for her, increased my desire for her to continue to succeed in all that she does in life and gave me hope in my own life, though my struggle may be of a different flavor. Yet, of course, the same lessons, hard truths and challenges are not unique to the human experience - and knowing that I am facing some of the same stigmas (though I will never be able to relate to being a Muslim, Black woman in the present moment, especially given the increased anti-Muslim sentiment in this nation) as a Muslim in America, it gives me so much hope and optimism that we have someone like Ibtihaj carrying the torch so-to-speak. and though she details that as her platform as a voice for American Muslims increased she felt some trepidation about this fact, I think she has handled it with such grace and poise.
This book is great for fellow Muslims of course, but also for those who are on the outside of this experience - as this will give them a glimpse of someone that may seem to have reached such a high pinnacle and enjoying all that comes with it, still suffers from the pain that comes with ignorance and hatred from others, be it her teammates or others, even though she had proudly represented our country on the world's biggest sporting stage - that it's not all smiles. And there is clearly a much longer journey still ahead on that account sadly. But I have full faith that given the difficulties she's faced thus far, she has all the tools to continue to prove doubters wrong, as she continues to achieve her dreams.