IDENTITIES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

Today was very interesting listening to Bliqees and her overview about the Muslim culture. Having some previous knowledge about Muslim culture and hearing and envision more culture illustrating in my own mind and eyes enhance my knowledge. This was beautiful to understand and recognize a community that is generally overlooked. The community is so acceptable of many cultures and individuals as well as denies those who disrespect that particular culture. I enjoyed listening to all the exciting stories that made so much significant facts about each meaning, such as the colorful houses that represented that it was an “official” home to call yours and that the community shared different communal identities. Most importantly, it was more inspiring to know when the Muslims from India were taken away from their land and brought to Up Cape-Uptown Cape Town, South Africa-as slaves; they struggled, fought and strived to keep their cultural traditions. Although, they were deprived from practicing their cultural beliefs and losing their native names, they still found ways to keep their heads held high. They were taken away for labor purposes from one place to another from the notions of the colonizers or oppressors that would make the “others” use of work. Speaking back to dignity, when the people were brought here they were stripped from their identities and given another. This made it harder for the natives to relocate their roots and ancestors. Living a life two identities only meant that a person did not exist because a name was an important part of who a person was. Now created into a person who they are not, reshapes their mentality and the way they perceive the world.
The community has put up a struggle and fight to maintain the remaining of dignity and identity that they have. With that being said it is as though I relate to this situation similarly with a different aspect. I live in Denver and I commute to Boulder for school. Although when I get to Boulder I “switch” my personality into an identity to relate somewhat to the life of a Boulder college student. Compared to at my home, I am freely to be myself and do what I like to my satisfaction without being judged or told something different. It would make life easier if both sides of my life could know me as N’yKeyia NaShar’ee Chambliss and not judge me or over generalize me. I wonder what it could be like to have two different communities joined by one person and know them for who they are and not what they are.
This reminds me of a conversation that I had with Lebo at the Backpackers about community. This community is continuously building and creating many optimistic ways to a stronger community. Again to reiterate the great job that Lebo is doing providing good deeds to himself and the community he cares about. It tells and shows me that there is a possibility. Also he mentioned that he is working on expanding this idea to other parts of the country. This was inspiring to know because I look at his project in the eyes of the kids and what future that they can have.