It’s Not Easy by Mohamed Cisse
“The students were reminded by none other than Kermit the Frog that ‘It’s not easy being green.’ They were then asked to consider what about their lives is ‘not easy.’ The students’ essays on this topic were excellent. Here is an example.” Don Riesett, Writing Mentor & Teacher
It’s not easy being an African American Muslim. The many obligations, traditions, values, and holidays I have to go by. The way people take a glance and judge me. The inconsiderate buffoons that think I’m what you call “Hood”. All of these factors have been both a blessing and a pain at times. But what’s really hard about being an African American Muslim? If you have this question, then I’d advise you to sit back, relax, and listen to the experiences I will share with you.
First, I will define my meaning of being an African American Muslim, which is myself being born in a country in West Africa, Mali, and following the religion of Islam since birth. When I first moved to the United States at such a young age, I didn’t really know what to expect because I was surrounded by people of the same race, religion, and language. It didn’t help that the only three languages I knew at the time were my tribal languages,Fula and Bambara, and the main language in Mali, French. But as I started attending school, I learned how to speak English.
I like being born in Mali, from the foods, traditions, and sports for the most part. As an African American in a mostly white school, I was treated differently. I would always get picked on for my dark skin and stereotyped for coming from Africa. My old classmates used to ask me if I had water in my country or if I would hunt lions in the motherland. At times these jokes made me angry but I learned to ignore them and embrace my ethnicity.
I also was criticized for my religion. I follow Islam and I love every single aspect of it . From the inspirational prophets and the beliefs of Islam to the carefulness and kindness of other Muslims. I was surprised that in the seventh grade my teacher called me a terrorist. That was the most out of pocket thing I experienced in my life. The disappointment and loss of respect my classmates had when hearing this was crazy. Luckily, she was fired the next day.
But at the end of the day, I have come to realize that my race, language, religion, and the other things that make me who I am is something I cherish dearly, and no one can take that away from me.
Mohamed Cisse
9/27/24