Excerpt
Identity and Islamophobia in a Post-9/11 Graphic Novel for Teens
Why you can trust us
The complexity and dangers of post-9/11 America are evoked in the first few pages of Priya Huqβs new graphic novel, Piece by Piece, The Story of Nisrinβs Hijab. Nisrin and her friend are walking home after βWorld Cultures Dayβ at their middle school when a White supremacist attacks them, wounding Nisrin as he rips the scarf from her head. Nisrin struggles to heal from that trauma, and makes progress when, despite some family objections, she chooses to wear the hijab as a symbol of pride and resistance.
βI wanted to write something for young people that explained what life was like when I was their age,β says Huq. The challenges of surviving Islamophobia and racism often fall on very young shoulders. Huqβs story helps by providing cultural and emotional context, while reassuring young people that theyβre not alone.
Portland, Oregon. 2002: Celebrate World Cultures Day
βAlright, big hand for Nicole! Nigeria sounds beautiful!β
βNext up is Nisrin … whoβs going to tell us all about Bangladesh!β
βWOO! YEAH! Tell βem Nisrin!β
βSo, so? Did I do a good job?β
βI told you already, yeeeeesss.β
βAre you sure itβs okay if I come over?β
βUh, yeah! My Nani loves you.β
βSpeaking of … she shows her love with food … so sheβs going to try to feed you like a hundred times tonight.β
βGood. Iβm gonna eat so much I explode.β
βnoooo Iβll miss you.β
βHow come you didnβt do your presentation on Iran?β
βE³σ.β
βLet me see your scarf a minute.β
βAh ah ah! What did we learn today, whatβs it called?β
βA scarf?β
βNoOOooooOO, itβs an βFIRST OF ALL, ITβS AN ORNA! And secondlyββ
βHEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUβRE LAUGHING ABOUT?β
βNΎ±²υ°ωΎ±²Τ…β
βF@#$&*# @&#$ @*#&#&@&@. Walking around like you own the place.β
βPlease… help!!β
βI could kill you and no one would give a $#%β¬.β
βN΄Ηβ
Adapted excerpt from the forthcoming , by Priya Huq, appears by permission of Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, Β© 2021
|
Priya Huq
is a Bangladeshi-American cartoonist from Austin, Texas, who enjoys working in water-based media. Her stories deal with complex emotions in both real and fantastic locations. In her free time she likes to drink tea and look at trees. Huq has contributed to The Nib and other online publications. She lives in New York City with her spouse and two cats.
|
Inspiration in Your Inbox
Sign up to receive email updates from Πή³΅΄σΆΣ
