3 Burst results for "Muhammad Hakeem Olajuwon"
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muhammad hakeem olajuwon" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"From tell our listeners briefly what it's about Go back to where you came from and other helpful recommendations and how to become American Is about loving a country that doesn't always love you back And how the rest of us are both citizens and suspects us and them and how this country can turn on us on a dime But at the same time it's about how we can move forward as a multicultural country And I hope it is done with humor and it ends on earned hope not some hallmark a sugary confection but earned hope and the earned hope is by working through the challenges So that's the book Just one perspective my perspective but I tried to use my story as kind of a narrative spine to make a commentary about America and connect the dots for the rest of us The introduction of your book comes in hot You start by sharing some of the most offensive letters you've received from readers and viewers And then you write some snarky responses I'm wondering in real life how often do you respond to often racist hate mail or tweets That's a good question I get those emails every single day When I used to write in the comments section and articles my editors always used to turn off the comments section because they're like you don't want to read this And oftentimes it was benign stuff but it was because of who I am my name my ethnicity and my religion that all of a sudden I became a target I'm sure you get it all so you can sit here and talk about potato chips and somehow someone would make it like a racist That's how it is And you kind of take some dark humor with it and I think it depends on my mood and about once a week I'll respond to a go back to where you come from And if someone really spends a long three page emissive which they have then sometimes I have some fun with it and sometimes I share it with the public Because I feel like oftentimes we're asked to be like daffy duck get angry and upset but sometimes I want to be like Bugs Bunny you know If you really think about it right But as bunny's always chilling they're always after him but he always uses their traps against them and sometimes he dresses up as a girl and kisses them and then sometimes he just mocks them but he always gets the last laugh And I want to make sure I get the last laugh in the last word Yeah Bugs Bunny didn't work hard He worked smart There you go He was a smart bunny You know so much of your life changed on 9 11 And a big turning point in the book is that event and what it meant for you going forward I want to go back to that scene because it was very vivid for me as I read it Where were you when you found out about the attack 20 year old UC Berkeley senior undeclared in my pajamas woken up by my roommate in our apartment a mile away from UC Berkeley He knocks on the door and I'm sleeping He's like you gotta get up I'm like come on man It's freaking exhausted I stayed up all night playing NBA two K then ten minutes later I get another knock You really have to get up and see that something's happening So we're both in our pajamas blurry watching the tower on fire Maybe the pilot had a heart attack That's what happened He was trying to land the plane maybe a Laguardia something happened And then you saw the second plane go Once you saw the second plane that's when we realized something this was deliberate And right there and then you kind of do the minority prayer which all minorities know And the minority player goes something like this Please let it be a white guy And if you're white or self identifies white it's not because we want any harm to come to you going full circle with the beginning of this conversation We realize that when it's a white person all of whiteness is not convicted Well the white guy is like this lone wolf who was misunderstood you know Just a dude You know crazy dude did it You want to have white uncles and white aunties in your community having to like stand up like Uncle Sam with flags like waving in the air and saying I love America and let me prove my moderation and come to my churches and won't be investigation and surveillance and hearings right Like you won't be held you won't be interrogated or indicted and have to prove your loyalty or prove your whiteness But for the rest of us we're effed all of us collectively And then when they saw that on the scroll at the bottom suspected Osama bin Laden and Muslims that's when I remember I closed my eyes and I just realized things were going to get really bad And I was a member of this Muslim student association I was elected to the board And I joke that had Muslims known that 9 11 would happen these horrible conspiracy theories which we did not know because Muslims also died that day I would have joined the Indian student association and I would have learned how to do punga or whatever you do though Do not join the sick student association because that poor group got screwed First hate crime after 9 11 was a sick man in mason This shows you how stupid racism is 19 four and hijackers 15 from Saudi Arabia to from UAE one from Lebanon one from Egypt brought down the two towers killed 3000 people And so the first hate crime after America was in mesa Arizona where a white supremacist blamed a middle aged sick gas station owner balbir Singh for the violent acts of 19 foreign hijackers because he was brownskin had a beard and a turban and he was sick Bigots aren't nuanced This country lost its damn mine after 9 11 And so here I was a Muslim student association board member and I had Muslim women born and raised in America emailing me Should we go to school There are hate crimes We're afraid I had my first hate mail Just think about it I'm in California born and raised in the Bay Area to Pakistani immigrant parents and I am being blamed for the violent actions of 1940 hijackers And that's where it all began And I always tell people that was the baptism by fire That was the turning point the fork in the road That was the danger room simulation for the rest of my life and with the rest of my career For my generation You're listening to it's been a minute from NPR I'm Sam Sanders speaking with wajahat Ali We're talking about his new memoir It's called go back to where you came from You know you wrote about how much work you had to take on at Berkeley in the aftermath of 9 11 You and other students and the Muslim student association just took it upon yourself to do a lot of bridge building You hosted Friday prayers for the entire campus You held forums with all different kinds of speakers and groups And you said something that really stuck out to me about that experience and that year after 9 11 you said it was quote training ground an X-Men danger room simulation that would prepare you for the rest of your life Explain Yeah I mean you become overnight the Muslim firemen You become the Muslim walking Wikipedia You become the person if you're thrust in that spotlight where you have to be an expert on the drop of the dime on all things Muslim and Islam McGraw and Sharia are profit Muhammad Hakeem olajuwon Nan Hakeem not Hakeem three Hakeem everything Bollywood hummus Hamas like everything You know here I have this 20 year old undeclared student playing NBA two K next thing you know I'm giving speeches in front of 200 people And as I have the microphone and giving the speech I'm like why am I sitting here giving a speech What's happening And overnight you get thrust like our parents generation You get you know you get thrust into the moment right You have to meet the moment And you have to then play the stupid condemn Nathan game condemning violent accident by violent people you've never met And you've got to be perfect And if you're not perfect not only are you indicted by this nameless judge you're an executioner that 20 years after 9 11 still holds your loyalty aspect simply due to your ethnicity or religion it condemns this whole thing called Muslims and Islam Because after 9 11 the enemy became this thing called Islam It became a civilizational conflict between us and them I'm using the language of our elected leaders at that time The axis of evil And it wasn't just those who were Muslim and I'm glad you mentioned this earlier It was those who looked Muslim Sick Americans Indian Hindus Arab Christians right And so overnight you become an educator you become.
WABE 90.1 FM
"muhammad hakeem olajuwon" Discussed on WABE 90.1 FM
"You know you wrote about how much work you had to take on at Berkeley in the aftermath of 9 11 you and other students and the Muslim student association just took it upon yourself to do a lot of bridge building You hosted Friday prayers for the entire campus You held forums with all different kinds of speakers and groups And you said something that really stuck out to me about that experience and that year after 9 11 You said it was quote training ground An X-Men danger room simulation that would prepare you for the rest of your life Explain Yeah that's I mean you become overnight the Muslim firemen you become the Muslim walking Wikipedia You become the person if you're thrust in that spotlight where you have to be an expert on the drop of the dime on all things Muslim and Islam and grand Cherie are often Muhammad Hakeem olajuwon like not Hakeem not hame Everything Bollywood Hummus Hamas like everything You know here I have this 20 year old undeclared student playing NBA two K next thing you know I'm giving speeches in front of 200 people And as I have the microphone and given the speech I'm like why am I sitting here giving a speech What's happening And overnight you get thrust like our parents generation You get you know you get thrust into the moment right You have to meet the moment And you have to then play the stupid condemn Theon game condemning violent accident by violent people you've never met And you've got to be perfect And if you're not perfect not only are you indicted by this nameless judge or an executioner that 20 years after 9 11 still holds your loyalty aspect simply due to your ethnicity or religion it condemns this whole thing called Muslims and Islam Because after 9 11 the enemy became this thing called Islam It became a civilizational conflict between us and them I'm using the language of our elected leaders at that time right The axis of evil And it wasn't just those who were Muslim and I'm glad you mentioned this earlier It was those who looked to Muslim me Sick Americans Indian Hindus Arab Christians right And so overnight you become an educator you become a bridge builder you become a apologist a defender but I don't want to play the apology game right It's exhausting and it's like humiliating But at the same time the people who did indulge in that you have to realize dude our communities were under fire There was like mass surveillance like NYPD now that we know this right did mass surveillance everywhere insidiously in the moss on the street everywhere Students student groups grocery stores and then their list of looking at traits of radicalization which is hilarious is if a man has a beard if a woman has is wearing a hijab If they eat halal meat that's like you just described like a Brooklyn hipster It's ridiculous Like Jada pinket Smith because of her hair condition That she's wearing a hijab and suppose she goes into meat Congratulations You're gonna now see your SS suspect First they came for the Muslims last had nothing Then they came for Jada And I was like no She got entangled There you go Yeah So you said that your experience after 9 11 and organizing was a training ground But I wonder now 20 years later what did that training not prepare you for That training doesn't prepare you to invest in joy to think about your long-term health and the dreams that sometimes get deferred That training does not prepare you for the crushing realization that sometimes no matter how hard you work like we mentioned before you'll be dealing with the same demons 20 years later You know that the demons will simply evolve and mutate You know white rage never sleeps It'll always fight back The work is ongoing It never stops You can't just rest right And I think for many of us we're like oh if we just put in all this time and effort things will get better And they have in many regards But you always have to keep moving or else you stop you get lazy you get complacent and you die And in some cases literally Well you know what I felt reading about your experience doing all of that activism and organizing to be a good Muslim What you realize and what a lot of activists have said in the last few years is at some point you're tired and you can not do it all and you have to stop and take care of you You know it's like there will always be an issue to organize around There will always be a march to attend There will always be an in some inequity to fight to fix but also maybe you could just take a nap Like that's allowed And I will say you know I have covered activism and activists on and off throughout my time as a journalist This latest crop they believe in self care and I'm like good for you You should Life is long and hard You said and I am investing in that early like I almost died It's in the book And I realize you know oftentimes we measured success our generation Through martyrdom Our success was look how many arrows I took for you Look how I suffer Look how you bleed Look I'm dead And I said I don't want you dead I want you to live long And so what I really invest in in the last few years especially during trumpism every time I'm inviting these spaces I always tell people invest in joy you have to make the intention and almost like exercise you have to put in the discipline You have to say like I deserve to be happy And if I invest in joy and find joy it means that I'm happy my family's happy the.
It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders
"muhammad hakeem olajuwon" Discussed on It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders
"Sharia are often Muhammad Hakeem olajuwon, like not Hakeem, not Hakeem, three Hakeem, everything. Bollywood, hummus, Hamas, like everything. You know, here I have this 20 year old undeclared student playing NBA two K, next thing you know, I'm giving speeches in front of 200 people. And as I have the microphone, and given the speech, I'm like, why am I sitting here giving a speech? What's happening? And overnight, you get thrust like our parents generation. You get you get thrust into the moment. You have to meet the moment. And you have to then play the stupid condemn Nathan game condemning violent accident by violent people you've never met. And you've got to be perfect. And if you're not perfect, not only are you indicted by this nameless judge or an executioner that 20 years after 9 11 still holds your loyalty as suspect simply due to your ethnicity or religion, it condemns this whole thing called Muslims and Islam. Because after 9 11, the enemy became this thing called Islam. It became a civilizational conflict between us and them. I'm using the language of our elected leaders at that time. The axis of evil. And it wasn't just those who were Muslim and I'm glad you mentioned this earlier. It was those who looked to Muslim E sick Americans. Indian Hindus, Arab Christians, right? And so overnight, you become an educator, you become a bridge builder, you become a apologist, a defender, but I didn't want to play the apology game, right? It's exhausting and it's like humiliating. But at the same time, the people who did indulge in that, you have to realize, dude, our communities were under fire. There was like mass surveillance, like NYPD, now that we know this, right? Did mass surveillance everywhere. Insidiously, in the mosques, on the street, everywhere. Students, student groups, grocery stores, and then their list of looking at traits of radicalization, which is hilarious is if a man has a beard, if a woman has is wearing a hijab. If they eat halal meat, that's like you just described like a Brooklyn hipster. It's ridiculous. Like Jada Pinkett Smith, because of her hair condition, that she's wearing a hijab and suppose she goes into Hal meet. Congratulations. You're gonna now see her as a suspect. First they came for the Muslims last had nothing. Then they came for Jada. And I was like, no. She got entangled. There you go. Yeah. So you said that your experience after 9 11 and organizing was a training ground. But I wonder now 20 years later, what did that training not prepare you for? That training doesn't prepare you to invest in joy to think about your long-term health and the dreams that sometimes get deferred. That training does not prepare you for the crushing realization, then sometimes no matter how hard you work, like we mentioned before, you'll be dealing with the same demons 20 years later. You know that the demons will simply evolve and mutate. White rage never sleeps. It'll always fight back. The work is ongoing. It never stops. You can't just rest, right? And I think for many of us we're like, oh, if we just put in all this time and effort, things will get better. And they have in many regards. But you always have to keep moving or else you stop, you get lazy, you get complacent and you die. And in some cases, literally. Well, you know what? I felt reading about your experience, doing all of that activism and organizing to be a good Muslim, what you realize. And what a lot of activists have said in the last few years is at some point you're tired and you can not do it all, and you have to stop and take care of you. You know, it's like there will always be an issue to organize around. There will always be a march to attend. There will always be an inequity to fight to fix, but also maybe you could just take a nap. That's allowed. And I will say, you know, I have covered activism and activists on and off throughout my time as a journalist. This latest crop, they believe in self care, and I'm like good for you. You should. Life is long and hard. You know, you said it. And I am invested in that early, like I almost died. It's in the book. And I realized, you know, oftentimes, we measured success, our generation. Through martyrdom. Our success was look how many arrows I took for you. Look how I suffer. Look how you bleed. Look, I'm dead. And I said, I don't want you dead. I want you to live long. And so what I really invest in in the last few years, especially during trumpism, every time I'm inviting these spaces, I always tell people invest in joy. You have to make the intention and almost like exercise you have to put in the discipline. You have to say, I deserve to be happy. And if I invest in joy and find joy, it means that I'm happy, my family's happy, the next generation of writers, authors, activists are looking at my model and saying, oh, this is attractive to me. And sustainable. And this is how we win, goes back to the Bugs Bunny model. You know, we were always taught to be like daffy duck. What happens to death? We duck, the annual always drops on his head. With bugs, he fights back, but he fights back with the carrot at the end. And he looks at the camera and goes, what's up Doc? And that's how I want to fight back. I want to have the last laugh. The last word and the last smile. Oh my goodness, I love this conversation so much. It was a delight talking with you. I just feel like you're an old friend already. And to think you did it all in a gym. Yeah, man. In a gym punched over holding holding this microphone with the other with my phone to my ear and fending off employees. Thank you so much for it. Your book is called go back to where you came from and other helpful recommendations on how to become American. Listeners, go get it wherever you get your books. Thank you, sir. Come back soon. Thank you, sir. Thanks again to my guest at washa had Ali, his book is called go back to where you came from. And other helpful recommendations on becoming American. All right, this episode was produced by Liam mcbain and edited by jordanna hookman. We had engineering help from Neil Teva. Of course, listeners come back here for more it's been a minute on Friday for that episode. We want to hear the best thing that happened to you all week. Just record yourself and email the file to us. At Sam Sanders at NPR dot org. Sam Sanders at NPR dot org. All right, listeners till Friday, thank you for listening..