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She is catching a lacrosse ball.
She is cursing a broken nail.
She is rolling a cigarette.
She is bathing a muddy dog.
She is a Muslim woman and she is Doing Things.
Heart surgery, salsa, dirty dishes.
'Muslim Woman Reading' by artist Fahmida Azim
She is a Muslim woman, and until now you may have been unaware that she can Do Things.
She spoons arugula into her mouth beneath a niqab in the Delta lounge, just the way her mother taught her. She sleeps naked for three nights when all of her pajama sets are at the dry cleaners. She changes her friend's guitar strings. She reads her own tarot cards.
Some days the I-will-support-you-by-wearing-a-hijab-for-a-day emails stick between her teeth like the arugula. Other days, the ignorance feeds her swagger.
'Muslim Woman Riding Bike' by artist Fahmida Azim
(Fahmida Azim)
She is oblivious, thoughtful, distracted, in a rush.
She is never demonstrating her humanity to you.
She is picking out a brooch. She is wrapping a gift. She is dancing.
Dr. Seema Yasmin is a staff writer at the Dallas Morning News and a medical doctor. Email: syasmin@dallasnews.com
Artist Fahmida Azim is an American-Muslim designer and freelance illustrator based in Richmond. You can see more of her work at fahmida-azim.com.
'Muslim Woman Napping' by artist Fahmida Azim