The Muslim on the airplane | Amal Kassir | TEDxMileHighWomen

Summary

In this powerful spoken word piece, the speaker, Amal, reflects on the complexities of identity, cultural misunderstanding, and the labels imposed on marginalized groups, especially Muslims. She highlights the importance of asking individuals their names to truly understand their stories and humanity, countering the broad brushstrokes of fear and stereotyping. From her experiences of being misnamed and misrepresented, she emphasizes that human connection and curiosity can bridge divides and overcome prejudice. The poem calls for courage in asking the right questions and recognizing the diversity within individuals and cultures.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Amal, uses her name and experiences to address stereotypes and challenge preconceived notions about Muslims and refugees.
• 😀 The act of offering a mint to a stranger on a plane is a metaphor for breaking barriers and initiating a conversation across cultural divides.
• 😀 Amal emphasizes that the way we name people reflects our beliefs, biases, and courage in embracing diversity.
• 😀 The speaker highlights how mass media often misrepresents individuals or groups, reducing them to stereotypes based on race, religion, or appearance.
• 😀 The renaming of refugees as 'migrants' is an example of how language can manipulate perceptions, turning victims of war into a more 'acceptable' group.
• 😀 The tragedy of misnaming is shown in how terms like 'terrorist' are used to disproportionately label Muslims, while other forms of terrorism are not similarly categorized.
• 😀 The story of the Chapel Hill shooting highlights how a person’s name is distorted in the media, where the killer’s motive is minimized and the victims’ identities are overshadowed.
• 😀 Amal critiques how labeling people based on race or appearance leads to exclusion, such as referring to a black child as a 'thug' or an immigrant as 'alien'.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for questioning assumptions and asking individuals their names to better understand their unique stories and identities.
• 😀 The speaker calls for a shift in society, urging individuals to confront their fears, embrace curiosity, and engage with people beyond stereotypes.

Q & A

Why does the speaker carry Altoids mints during flights?

The speaker carries Altoids mints to offer to fellow passengers, particularly because many people have bad breath after long flights, making it a conversation starter.

How does the speaker describe the significance of names in their life?

The speaker highlights that names reflect one's identity, values, family history, and beliefs. It is through names that people declare who they are, and how others name people can reveal their own assumptions, fears, and biases.

What does the speaker mean by 'the greatest distance you can travel is by asking someone their name'?

The speaker emphasizes that asking someone their name is a way to bridge gaps and break down assumptions, enabling a deeper connection and understanding of the person beyond stereotypes.

What issue does the speaker raise about the media's portrayal of refugees as 'migrants'?

The speaker argues that referring to refugees as 'migrants' diminishes their plight, as it implies they are making a choice rather than fleeing from war and persecution, thus dehumanizing them.

How does the speaker critique the media's generalization of certain groups?

The speaker critiques the media for using labels like 'terrorist', 'thug', and 'alien' to generalize entire groups, which leads to prejudice and misunderstanding. By assigning names based on stereotypes, people's individual stories are overlooked.

What is the significance of the term 'terrorism' as discussed in the script?

The speaker points out that terrorism has been attributed to specific racial and religious groups, often based on their appearance. They also note that terrorism has occurred in various forms throughout history, regardless of the perpetrator's identity.

How does the speaker illustrate the misnaming of the victims of the Chapel Hill shooting?

The speaker reveals that the shooter, Craig Hicks, is often labeled as a 'parking dispute', whereas the real story is that he killed three Muslims, Deah, Yusor, and Razan, out of hatred. The victims are reduced to 'rest in peace', while the shooter is portrayed as just a criminal in a dispute.

What does the speaker mean by saying that 'the mouth of an anchorman, or the mouth of a gun' is doing the talking?

This phrase conveys the idea that in a society of fear and miscommunication, people often don't ask questions or engage directly. Instead, narratives are shaped by the media or violence, which diminishes the possibility of meaningful dialogue.

How does the speaker describe the impact of September 11th on their life?

The speaker shares that after September 11th, they, along with other Muslim Americans, were labeled as 'terrorists'. This label intensified the fear and suspicion against them, even though they were also mourning the tragedy as Americans.

What is the meaning behind the speaker's encounter with an elderly white man at the museum?

The elderly man, recognizing the speaker's identity, expressed sympathy and support for Muslims, showing that when people overcome fear and ask questions, they can better understand each other's stories and humanize one another.