Photo: New Yorker |
Now her fame and ability have caught the attention of The New Yorker, which published a great piece on her this month. It not only notes her success but also her groundbreaking placement on the team as a Muslim and the first Olympian to wear a hijab, or Muslim head dress.
It states, in part:
Her achievements have not eased the
challenges. “I’ve flown to domestic competitions,” Muhammad said, “and
T.S.A. agents at airports have spoken to me in demeaning ways, as if I’m
foreign, because I wear hijab: ‘Do—you—speak—English?’
“How
do people like this exist?” she asked, more in disbelief than in anger.
“I’m productive, educated, and representing my country at the Olympics,
but they question where I belong.” She continued, “People regularly
avoid eye contact. Imagine walking into a room and someone avoids
looking at you. As a religious and ethnic minority, I never know what
the hangup is. It happens all the time. It’s the norm.”
See the entire story HERE.