Bengal News West Reporters
West Side is taking action to remind its
newest residents that they are welcome and their culture is important.
Timothy
McPeek, a poet and playwright, has organized a two-day installation exhibition at Rust Belt Books, at 415 Grant St. This
event, taking place on April 14 and April 15, will include poetry readings and
displays of poetry from recent immigrants.
One immigrant who is slated to read
is Fatima Nor, a lover of poetry and an immigrant from Somalia.
Fatima Nor |
Nor came to Buffalo in May 2000 and is
studying psychology with a pre-med track at the University at Buffalo and plans
to attend medical school. She was heavily influenced by her father, who wanted
to come to America for the rich education. This is a value he has instilled in his
children since their youth.
Somalia, located in the Greater Middle
East, is a predominately Muslim country. It has been the subject of the recent
Muslim country travel ban.
President Trump’s January immigration
ban prevents refugees from seven countries from entering the United States for
120 days; Somalia is one of these seven. McPeek hopes that people affected by
the ban and those who support them will be able to make connections.
“There’s
a possibility to that kind of dissemination to reach people in a fundamentally
human way,” McPeek said.
Rust
Belt Books owner, Kristianne Meal, welcomed this event to her store and encouraged
McPeek. She said she believes it is a “small and meaningful way to provide
bridges and connections.”
She said she is is open to hearing
about the experiences of others, especially those impacted by this situation.
“One of the most beautiful things about
Buffalo in my experience is that it pretty much is open, its multi-faceted,
multi diverse and kind of been off the map and an inexpensive place to be.
Everyone has just coexisted in a way,” Meal said.
Despite the ban, however, Nor and her father
remain optimistic. Her father is an imam, an Islamic leader within a mosque, and
has faith in the American people.
“To be told, even though it’s not affecting me
because I’m already here, it still sends out a statement. It’s saying that
people like me don’t belong here. It makes me feel a certain type of way about
being an American citizen because people are looking at me like ‘you guys don’t
belong here’ and it kind of hurts,” Nor said.
Fatima Nor, on encouraging understanding:
Fatima Nor, on encouraging understanding:
Nor, like
many West Side residents, came to the United States to take advantage of better
opportunities. For Nor and her family, the members of the West Side community
have been supportive. An old teacher of hers has shared many of her posts on
Facebook about Islam and has defended her and her family on numerous occasions.
McPeek, on the purpose of the poetry event:
McPeek, on the purpose of the poetry event:
Being raised in the West Side has come into
contact with other people from diverse backgrounds and refugees. These refugees
often come from places that are in distress.
“I’ve been surrounded a lot by refugees. I
learn more from them than I have in any history class, Nor said.
With the ban a major topic of discussion this year, the
community has come together.
“Even
though we all have our own communities, even though it’s a bunch of different
countries, we go to the same school and we kind of have this one middle ground
because we’re all kind of foreigners here,” Nor said.
Nor wants to be
the best Muslim she can be, wants to show people how beautiful Islam is,
despite what some media portrays. She hopes to show another side that people
don’t see.
“You just have to step out and actually
try to understand people for who they are,” Nor said.