It is Black History Month. For the past few years I have consciously worked to focus my efforts to use this month to seek out history, learn about, and be reflective of Black America, Black Islam, and issues intersecting People of Color. You may wonder why a South Asian immigrant child is so focused onContinue reading “Black History Month: Each Year I Witness”
Category Archives: Identity
In the Beginning – 16 Weeks of Digital Photography Class
I love photography. At least that is how Week 1 of the digital photography class at a community college begins for me. Signing up for a class was a normal trajectory of a general lack of success on the do-it-yourself pathway. I’ve learned that I learn best, in most subjects, when given a formal classroomContinue reading “In the Beginning – 16 Weeks of Digital Photography Class”
VONA: Future Advice on Writing
As I walk away from VONA, I have to remind myself first and foremost that I too am a writer. I might not feel comfortable embracing this label, with all my swirling self doubts and insecurities, but I am a writer because the craft of storytelling is something that lies deep in my genetic code.Continue reading “VONA: Future Advice on Writing”
The Intrepid Traveller
I had no intention of blogging through the entire VONA workshopping experience (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4a, Day 4b). The fact that I am is a testament to how inspired I am by all the intense writing energy, ideas, and the learning around me. Today was the final day, and it wasContinue reading “The Intrepid Traveller”
On Verbing the Workshop (A VONA Post)
I am still amused by the concept of “workshopping.” Its an actual action one can do and does in an MFA experience, or in writing. Every time I hear someone using it as a verb, chuckles start up across my mind and work hard to suppress an external expression because I don’t want to offend.Continue reading “On Verbing the Workshop (A VONA Post)”
Four Points to VONA, Or the Nagging Question: What Am I Doing Here?
I start with four points, stumble through four thoughts and end with four, gems thats where VONA presents itself so far at the end of the first full day of workshop. Today was the end of the first full day of “workshopping”, which apparently is a thing you do in a MFA program. I hadContinue reading “Four Points to VONA, Or the Nagging Question: What Am I Doing Here?”
Expectations for VONA
I just finished packing up for my trip to Miami, Florida. I will be spending the week out at the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables for the VONA Writers Workshop. I am really excited about this opportunity, as it was part of my self development goal for 2016. I was asked how I felt about this opportunity.Continue reading “Expectations for VONA”
I VONA Check-In
I haven’t been regular with posts these past couple of weeks. Rest assured I have drafted multiple Field Notes for the Millennial Quran Study Project, and have diligently worked on some other posts. Its just I have had to really buckle down and get out of the way something that I have dragged my feet on, and forContinue reading “I VONA Check-In”
MQSP: Field Notes #7
FN#7 covers Surah Al-Qalam, verses 8-16, and its Part II (this is long-er chapter). To recap, check out FN#2 Part I. By the time these verses of Al-Qalam are revealed the message of the Quran was being openly propagated by the Prophet. He was also facing stiff opposition. Opposition…there’s the external sort, and then the internal sort.Continue reading “MQSP: Field Notes #7”
MQSP: Field Notes #4
The Shrouded One I mentioned that I learned that the Quran revelation from God stopped for a period of time after the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq in my MSQP Field Notes (FN) #1. This actually was news to me. I was under the impression that once revelation began it was continuous, without fail.Continue reading “MQSP: Field Notes #4”
Corner Office Shaikh 