Dear Palestine,

Amidst your trials and plight

I pen these words with hope in sight

Your pain and struggles are felt across the earth

Despite the challenges, this world knows your worth

Though the world may turn a blind eye

Your truth can not be denied

(15 year old from a school in South Jersey)

In the heart of a town with predominantly white individuals, I found myself standing out as one of the only four Hijabi, and therefore visibly Muslim students, in my school.

Being a Black Muslim in America is like having a consistent target on your back. You’re considered to be not only a part of a hated racial group, but also a targeted religious group.