Forgotten History

In September 2020 in Denver, Colorado, I was at a street protest calling for an end to the concentration camps holding Uyghurs in China. Rana Abdellatif, 16 years old, stood up in front of the crowd and performed the following as spoken word. This poem is being used with her permission. 

Forgotten History

Rana Abdellatif

 

We say peace, they hear terror.

We say hurt, they pretend not to look.

We say pain, they hear economic gain.

 

But no more will they misinterpret my words.

No more will we allow this absurd treatment to go uncalled for.

No more will we fall into the pattern of neglect and intentional ignorance.

 

I use the word pattern because this is nothing new.

We will not ignore the pain that innocent Jews and Japanese had to go through.

Long-standing because society failed.

Here we are, “Latest Edition: History Repeating Itself Round 2.”

Rarely even talked about on the news.

But Trump banning Tik Tok, that's something everyone knew.

 

Muslims are damned left and right.

As much as I want our strength and unity to prevail

We are constantly beaten to the ground.

 

They take our pride

Years of oppression

Stares after 9/11

From Palestinian cries

From Syrian pain and Somali lives

From Rohingyas slain and Kashmiris betrayed

To concentration camps in China happening literally today.

 

I wish I could say it were all lies.

But that would simply be my consciousness using my privilege to develop blind eyes.

For they say ignorance is bliss and bliss it is indeed

But that does not excuse ignorance to the Uyghur’s blood, to the Uyghur’s needs,

for we will not ignore their mothers’ cries,

the fear in their fathers’ eyes,

as their daughters are stolen late at night, to do things I can’t even begin to describe,

to do things that I would never even dare to wish on my worst enemy.

That’s the Muslim in me.

The word salaam meaning peace.

The smile I hold high when we greet.

The lingering pain hidden behind this crooked smile filled with anger and defeat.

 

I’m at a loss for words.

For I’m afraid that their voices will never be heard.

That their stories will be blurred,

wiped away from existence as if this madness never even occurred,

but we are here today to ensure that they do not look away and try not to observe.

That they do ignore our pain and they do ignore our hurt.

 

And I say in this vain, but it could be worse.

For we got the words of the most understanding as we are taught that this is Allah's planning,

now don’t misunderstand me.

We will struggle, we will fall and all of the above,

but don’t mistake the fact that Allah only tests those whom he loves,

Allah only tests those whom he loves.

So hold your ground even when they try to break you, shake you, faze you

for you know within yourself the beauty of which Islam has given you.