Al-Awda - Voices of Resistance and Liberation

Brooklyn, NY. January 20, 2006—At a catering hall in Bensonhurst, the scene is festive: a large room bustling with women, girls and children celebrating the recent wedding of their friend, sister, daughter, in-law, niece. While half of the crowd dances to the Arabic music booming out of two large speakers propped up on chairs, the other half enjoys the company and the scenery, occasionally taking a turn at the dance floor as the music shifts every now and then. The older women want to hear more Khaligi, while pop seems to be the order of the evening.

A small litter of fashionably dressed teens stops every so often to harass the Dj’s, two Arab girls, ages thirteen and sixteen. The DJs are eager to please, but mutter dark and frantic statements to eachother: “I’m never going to do this again.” “I’d rather be dancing.” “What the hell is Khaligi?” “Forget Khaligi, they want hip hop.” You can’t play hip hop now; The grandmothers are dancing!” And this goes on for some hours: the sixteen year old “Harara,” focused and frustrated and the younger Lebwaz, ready and waiting for her chance to play her specialty, American music.

I rushed back from a telephone break when I heard “Run It,” by Chris Brown. I was astonished to find the crowd unaffected, girls and grandmothers alike grooving to the music. It was not the dancing that surprised me. It was the fact that these kids continued to transition back and forth from between Arabic and American music and kept the crowd moving, a feat that I have only seen seasoned DJs pull off.

That was my first exposure to AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media, an organization that provides leadership opportunities to Arab and Muslim young women and girls. In addition to learning how to mix music and produce videos, members learn the ins and outs of community organizing and gain first hand experience in the social justice movement in New York.

I noticed later that night that while the DJs did their thing, their accomplices were busy recruiting prospective members throughout the crowd. Myself, an African-American Muslim woman almost thirty, I wished that I could have had such an opportunity when I was younger. AWAAM’s Spring Program begins February 19. Pass it on to any Arab or Muslim New Yorker between the ages of twelve and twenty that you think could use some inspiration or a place to speak her mind.

This article may be shared, reproduced or distributed under a Creative Commons License.

Al-Awda is published monthly by New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine. We welcome submissions, letters to the editor, cultural works, and other proposals for publication.

Contact us: Al-Awda Newspaper
(973) 954-2521
info@newjerseysolidarity.org
http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org

New Jersey Solidarity
344 Grove Street, Suite 131
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Our editorial collective is responsible for editing, laying out and developing this publication. We are open to new members who are in accord with the mission and principles of this newspaper.

Please contact us about your upcoming events and activities of interest to readers of this publication.

Please contact us for advertising rates and information, or for material on becoming a distributor.



February 2006	http://alawda.newjerseysolidarity.org
Arab Women Active in Arts and Media by Fazoura Zaki Brooklyn, NY. January 20, 2006—At a catering hall in Bensonhurst, the scene is festive: a large room bustling with women, girls and children celebrating the recent wedding of their friend, sister, daughter, in-law, niece. While half of the crowd dances to the Arabic music booming out of two large speakers propped up on chairs, the other half enjoys the company and the scenery, occasionally taking a turn at the dance floor as the music shifts every now and then. The older women want to hear more Khaligi, while pop seems to be the order of the evening. A small litter of fashionably dressed teens stops every so often to harass the Dj’s, two Arab girls, ages thirteen and sixteen. The DJs are eager to please, but mutter dark and frantic statements to eachother: “I’m never going to do this again.” “I’d rather be dancing.” “What the hell is Khaligi?” “Forget Khaligi, they want hip hop.” You can’t play hip hop now; The grandmothers are dancing!” And this goes on for some hours: the sixteen year old “Harara,” focused and frustrated and the younger Lebwaz, ready and waiting for her chance to play her specialty, American music. I rushed back from a telephone break when I heard “Run It,” by Chris Brown. I was astonished to find the crowd unaffected, girls and grandmothers alike grooving to the music. It was not the dancing that surprised me. It was the fact that these kids continued to transition back and forth from between Arabic and American music and kept the crowd moving, a feat that I have only seen seasoned DJs pull off. That was my first exposure to AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media, an organization that provides leadership opportunities to Arab and Muslim young women and girls. In addition to learning how to mix music and produce videos, members learn the ins and outs of community organizing and gain first hand experience in the social justice movement in New York. I noticed later that night that while the DJs did their thing, their accomplices were busy recruiting prospective members throughout the crowd. Myself, an African-American Muslim woman almost thirty, I wished that I could have had such an opportunity when I was younger. AWAAM’s Spring Program begins February 19. Pass it on to any Arab or Muslim New Yorker between the ages of twelve and twenty that you think could use some inspiration or a place to speak her mind. This article may be shared, reproduced or distributed under a Creative Commons License. Al-Awda is published monthly by New Jersey Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine. We welcome submissions, letters to the editor, cultural works, and other proposals for publication. Contact us: Al-Awda Newspaper (973) 954-2521 info@newjerseysolidarity.org http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org New Jersey Solidarity 344 Grove Street, Suite 131 Jersey City, NJ 07302 Our editorial collective is responsible for editing, laying out and developing this publication. We are open to new members who are in accord with the mission and principles of this newspaper. Please contact us about your upcoming events and activities of interest to readers of this publication. Please contact us for advertising rates and information, or for material on becoming a distributor.

Arab Women Active in Arts and Media