“Who is Your Community?”

Arshia Hussain

Asian Indian | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | she/her/hers

Last year, my student government’s forum went over time by hours during Ramadan and Iftar was approaching within minutes. I watched one of my Muslim sisters ask for a break in the agenda to break our fast. I will never forget the response from a student leader, “Well, what we’re doing right now is really important.” Student government was the epicenter for community leader advocacy; reality was far removed from that assumption.

Instantly, I realized I wasn’t happy with my advocacy journey. I thought if I was in white spaces, I was serving my community by representing. I was only seen when they deemed my point valid enough to be seen. It felt like they only cared about issues that affected people like me when it was trendy, the very definition of tokenization. When it came down to supporting marginalized communities, like having Ramadan accommodations, they were negligent or outright disrespectful. 

I decided to leave all of these spaces where I was a minority and joined different communities with people who looked like me, shared the same values as me, and had the same experiences as me. People like me. 

I joined Sigma Psi Zeta, a multicultural Greek organization, and Disha, a student organization striving to create a safe space for Desi women. I have been constantly surrounded by women, especially women of color, that understand me. 

In a recent Disha meeting, I asked to shift board meetings to after Iftar so I, and other members observing Ramadan, could break our fast. Without hesitation, our President moved board meetings to 9 pm. I felt valued as a member of the board and as a Muslim woman. The stark difference in treatment between these spaces showcases that no one will truly understand your needs besides your community.

Arshia Hussain is a recent University of Minnesota Twin Cities graduate, where she earned her degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Business, Organization, and Non-Profit. This Fall, she will be continuing her education at the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs where she will work towards a Masters in Public Policy. She is passionate about women empowerment and dismantling systems of oppression. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat Khushi.