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American Muslim Futures!

Hi Friend,

Can you picture America free of hate and discrimination?

My name is Roya Ahmadi and I’m one of 23 artists featured in American Muslim Futures, a virtual exhibit that showcases our visions for a just future. It is co-created by Muslim Advocates and the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design and is available to classrooms as a free educational tool.

As a high school student, I know that I must involve myself in the fight for civil rights in order to secure a future for my community. Thankfully, I have learned so much about activism from the work of artists that I follow on social media. Artists are able to reflect on the issues of our time and imagine a path forward.
 

View "Imagining Ardabil"
and listen to my audio reflection

That’s why I painted “Imagining Ardabil.” This artwork was inspired by the Ardabil Carpets, a pair of famous ancient Persian rugs that were taken from an Islamic shrine in Iran to be displayed in Western museums. I wanted to reclaim a part of my ancestral legacy as a Muslim-raised Iranian-American. So, I decided to incorporate the colors and patterns of the carpets into a woman’s dress.

In the future, I see Muslim women on thrones, proudly reclaiming pieces of their heritage for all to see and respect.

I hope for an America where people of all races, religions and beliefs not only coexist, but appreciate and uplift each other. To get there, we need to change how marginalized communities are treated by the rest of America, as well as how we treat each other, by uprooting anti-Black racism, homophobia and patriarchy within our own communities.

The whole reason for my artwork is I felt that the spaces where pieces of my cultural heritage are held are not made for my community. But American Muslim Futures has created that space.

Friend, I encourage you to view the exhibit yourself. I’ve never seen a platform like this before that centers such a wide range of Muslim and allied experiences.

I really admire what Muslim Advocates is doing to inspire all of us to envision a better future and then join them in fighting for it.
 

Roya Ahmadi
Featured Artist
American Muslim Futures