ADEP recently sat down with Rana Ahmadi, a 2017 Summer Leadership Initiative Alum, to get her take on the most important issues this generation can tackle and what motivates her social justice while living in Kansas. Here are her thoughts.
Q: What are some things folks should know about you?
I was born and raised in western Kansas, and currently live with my four cousins and sister in Kansas City. I am 24 years old and have a Communications degree from the University of Kansas. Growing up in rural America, I found that my passion and approach to fighting injustice is formed in contrast to a backdrop of a homogenous white, heterosexual society. It highlighted the fact that I wanted to form allies with members from other oppressed communities including the Afghan community. Being exposed to both sides of the oppressed and the oppressor has given me a unique view on trying to find a solution. Also. I love Beyoncé.
Q: What empowers you?
There are many things that empower me every day, but what stands out to me on a personal level is my parents and their history. Although they endured language barriers, financial difficulties, and lack of an Afghan community in Kansas, they refused to let these tribulations define them and their children’s futures.
With all these dilemmas, sacrificing time from their children was never an option. My three sisters and I never felt the struggles that were happening behind the scenes. They used love, humor and warmth to raise my sisters and I. They are the reason I feel I can overcome any obstacle in my life; they empowered me in ways I didn’t know was possible, and I feel forever indebted to them and their sacrifices.
Q: Who are folks you look up to you and why?
Afghans have a history of using poetry and storytelling to build bonds. A woman I look up to that was able to alter the history of Afghanistan is Malalai of Maiwand. It would be remiss to not mention her father, for I feel as though he was a key figure in her life as well. Malalai’s father was a progressive man that didn’t feel his daughter’s sex was something that would hold her back from success but used it to empower her and those around her. I have an infatuation with Malalai of Maiwand not because of her physical strength, but for the way she inspired men that had accepted defeat to look to her and know that this was not it. That her words helped them stand back up and see her as a symbol of hope. By following her veil to represent our flag as she waved it on the war font. Malalai of Maiwand embodies everything I want to be as an Afghan woman, and her father is what I want to see in our Afghan-American men.
Q: What’s an important issue you think this generation can tackle?
An important issue that I think this generation can tackle is gender equality. I have always been passionate from a young age to prove to people that girls/women are not the weaker sex. This ideology has been instilled in us for thousands of years and has become a social construct that I want to see dismantled. With the 2016 elections, I was hurt, confused and disappointed and thought to myself how women could have voted for someone who is openly a misogynist. However, with this outcome I saw organizing occurring, and that people were just as angry as I was. We began to see a movement spark that is still in affect today. Gender equality discussions started, men began to ask what they can do in order to help us, little girls were exposed to a WORLD organizing together to lead one of the largest protest in America. This is not to say that there were others on the other side of the movement, but it created the conversation leading to action. Now, I don’t believe we will ever convince everyone in the world, let alone America, to see both women and men as equals. We need to address issues concerning equal pay, violence against women, reproductive rights, slut shaming, and the list goes on and on. I believe that we are the generation that can be beacons of this movement for the following generations.
Q: You attended ADEP’s Summer Leadership Institute last year. What was your biggest lesson walking away from that weekend?
Attending ADEP last summer was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met like minded individuals who had the drive and willpower to see the change we want to see within our community. The biggest lesson I took away from ADEP was how to organize within the Afghan community. We had speakers lead discussions that we felt needed to be heard and shared ideas on how we can grow from there. It’s such a profound moment when you see a problem and you see young adults take that problem into their own hands and try to find the solution. On our final day at ADEP we had a panel of activists address us about how they fight problems affecting them, and how we can learn from their experiences to see the impact in areas we need improvement.
Q: What would you like the Afghan American community to improve on?
I would love for Afghan-Americans to not judge a book based on its cover. We tend to put people in categories based on their family history, education, gender, financial status, religion or if they choose to not practice a religion. I have seen Afghan-Americans judge others on decisions they make in their personal lives and view them as less than because they may not follow their ‘norms.’ I want the Afghan-American community to learn to be more tolerable with one another. We need to notice that everyone has their own story and it is our responsibility as a community to uplift, empower and love one another no matter their background.
Add Comment