By breonnahcolonIn 2013, news spread that an innocent 14-year-old girl named Natasha Scott-Falber suddenly fell ill and died in the United Kingdom, leaving her family shocked and heartbroken. Initially, Scott-Falber was thought to have died from blood poisoning; however, her family discovered that her illness came only days after the first time she ever used a…
By breonnahcolonTalk of immigration has been at the forefront of many news organizations these past few weeks, particularly surrounding the hot button topic of family separation taking place at detention centers across the country. The controversy circulating across mainstream media outlets has been focused on the immoral implications of forcing children to live separate from their…
By breonnahcolonIt seems like Ramadan has come and gone in the blink of an eye; it truly is amazing how quickly 30 full days of fasting, praying, and charity can seem to fly by. This Ramadan was my first as a practicing Muslim; the first where I actively interacted with my ummah and participated in the…
By breonnahcolonThe past five months have been filled with some of the most life-changing events of my entire life. I’ve reverted to Islam, made the choice to wear hijab and practice modest clothing, learned how to pray properly — all of which intimidated me and I couldn’t properly envision a year ago. Coming from a mindset…
By breonnahcolonMay, and the countdown to Ramadan, came quickly this year. Much like last year, I’m hyper-aware of the days passing, becoming more and more conscious of just how many times I buy a coffee, chew gum, or snack on a chocolate chip cookie or soup. My anticipation grows, along with my nervousness. It’s a very…
By breonnahcolonIt has officially been four whole months since I first said my shahadah (declaration of Islamic faith), and while there are times I feel like I’ve been practicing Islam my whole life, there are other times where the reality of my reversion hits full force. As a Puerto Rican, I’ve sometimes been mistaken as a…
By breonnahcolonWomen’s History Month focuses on honoring the sacrifice, bravery and leadership of the many women who have impacted the world as we know it. In Islam, the role of a woman can become controversial. Many times the practice of social customs gets confused for religious obligations. This can be detrimental not only for the overall…
By breonnahcolonIf I had to say what the hardest part about reverting to Islam was, it would be conquering what was going on in my own mind. I didn’t have any outside obstacles really. My family and friends accepted my reversion well; even my coworkers accepted me, beyond some interesting questions and a couple of longer…
By breonnahcolonLatinas, like any other culture, have a slew of stereotypes associated with us. We’re expected to be these fiery, loud women with long hair and sensual curves that love to cook and dance and bare children. We’re either sashaying our hips to salsa in the kitchen, praying with our rosaries or over our candles to Santa…
