“My Voice is Not an Apology.”– Nayyirah Waheed “The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.”– Mohamed Najumi Dear Fellow Warrior, I recently shared my new poem, “The Choice of Return, Reclaiming the Crown.“ You can read my poem on my other Substack: “Sword Dispatch: The…
social justice
Saving Palestine through the UNRWA DC Gaza 5K
“Mental Health is a Human Right.” – Laila Mokhiber, Director of Communications, UNRWA USA Dear Fellow Warrior, Recently, on May 31, 2025, I participated in the UNRWA DC Gaza 5K. It was a bittersweet moment to be back again this particular year. The event was at the usual place at Rock Creek Park, in Washington…
Am I Supposed to Feel Guilty for Letting Genocide Disrupt My Life?
“It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies.” – Noam Chomsky Dear Fellow Warrior, I can’t. I can’t express how much rage, grief, heartbreak, and sadness that I have right now… and how we are all just expected to keep going. To just… function, smile, perform, “network,” to keep…
To Those Who Only Show Up When I’m Thriving
“Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” Dr. Brene Brown Dear Fellow Warrior, Another statement I had to make at the close of Mental Health Awareness Month this year was something that had to be said, based on the idea that I am keenly aware dozens of people I know are watching…
To the Muslim Friends Who Punished Me for Surviving
Dear Fellow Warrior, As we closed out Mental Health Awareness Month, I made this statement on Facebook… to my Muslim brothers and sisters, to my family, and to anyone who once called me a friend and has followed my journey online. You’ve witnessed my voice… always active, always striving… across these platforms. Your silence has…
When You Know They Want You to Die
“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you.” – Rumi “To be alive is the most radical act of all.” – Andrea Gibson Dear Fellow Warrior, Sometimes it feels as if my entire world is giving me every reason to kill myself. Not directly, perhaps. But the…
The Underdog Rises: A WOC’s Academic Comeback, Reckoning, & Reclamation
Reflections on My Three-Year Graduation Anniversary, for my Academic Journey, and as a Woman of Color in Academia… “Great spirits always encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds.” – Albert Einstein Dear Fellow Warrior, I write this for Me, myself, and I. And all those who felt invisible in Academia, and deserved better. Three years after…
I Know but I must still Speak
“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken… even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood. That the speaking profits me, beyond any other effect. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” – Audre Lorde Dear Fellow…