I went back to talk with Zaara Ahmed, a young NYU student from a diverse array of backgrounds. In the new interview, Zaara reflected on how her immigrant experiences and her Muslim faith have impacted the way she views politics and interacts with it. Expanding on her difficulty with feeling included in the American identity, she discusses how recent progressive political victories in Astoria have made her feel like both progressive candidates and Muslim/Southeast Asian candidates are being more widely recognized and accepted. To her, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is at the center of this change. Zaara tells stories of how accessible Mamdani is in Astoria--even as mayor--in coffee shops during World Cup games, or outside of her house during the campaign. She says that her and many other residents of Astoria were incredibly happy to see his inauguration, and to be able to openly celebrate their heritage in a political world that, historically, hasn't been interested in them. 

This heritage is massively important to Zaara. Over text, she shared with me another artifact from her family: a dish set her grandfather bought when he first came to America in the '70s. She writes: 

"Though time has left its mark on it and we have had to mend it over the years, it remains one of our family’s most treasured possessions. We still bring it out for holidays and special gatherings, filling it with the foods that connect us to our heritage. For me, it represents not only my grandfather’s journey and sacrifices, but also the continuity of family traditions across generations.

– Ismaeel El-Shafei

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant