The artifact that represents my Yemeni identity is the Yemeni majlis. It is a traditional (sometimes a floor seating) couch that my family bought from a Yemeni furniture store in New York City. The majlis shows my Yemeni culture, my family values, and how we stay connected to our roots while living in New York. In our home, we have two living rooms. One has a regular American sofa, and the other has the Yemeni majlis. We always enjoy the majlis more during Eid, family gatherings, and parties because it holds more people than a normal couch and makes everyone feel included. One memory I think about is last Ramadan when my whole family sat on the majlis to break our fast. We ate dates, talked and watched Yemeni shows. At that moment, I felt proud of my heritage.
     The majlis teaches me that my identity comes from my family’s traditions, our language (Arabic), and the conflict we create in our home. It also connects to the idea of “We the People” because it shows that New York City is made of many cultures. Families across the city bring their own traditions, just like mine. My majlis is not just furniture. It is a part of who I am and a reminder that my culture belongs in New York City too.

– HF

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant