Salma's Selma Experience

When I went to the screening of Selma at the Odeon cinema in Marble Arch, I was asked 'Do you know what Selma is about?'.

My response: 'Yes, it's about a woman named Selma and Martin Luther King'.

How stupid was I?

My name is Salma and I have a confession. I actually do not know much about Dr Martin Luther King except that he had a dream.

He had a dream that there would be more equality for black people - Negros as they were referred to in the 60's, that black people would be given the rights to vote and be allowed to vote. He had a dream that there would be freedom and justice and God will help them through it all.

Dr King was portrayed to be an active leader for his community who did not give up and negotiated without using violence but peace - something which lacks when trying to make change in today’s society, people who believed in him and followed his steps as he tried to seek justice for his people. After marching towards Montgomery from Selma with the support of hundreds of peaceful demonstrators they were stopped at the bridge.

To what extent Dr King had worked to attain equality or basic rights for 'Negros' I had no idea of.

Selma made me more aware of his work and reminded me just how harsh black people were treated by the authority who were mainly white men. It captured the brutal reality of how heartless and unjust authority figures were when beating black women and elderly people with batons and whips sending them back the way they had come had from in a huge group.

After walking the bridge again, this time with the support of white people from around the States as well as 'Negros', the white officers on the other side of the bridge stood down and let them through. But Dr King knelt down, did a prayer and turned around, heading back towards Selma.

Why did he do this? His supporters did not know, nor did we - the audience.

Whilst watching this film, I could not help but compare it to the modern day. Today.

Black people have fought for freedom worldwide. South Africa, America, to some extent the UK as well. Racism has been an issue that still exists today even though the law covers equal rights.

The hard work and effort of successful activists has been thrown down the drains and history is once again repeating itself.

It is hard to not compare the white people beating, killing and discriminating 'Negros' in the United States during the time of Dr King to the killings of black people today in the United States. Surely the 21st Century would be more different and the system would have changed to not favour anyone. White authority figures have got away with shooting black men with stupid reasons such as: 'I thought they were carrying a gun' or 'he looked like a threat'. Black men have been strangled to death for no crime but for being black in America.

Though there is this sense of pride for Black people in the US for having a coloured President -Barack Hussein Obama, an African American, it seems as though not much has been done for the black people. There may be no more signs saying 'No Negros Allowed' but in some areas of America, they are treated with no respect. This needs to change.

There is a lot more Obama, a black President, can do for his people. Majority of African Americans voted for him and he needs to help them out before helping countries outside like Israel or sending his troops to fight useless wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Remember the Ferguson Unrest protests and riots which happened during the summer of 2014 in the United States? All the uproar over the killing of a young black man - Michael Brown - by a white police officer.

People had to take to the streets in the 21st century, protesting for their rights as black people.

Why do black people have to protest for rights? Why do they have to get targeted for not their crime but their colour? Are they not humans?

So what was one thing I learnt from the film Selma? Aside from learning about the active work of Dr Martin Luther King and his friends I learnt that Selma is a place and not a person.

I really do suggest that you all watch this film on February 6th 2015!

I have nothing negative to say about it (maybe a suggestion - they could have included the 'I have a dream speech' at the end)

I hope you all enjoyed that and that it probes you to go watch Selma.

And remember 'There is a king in all of us'.

By Salma Razia Khatun

If you haven't done so, check out my last post and previous posts.

http://salaamsalma.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/goodbye-2014-hello-2015.html

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Goodbye 2014 - Hello 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As 2014 has closed it doors on us, I sit and reflect on all the good and bad.
Every year consists of its ups and downs but it makes us who we are. It teaches us new lessons and it drives us to move forward and make beneficial sacrifices. 
Every year our lives take us on different journeys and 2014 took me on many journeys. 

My 2014 didn't start with a 'BANG'. But grateful I should be as I was in the comfort of my home and family. Millions out there would do anything to be in my shoes. 

When I Performed Umrah
Whilst I was having an 'eugh' time at university I made the intention of going to perform my pilgrimage in Makkah. I felt that I needed this spiritial awakening and to draw closer to Islam as my surrounding and my attitude was not helping me. By the Will of the Lord Almighty my family and I were invited to the house of Allah and we performed our Umrah. 
I must admit, I am not a very emotional person and sad films make me cringe or laugh, if I see someone crying I'll awkwardly comfort them. However, when I lifted my head to see the Ka'bah (House of Allah) for the first time, I could not stop bawling. I cried like a baby and I do not even know why. Everything I've ever kept bottled up was released here and it felt like a lifetime of burdens were off my shoulders. 
My life revolved around prayer and I loved every second of it. I was one of many who were privileged to have kissed the Hajre Aswad (The black stone), follow the footsteps of our beloved prophets and companions and of some of the most amazing women in Islam.
I was one of the many who were privileged to have given my Salaam to our beloved Prophet (saw) in Madina.

The Bleak Summer
After such a journey, the summer of 2014 wasn't a great one. 
Why? Because of the 'wars' going on around the world. 

There is a saying like - The Ummah is like a body. If one part of the body hurts, it hurts the whole body. If some people of our Ummah are hurt, the whole Ummah hurts. 
Gaza, Syria, Rohingya, Central African Republic (and more) Muslims have been getting killed in masses. Though these have been ongoing, the summer of 2014 brought about more awareness of the actions of the real terrorists. It didn't matter how many protests happened for the sake of humanity, such actions still took place. And it hurt. It hurt those who could not help or do anything about it. Except pray. The conflicts were not even Muslim issues, it was and still it the issue of humanity.
Thousands of lives have been taken away this year but it has also educated a mass amount of people as to what happens around this world. 
How horrid people can be!
It does not stop here, the recent killing of students in a school in Peshawar (Pakistan), the shoot down of a Malaysian Plane, the tension between authority and the public after the killing of black men in America... The list goes on and on. 

Travelling
2014 was the first time I travelled alone to another country even though I missed my flight. But it's ok. I learnt for next time, don't sit with your sis an hour before boarding to have breakfast!

I also got accepted to the University I'd wanted to go to from the beginning and I got accepted straight into second year which was a bonus. 
I climbed mountains with loved ones in for the fun of it (Mount Hira, Scafell Pike, Mount Snowdon)

and I have seen sunrises and sunsets in so many places. (Arabia, Algeria, Bangladesh, My Bedroom Window)

I had the opportunity to travel to my mother land - Bangladesh and see the beauty of this country. The longest natural beach, tribal people, animals roaming free, seeing people live their lives. It seems pretty relaxed compared to our rushed lives here in the UK and it was something to appreciate. But people do work very hard to make a living. 




I got the chance to go to the neighbouring country - India: Kolkata & Darjeeling. It's amazing how people have made homes and towns, railways and roads high up in the mountains.

I met people who share the same language and culture but different religions and features. 









2014 reunited me with certain people and made me distant to others. It has allowed me to make new friends and experience new things. It has allowed me to make change and adjust to changes. 
I have become more determined to accomplish my goals of 2014 (which will have to follow me into 2015). I want to travel more and more and see the wonders of this world. I want to visit places that people have not heard of and places were there is conflict. I want to be more knowledgable in my faith and more knowledgable on the world around me.
I want to start and finish the small things like learning how to drive and learning a new language. 
I want to be more humble. 

I have been sad and I have made others sad but I have also laughed, cried from laughter and made others around me get stomach pains from laughing. My highlights of this year has to be, making my mother laugh nearly every day and giving her a funny story to tell my father. Irreplaceable.
I have asked for forgiveness and I have forgiven. I have been loved and I carry on loving.

All in all, 2014 has been a mixture of emotions and I must say I am grateful. 
I am grateful for the lessons and experiences. I am grateful for the people I have spent time with and the lonely times. 

Now bring on 2015. Take me on new adventures.