At any given time of fraught debate about immigration and hijabs online national identity, the hijab has grown to be a flashpoint and a symbol of solidarity, with New Zealand Key Minister Jacinda Ardern donning a hijab once the Christchurch mosque shootings, and Fox Information host Jeanine Pirro drawing criticism for asking irrespective of whether U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s hijab reflects beliefs “antithetical towards the U.S. Constitution.
Controversy flared regionally very last calendar year when WGN-Television set information anchor Robin Baumgarten explained to Chicago vogue blogger Hoda Katebi, who wears a hijab, that she didn’t seem like an American when she criticized U.S. plan. Baumgarten later apologized.
In reaction to these large-profile incidents, the Tribune interviewed six Chicago-region Gals about why they wear the hijab, what this means to them, and what kinds of reactions they get. The women interviewed were from people with roots in Syria, India, Africa as well as Palestinian territories. They had been black, white and brown, suburban and concrete, immigrant and American-born. They spoke of bigotry and acceptance, of spiritual devotion and personal identification.