Omar El-Halwagi Interview
Date
2022-01-18
Authors
Institute for Diversity & Civic Life
Department of Religious Studies
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Abstract
This interview is with Omar El-Halwagi, an employment discrimination lawyer in Houston, TX. Omar talks about growing up as a Muslim in the American south and discrimination he faced at a young age. He tells his story of being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union in order to secure the time and place to pray during high school. Omar also describes co-founding the organization Grassroot Islam, a virtual space for a diverse and inclusive Muslim community created to combat pandemic isolation. He discusses coming into his relationship with God on his own terms and learning from the spiritual journeys of others.
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Keywords
Religions Texas, 9/11, Alabama, American Civil Liberties Union, Attorneys, Bullying, Cairo, California, College Station, Community, COVID-19, Culture shock, Discrimination, Diversity and inclusivity, Egypt, Egyptian-Americans, Employment discrimination, First-generation Americans, Grassroot Islam, Houston, Immigrant parents, Interfaith, Islam, Islamophobia, Millennials, Muslim Students Association, Muslims, Nonprofits, Otherization, Ramadan, Texas, Texas A&M University, Virtual services, Writers