Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream

Can I pick em or CAN I PICK EM?? This books is so good y’all, I want to learn fencing ???. The young lady even got me feeling like we’re sisters!!! I enjoyed this book of TRIUMPH even when no one wanted her to succeed but I tell you WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU— IT IS FOR YOU ?. I was in tears AGAIN cause at this juncture in my life I’m like what’s next and everything I’m reading and learning is saying that you are where you need to be at this very moment so be patient and keep pressing like a champ regardless ?. Grab this book for the winter and snuggle in cause you won’t want to put it down; also... grab some tissues cause some people are unnecessarily cruel but GOD sees all. Buy this book for the young folk in your family too, ITS JUST THAT FREAKIN GOOD!?????

Audiobook with Overdrive app*

<i>Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream</i> by Ibtihaj Muhammad with Lori L. Tharps<br /><br /> I love the Olympics and while I am a fan of the Winter Olympics, I absolutely adore the Summer Olympics. I monitor all of the events, medal counts and carve out the time to watch my favorite events. Fencing is nowhere near the top of that list. If it’s on and I happen to turn to it fine, but I never go out of my way to watch fencing. I couldn’t even name an athlete that played fencing. Until I saw Ibtihaj Muhammad and then my interest was piqued. I wanted to know more about her, the woman competing in a hijab. I kept my eye on her performance during the Olympics and was excited to see the team medal. And I never forgot that there was a young woman, who competed in a hijab representing the United States during what felt like an extremely divisive time. When I saw that this book was available I jumped at the chance to know more about her. <br /><br /> Proud tells the story of Ibtihaj Muhammad, her family and what drove her to compete in fencing since the age of twelve. I was engaged throughout this memoir. I’m not Muslim, but I am an African American woman who can relate to many of the experiences she describes throughout the pages. But I can’t deny that the differences in my experiences and hers are largely related to the fact that she is a Muslim woman who chooses to wear a hijab. It’s an act of faith that some people ignorantly feel is a threat. It has led to discrimination throughout her life both inside and outside of her sport. I admired watching her persevere even though she knew that she was being discriminated against. <br /><br /> I really enjoyed this memoir. It is well written and extremely honest. Muhammad emphasizes throughout her memoir what it means to her to be a Muslim African American woman and I loved that she spoke so passionately about what that means to her. I love that she didn’t shy away from how she has been treated and how it has spurred her on to become an activist and to speak out against discrimination. In a time when people still have to stress the importance of representation, I am glad that Muhammad has embraced what her identity means to so many others who look at her and see themselves. I definitely recommend this and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.<br />

Inspirational. And necessary. America needs diverse stories. I’m certain that young women of color wearing a hijab will find Ibtihaj Muhammad’s story of triumph, of getting to and competing in Olympics all while wearing a hijab. That’s not to say the memoir is only for that audience, as Ibtihaj herself says, she has had girls and people of all color recite to her how much she means to them. <br /><br />She is a young lady raised in Maplewood, NJ and got involved in fencing because her parents believed that their children should all be involved in sports, “that playing sports would give us a competitive edge, making us winners on the field and in life.” <br /><br />So when her mom saw some kids in the gym fencing, and although she wasn’t versed in the rules of fencing or anything else for that matter, the fact that everyone was fully covered was an initial draw. Her being raised in a strict Muslim household, required her to wear a hijab and dress in a modest way. Fencing fit the bill. And so she tried it, and grew to like it. Through her recounting her story we learn she is a very committed young lady and when she is involved, she gives 100%. She worked very hard practicing and perfecting her fencing technique and eventually became the second ranked fencer in the US.<br /><br />She also learned to use her voice along the way to Olympic stardom, becoming a spokesperson and role model for Muslim women in sport. Mattel was so impressed they created the first Barbie in her image wearing a hijab. “Considering how much I had loved my Barbies as a child, the thought of little girls, both Muslim and non-Muslim, playing with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab made me so happy.” Really good story and such an empowering and inspirational journey. Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Books for an advanced DRC. Book is out Jul 24, 2018.

A very interesting memoir. I saw Ibtihaj interviewed during the Olympics in Rio but didn't know very much of her story. I found the memoir to be a good read. I was surprised to read her critique of several high profile coaches and fellow athletes. It is certainly her perspective of these interactions. I'd love to hear from those people to see their responses. Overall, a well put together memoir. <br /><br />Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Ibtihaj Muhammad’s parents were growing up in Newark, New Jersey in the 1960s when the riots were raging. Both of them eventually discovered Islam and saw it as a way of creating a more peaceful life in a very unpeaceful place. Islam also held the promise of having a strong marriage and a strong family. That promise came true for Ms. Muhammad’s parents. They had five children who were raised Muslim, and who were expected to excel academically, as well as to participate in sports. Their parents saw sports as something that would give their children a “competitive edge”, and keep them occupied and active with other children in a positive way. The Muhammad kids had stricter rules to follow as Muslims; plus their father was a police detective who of course saw some terrible things on the job, and their mother worked year around as a special education teacher.<br /><br />Since the author had to wear conservative clothes even while playing sports, and started to wear hijab in middle school, fencing eventually came up as a sport she might try out for during high school; since all fencers were well covered up, and Ivy League colleges had fencing teams and scholarships. Even as a young teenager, the ambitious and highly intelligent Ms. Muhammad was making big plans for her future. While she had big plans and dreams, however, she really had no idea they would eventually lead her to the Olympics. It was a rocky road, too, complete with coaches who seemed to lose interest in her, a strong psychological need to break away from her rigid plans as a college student, an intense desire to return to fencing after ending up feeling powerless after college graduation, and much hostility from her Olympic teammates and the coach.<br /><br />Ibtihaj Muhammad often did not respond to hostility, “cold treatment” or unfair criticism as she sometimes wished to, because she did not want to be seen as an “angry black woman”. Her mother also encouraged her to be kind to those who were not kind, since that would “hold up a mirror to their own dark reflections”. On one hand, that is excellent advice. On the other hand, though, people will often continue to treat others badly if no one ever challenges their unfairness. Moreover, slights and maltreatment often become more permanent type memories in one’s mind if one does not speak up. It’s similar to when one comes up with the perfect response after an argument is over, and keeps replaying that perfect response in one’s mind, wishing it had been thought of during the argument. Nevertheless, Ms. Muhammad has certainly done all right with the way she has lived, as both a dignified black woman and a devout Muslim woman who wears hijab. She is a true inspiration to others, young or old, Muslim or not.<br /><br />(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)

I had never heard of Ibtihaj Muhammad before the Reading Women 2020 challenge. In need for a female sports book, I was intrigued by a Black woman who excelled in fencing. Reminded of the Jamaican Bobsled team reaching the Olypmics, Ibtihaj has to have a fascinating story to tell. <br /><br />This memoir which focuses on her journey to be a champion fencer is the stuff of legends. Set in the post 9/11 era we learn how a triple minority navigates the American culture. That I read this in the midst of the events of George Floyd and events of Minneapolis makes this a story I will not easy forget. Fighting racism takes various forms, we fight not always for ourselves but for those to come. <br /><br />Beautifully narrated by the author , I recommend this sports memoir.

I went to Ibtihaj’s booking signing a couple of years ago, but I was saving this read until right before the Olympics to give me inspiration. Well as with many things, the Olympics were rescheduled and I forgot about this book in May. So I decided to start reading, because the Olympics would be going on right now and I would be watching fencing. Seriously, I became a fan of fencing because of this woman. <br /><br />With many athletic books, you have to weed through bad writing and dribble. But not this book. It didn’t jump around. It was well written. It was organized and thought out. It made me sad and happy and on the edge of my seat, because I only started watching her at the Rio Olympics. I didn’t know what she did, if she won or lost that match. The book put me there in the moment. Her USA team coach reminded me of my varsity basketball coach who made me feel inferior to the other girls on the team and that he was forced to deal with me like garbage, but I had the support of my team. So I can’t even imagine what that was like and it made me so sad to know she didn't have the team dynamic. <br /><br />I will say that I did get tired of the constant reminder that she wears a hijab. I think I counted five times mentioned in one small paragraph. After the first two sentences, I got it. And some of the information repeated itself.<br /><br />Overall, if you want to feel inspired, read this book.

I honestly wasn't expecting a lot because I've read athlete bios before and by someone so young I thought, what can she say? I figured it would be a lot of fluff, but wanted to read it anyway as I am also an American Muslim and she's a role model and pride of us all. <br /><br />Dude. This girl pulls no punches. She names names of everyone who ever tried to put her down or didn't treat her right, all the way back to her school bully. It was refreshing to read real talk about the obstacles and detractors she faced. <br /><br />I think this book is a must read for all people who strive to achieve something as the "underdog." Ms. Muhammad's rise offers a great blueprint for others to know what it takes to succeed. A strong family and a hard work ethic are two of the most important things. But I loved learning about the fencing club in NY that was founded by a Black former Olympian. It shows the importance of finding or creating groups, esp for POCs here in America, that will surround you with others who want the same thing for you and themselves. As she states in the book one of their mottos was if one succeeds we all succeed (or I'm paraphrasing). So necessary to have when often the rest of the world feels or actually is against you. <br /><br />Great book and necessary for all American Muslim youth to read.

Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic medalist in fencing, an entrepreneur, a Muslim and a Black American, and this book is OUTSTANDING. In the face of extreme discrimination and racism, she excelled anyway, and reading this book has been medicinal, inspirational and sobering. <br />As a POC visibly Muslim woman this book taught me that I can spend my entire life getting knocked off course by racist, Islamophobic moments or systems, but if I allow that to happen or spend my time explaining, my life will dissipate and be defined by others in the process. Instead, you gotta put your head down, work and excel despite everything. Shine in spite of everything. This book was also a reminder that success and openings come from God, and my reliance and trust is on Him alone. As a career educator, this book reminded me that the career trajectories students have post graduation is not always a product of their success and efforts at university. And finally, this book was a reminder that your family shapes how you see the world, what you believe is possible and how you are impacted and shaped by your struggles. <br />FIVE STAR read!! Buy this book for your daughters, nieces, cousins, all the women in your life.