Examining brown and Muslim identity in America. As seen in CNN, Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Glamour, New York Magazine. Quoted by the NY Times, Inc. and CBC Q. I run @browninmedia on IG.
Ramadan, Dates, and the Evolution of a “Foreign” Food
Dates are a central part of Ramadan and they've been cultivated in America for a century. During that time, the small fruit has been exoticized and politicized, much like the fasting Muslims who eat them.
How South Asian-owned threading salons in the US became a space for community
Threading is a critical part of many people's grooming routines but few realize the community, culture and complicated emotions embedded within South Asian threading salons in America.
A New Children’s Book Explores Body Hair, One of the Final Frontiers of Self-Acceptance
In Laxmi's Mooch, kids learn the value of embracing difference. Adults could stand to read it too.
Everything You Need to Know About Kichri, a Cherished South Asian Comfort Food
From naan to turmeric lattes, it never ceases to amaze me which ancestral foods get picked up as the next foodie trend. One dish I never thought would get the spotlight is kichri — a humble lentil and grain dish, colored yellow with turmeric — that is made all over South Asia.
Gal Gadot's Casting as Cleopatra Is a Part of a Bigger Problem
Hollywood has been white-washing ancient civilization for decades.
South Asian Voters Are the Target of They See Blue, a Grassroots Organization
More than 5 million South Asians — those with roots in the Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Indo-Fijian, Indo-Caribbean, Maldivian, Nepali, Pakistani and Sri Lankan communities — live in America, and many live in battleground states that could determine the outcome of the 2020 election.
The Refreshing, Lightly Floral Ingredient That Makes Iced Coffee So Much Better
Rosewater may be a new ingredient to some, but I’m South Asian so it’s a flavor I’ve encountered often in traditional desserts like falooda and kulfi. I’ve always loved the taste because it’s floral without being too candle-like — refreshing and subtly sweet. There are also so many ways to use it in cooking.
Iftar, Samosas, and the Month of Infinite Blessings Lived on Zoom
The comfort of celebratory foods in an uncertain time.
Painter’s Tape Is the Inexpensive, No-Commitment Way I Gave Myself “Extra Space”
There is no separation now between work and home, parent and teacher, family time and alone time. In an exasperated effort to reclaim some control, I put down a strip of blue painter’s tape.
Ramadan Is More Beautiful Than Ever
How I’ve kept the spirit of the month alive for my family in the age of isolation
Why I Freelance: To Break into the Exclusive World of Media
For the first time, I felt the impact of my own words. They added something significant to the national conversation. I'll never forget that feeling.
11 Muslim Women in the Fashion-Beauty Industry Reveal Their ...
11 Muslim Women in the Fashion-Beauty Industry Reve...
The Fashion Industry Is Starting to Embrace Muslims, But Is This for ...
A look at Muslim representation at NYFW
'The Tiger Hunter' Director Lena Khan on Being a South Asian ...
Q&A on making a movie in Hollywood without connections
What Obama's Mosque Visit Means to Me
My piece in Glamour republished on Huffington Post's front page and blog section