Amtul Aziz
What does it mean to be Asian American?
Being an Asian American means having basic human rights including and most importantly women's rights. My family and I can pursue those things which are important to us, including religious practices and freedom to live as we please. I can keep my culture and traditions. I love being an Asian American.
What motivates you to do what you do everyday? Allah and my children motivate me.
What do you worry about? My family's health and wellbeing.
Ethnic background: South Asian
Age: 72
Current city & state: Skokie, Illinois
What do you worry about? My family's health and wellbeing.
What brings you joy? Worshiping Allah and interacting with my family and community.
What can’t you live without? My right to practice my religion, my children and a good cup of tea.
What is your wish for the United States? I wish for economic prosperity and the pandemic to be over so we can all get together and have may parties.
What role do you play, or want to play in making that wish come true? Pray to Allah.
Anything else you wish to say about being Asian American? I want to share my love for America.
“Being an Asian American means having basic human rights including and most importantly women's rights.”
— Amtul Aziz, 2021
Amtul Aziz with framed portrait of
herself and her husband, 2021
The picture is of me and my husband shortly after we got married and started our journey together. The picture is important in the context of being an Asian American because my journey to America was with him. When we came to America, we faced many challenges together. We leaned on each other as we navigated being/becoming Americans. One of the many challenges I faced was the new language. He encouraged me to learn. He helped me to embrace America and so I want to remember him because he strongly valued being an American. He valued freedom to make an honest living, pursue an education at any age, and freedom to worship as one pleases. The two of us navigated America together.
“The picture is important in the context of being an Asian American because my journey to America was with him. …The two of us navigated America together.”
— Amtul Aziz