The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My name is Margari Hill. I am an African American who converted to Islam in 1993. I am currently a doctoral student of African history at Stanford University. I started blogging in 2006 in order to put my experiences and struggles in words. It helped me make sense of the many challenges I faced as I sought to balance my Muslim and Western identity. In 2007, I made my blog open to the broader public and entered the blogosphere with my site http://azizaizmargari.wordpress.com/. I chose a racy title which played with the negative stereotype about Black women, that we were angry. So I named it, “Just Another Angry Black Muslim Woman?” In general I am not an angry person, but with all the injustice in the world there are certainly things to be angry about at times. In my blog, I explore three major themes: religion, race, and sex. I tackle these perspectives from a uniquely African American  female point of view. My blog mixes personal reflection, academic analysis, humor, and culture.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

My writing has greatly benefited from blogging. I started writing in elementary school. Actually, I started writing before I could write words. I used to scribble in my mother’s address book. From elementary school on, I used to write short stories and occasional poems. I entered a creative writing program in 1997, because I had once hoped to be a Muslim American novelist. Ever since I decided to become an academic, I have struggled to improve my writing.  However, Graduate school writing proved to be the biggest challenge. I have seen my ability to express complex ideas and nuanced arguments improve over time. My entire academic career is based on my ability to articulate my ideas in speech and writing. When you live in the world of publish or perish, writing wells is an imperative.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Some of my more lively debates in comments sections on Umar Lee’s blog, Tariq Nelson’s blog, and my own.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I’ve met a great community of activists and scholars while blogging. Our dialog continues outside of the blog in chats and phone conversations. We have shared notes, advised each other, and supported each other through hardships.  Some of us keep in touch via instant message and skype. Sometimes it is a challenge since I’ve been in Egypt for over a year. So my communication with other bloggers often keeps me up late at night.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

Internet broadcast and blogs

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Blogging encourages more of a republic of ideas.  It is more democratic, where  layman to scholars can debate and argue their positions.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I think my unique point of view, my intellectual and academic training which shapes my analysis of my lived experience, my honesty. Right now, the Muslim blogosphere is dominated by men. There are a few Muslim women blogging, but few are academics.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

Determination

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Happiest: Getting into graduate school  Gloomiest: Being in graduate school

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Mecca and Medina (would that count as one since I’d hope it would be hajj)
Timbuktu, Mali
Jamaica

What is your favorite book and why?

Dune, how could you resist a science fiction book that creates such a fantastic universe drawing on Muslim civilization?

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Their smile

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

Yes, my former advisor

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I don’t know. I sure haven’t.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

No, I don’t have a lot of time on my hands. We may neglect certain things like a real social life, other obligations, or even self care.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

To encourage respect, even if there is difference of opinion. We have to begin to look at conflict resolution and negotiation. We can start appealing to basic human ethics and principles or mutual understanding and general empathy.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Marc Manley at The Manrilla Blog: Life. Art. Religion. Culture http://www.manrilla.net/blog/
Tariq Nelson http://tariqnelson.com/
Samah at Jamerican American: Talking it Plain http://jamericanmuslimah.wordpress.com/
Baraka at Rickshaw Diaries http://rickshawdiaries.wordpress.com/

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

The posts that once had my picture got a very strong reaction from Muslims. I didn’t wear hijab at the time, so a lot of Muslims were very strong either in their defense of my right to not wear it or condemning me for not wearing it.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I think Pakistan is in a major transition period undergoing a lot of political tensions due to outside pressures and internal political divisions. My heart goes out to the Pakistani people who have suffered, but I am hopeful about Pakistan’s future. I think that Pakistanis are just like us in America. We all want to live dignified lives and to have a better future for our children and loved ones.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Why of course, in some good ways and some bad. I fell in love with Sister Barakah’s writings over at Rickshaw Diaries.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

In a developed country, the poor are invisible. You don’t see the stark poverty, it is hidden from view. In developing countries like Egypt and Morocco the contrast between the haves and have nots is greater and you see so much human suffering right next to extreme affluence.

What is the future of blogging?

It will continue, the debates will intensify, but ultimately I see institutions of thought being developed.  I see institutions that will develop more concepts like the republic of ideas and an increased critical engagement between layman and experts.  I think that new standards for writing, for discourse will develop in order to resolve some of the more fractuous nature of blogging .

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I have been inspired by blogging. By being in this dispersed intellectual community, I have developed spiritually.  I have met life long friends that I truly care for.  My writing has developed immensely, thereby improving my academic and professional writing.

What are your future plans?

I hope to be a professor at a teaching college, writing books, and insha’Allah having a family.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

I hope my brothers and sisters in Pakistan understand some of the struggles, hopes, and aspirations that we Muslims in the West experience. I hope that we can learn to build bridges, to work to eradicate racism, classism and injustice. I hope that we can inspire each other through increased dialog. I believe we have a lot to learn from one another.

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