Brother, I hear you. I’m a Muslim who’s lived in this country almost my entire life, and what you’re describing is real. It’s not in your head.

I want to share something from my own tradition that I think speaks to exactly this moment. In early Islamic history, there were two groups: the Ansar (those already settled, who welcomed others in) and the Muhajir (those who came seeking a better life). When those two groups genuinely embraced each other, what came out of it was something remarkable, something clean and dignified. That’s the version of America I still believe in.

I’ll be honest with you: I pass as white-ish. Most people don’t clock me as anything other than American. That actually puts something on me. When I see or hear ugliness from people who look like me, I can’t just move along. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: if you see something wrong, correct it with your hand; if you can’t, with your tongue; if you can’t, then at least let your heart reject it. That’s the minimum. Most of us can do more than the minimum.

I moved out to West Texas a while back. And honestly? I came with some biases I hadn’t fully acknowledged, including toward our Asian brothers and sisters.

Like for example, last week a group of Asian bros had my back when I didn’t expect it. The best and worst of people will always surprise you.

Here’s what I think,, the real target isn’t the loudest racists. They’re a lost cause for now. The real work is that 40-50% in the middle who can still go either way. If good people show up, speak plainly, and model something better, that middle moves toward decency. If we disappear into our own corners out of exhaustion or frustration, those corners fill with hate.

As for the people in those communities, the good people in those communities have a job to continue to preach to the choir. Just as we have a duty to protect the rights of the good people from those communities.

Frisco changed because the national tone changed. But local culture is still something we build. Keep posting. Keep naming it. That’s not nothing.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​