Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons In Friendship and Love | Maryam Elassar | TEDxAmanaAcademy

Maryam tells a personal story about how showing kindness lead to an understanding of what diversity and inclusion really means. She states, "The way I dress shouldn't matter how people view me in the world. Instead, we should be judged by our actions and character."

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Hi, my name is Maryam Elassar.

This is my fourth year
in Amana Academy School,

and this is my first time
giving a Ted Talk.

I'll be talking about my idea how to unify
the people of this world together,

so we can all live peacefully
and stop fighting over our differences,

and focus more on our similarities.

It all started one day
when I went to the park after school.

I didn't have anyone to play with.

And then this girl came.

She was so quiet and shy.

My mom saw her and said,

"Why won't you go and talk to that girl?

Then you can play together."

I thought it was a good idea.

Once I went to the girl, asking her
if she would like to play with me,

she looked at me with her eyes wide open.

Suddenly, she seemed confused
and stared at me like I was an alien.

I stared at her back.

Then she said with a foreign accent,
"Why are you dressed that way?

You look weird."

I felt sad because she was judging me
based on what I was wearing

So I said to her, "And why
are you talking in a weird way?"

To pay her back for what she said.

The girl now seemed
embarrassed by what I said

and I didn't want her to be sad.

Maybe I wasn't supposed
to pay her back that way,

so I got an idea.

I told the girl,

"I will tell you why I dress this way
and tell you a little about myself,

and in return, you will tell me
why you talk differently

and tell me a little about yourself too.

Maybe after we understand each other

we can become friends instead of enemies.

Then we can play together and have fun."

I started explaining that wearing
a head cover and long skirts

is just good for my religion for girls,

and I'm a Muslim child.

The girl still looked puzzled.

Then she said, "What's a Muslim child?"

Right away I had a splendid idea.

I remembered the poem I always recited

when I felt the need
to explain myself to others.

I read it in my favourite book
called "Muslim Child" when I was five,

and decided to use it in situations
like this, so it could become handy.

I stood in front of the girl and told her,

"Listen to this, and hopefully,
you'll accept me as a friend afterwards."

Please, for all of you who want
to know what a Muslim child is.

Allow me to share this with you as well:

"Muslim child, child of peace,
child of war from a far off distant shore;

what do your black eyes see?

My eyes are not only black,
sometimes they are blue as the sky,

or green as a tropical sea,
or brown as a trunk of a palm tree,

and every shade in-between.

My skin can be black as molasses,
or as pink as the blush on a rose,

as golden as freshly made honey,
or dark copper brown as a penny,

and every shade in-between.

I am the richest of rich
and the poorest of poor.

As famous as famous can be,
a general's child, pampered and bored,

a soldier's child, orphaned by war.

And every rank in between.

I come from many countries,
speaking many languages,

but in one set of beliefs;

I believe in Noah, Jesus, Abraham,
Muhammad, and Moses.

And in God who sent them.

And in every messenger in between.

So then, Muslim child, child of peace;

what do your bright eyes see?

I see that we're each a piece
in the puzzle of humanity.

I'll try to understand you,
if you try to understand me."

Now back to my story,
guess what the girl did?

She gave me the biggest smile ever,
clapped for me, and told me,

"I would love to be your friend."

Isn't that amazing?

How just a sincere couple
of words, full of knowledge,

can change the whole situation?

I told the girl, "Now it's your turn
to tell me about yourself.

I have to understand you
like you understand me now."

The girl started to tell her story.

I am from Mexico; we came here
for a better chance of life.

My dad is a farmer.

He tries to support my family by moving
from place to place, finding new jobs.

We moved to this area last month.

I'm still trying to adjust
to my new school.

It's just so hard for me to improve
my foreign accent that fast.

I understand better than I speak.

And I don't have a lot of friends
to practice speaking with.

"Maybe if we become friends
you can help me", she said.

I felt sad and asked her
to forgive me for my ignorance

when I made a comment
about the way she speaks.

And told the girl,
"I would love to be your friend.

Now let's go play."

I had so much fun playing with her
and I gained a new friend.

Please, now, for everyone listening to me,
I hope you got the idea:

we all have to start fighting
ignorance with knowledge.

Stop picking on each other,
overcome our differences.

If each one of us start to pass
a good book, or a nice quote,

give a beautiful speech,
or write an inspiring story,

hopefully, my generation can live
in a more peaceful world.

We all come from different
cultures and backgrounds.

The way I dress shouldn't change
how people view me in the world.

Instead, we should all be judged
by our actions and characters.

Thank you for listening.

(Applause)