As soon as planes flew in to the World Trade Center, another plane crashed in to the Pentagon, and it was discovered that Arab Muslims were the perpetrators, it seemed everyone with black and brown skin became a suspect. The concept that not every Muslim is a terrorist made sense to me. But so many people were looking to blame someone. I was looking for answers, too.

I knew in my heart that not every person who practices Islam is a killer. There are families, children, schools, parks, restaurants. There are communities.