By Meghan Hough – February 15, 2018
A rapper, poet, activist and Muslim, Flint-native Mona Haydar is making waves in American pop culture. Her songs “Dog” and “Hijabi” have become popular among a wide range of audiences. After transitioning from writing and performing poetry in her youth, Haydar released “Hijabi” in 2015, its music video quickly gaining millions of views. Her songs call out racism and colorism, violence against women, and people in positions of authority who use their positions and power to prey on others.
Following a rash of hate crimes and attacks directed at Muslims, Haydar and her husband set up a stand in Cambridge, MA, with signs that said, “Talk to a Muslim”, “Ask a Muslim”, and offered donuts and coffee, in an effort to encourage people to learn and ask questions, and create an open dialogue. You can see a video about their project here.
Born in Flint, Michigan, Haydar studied at the University of Michigan, and then went on to study in Damascus. She currently lives in New York, and is working towards her Masters in Theology.