by Hiba Khan - 9th grade
Everyone loves a good superhero story. A great catastrophe followed by a flying savior is a classic tale told and cherished by generations. But what do you think of when you think of a superhero? Is it Captain America or Iron Man? Or maybe you like DC better - Batman or even Superman? What is interesting about this is that, unless you’re a thirty-something white man, you may not see yourself represented in these characters. We may have the occasional person of color or woman, but the majority of the time, these superheroes are like Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne. Although we may think that this does not really have an effect on us, the fact of the matter is that it does. It is crucial for students to be able to see themselves (and people who look like them) represented in the texts they read - so why not read about a Pakistani-Muslim superhero from New Jersey?
Kamala Khan, who first debuted to the world in 2013, is a regular Muslim high schooler living in Jersey City - except for the fact that she has superpowers. Through it all, she ventures around the Tri-State area, defeating monsters and supervillains and protecting those she loves most. Like any other teenager, however, she deals with life as it comes to her: whether it be issues regarding her relationships with family, friends, or even her culture and religion. As Ms. Marvel, Kamala
learns to conquer her fears and bring justice to her community - all while her Pakistani parents encourage her to excel in her studies and become a doctor someday.
So why is it important for students to read and engage in texts that represent themselves? For one, it is a psychological matter: when a child is able to see that people who look like them and come from similar backgrounds are capable of doing great things, a switch flips in their brain. Seeing themselves represented in positive matters outside of the news helps them realize that they can accomplish anything (maybe not defeating a supervillain, but you get what I mean). Without these role models and inspirational figures to look up to, a child comes up with two-word phrase we are all too familiar with: I can’t. These two words, however simple they may be, can ultimately shut down a person and their dreams. This transforms into a cycle where the child who was not represented does not have the abilities to represent those who come after them later on. We can’t let this happen, but we can do something about it. We can spread these representative stories of relatable characters to friends and family, encouraging people to take part in the discussion and uplifting our children to achieve their dreams.
I first read Ms. Marvel in a teammate’s car on the way to a soccer game. It was the first time I had ever read about anyone that I could actually relate to - don’t get me wrong, Percy Jackson is one of my favorite series, but I don’t exactly have long blonde hair like Annabeth - and looking back on it, it was one of the best feelings in the world. To see yourself in a comic, fighting off villains and saving the day, well, it’s empowering, to say the least. We won that game, I remember, and in our hijabs and leggings beneath shorts, we felt like superheroes.
Spring break is coming up soon, Insha Allah - but not soon enough! Be sure to check out Ms. Marvel, and maybe read it then as a great break from school. There are a ton of comics, so they should keep you entertained for a while. Have fun reading!
