44 pages • 1 hour read
Moustafa BayoumiHow Does It Feel to Be A Problem: Being Young and Arab in America (2008)
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
RamiChapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter Summary: “Rami”
The final chapter of How Does It Feel To Be A Problem tells the story of Rami, an earnest and kind young man who is an English major at Brooklyn College (and a pupil of Bayoumi himself). Bayoumi describes Rami as a man with “a bookish air about him, though he smiles softly and often” (221).
After the 9/11 attacks, Rami’s father is arbitrarily imprisoned, much like Rasha’s family. Rami responds to this familial trauma by seeking solace in his Islamic faith. Much like Omar, with his “post-9/11 syndrome,” Rami’s devotion to Islam is actually strengthened by the public anxiety surrounding it.
Rami becomes passionate about demystifying Islam and educating people about his practice. He dedicates himself to making his religion accessible, preaching and giving out Korans on Staten Island. He also speaks to young people in community centers and schools, attempting to reach students from all backgrounds.
“Rami” Analysis
Rami’s chapter continues How Does It Feel To Be A Problem’s theme of deepening ones devotion to Arab-American identity in the face of widespread discrimination, prejudice, and racial profiling. In Rami’s case, his Arab-American identity centers around his practice of Islam, and he uses that practice to establish a center of calm when his father is unjustly accused and imprisoned.
