After finishing “Writing Our Way Out”, I can sincerely say that I’m happy that we read this book for class. I was hesitant about it at first, but after getting further into the story it was almost impossible to put down. The authors became great storytellers, and it was interesting to see how they progressed throughout the book. One of the authors whose story caught my eye was Naji Mujahid.  His story spoke to me the most, and I was happy to see how far he had come by the end of his story.

Naji was a child when he and his brother found their mother dead. It was heartbreaking for him, and he remembers her funeral in detail. After the death of his mother, he was sent to live with his grandmother since he didn’t know who his father was. Nani’s grandmother was extremely abusive and treated Naji horribly. He was told that if he reported her behavior it would only get worse. He tried to get away but the system failed him and he was always returned to his grandmother. He caved love and attention, and he went looking for it in the wrong places. Eventually, he found the love and happiness he craved, but the problem was that he found these feelings in cocaine.

Naji is sent to jail for breaking and entering while trying to fund his drug habits. He just wanted to fit in after being physically and emotionally abused for his whole life. He’s in prison and considering suicide, but instead, he makes a commitment to learning. He joins the Nation of Islam and eventually becomes a part of the 5% Nation. He becomes arrogant and argues with those who aren’t a part of the 5% Nation. Eventually, he starts to become disenfranchised with the group and decides to borrow a Qur’an from a fellow inmate. He reads it and it changes his life forever. He left the 5% Nation and converted to Islam. He changes his name to Naji Mujahid to further distance himself from his past.

He’s released from prison and starts to care for his grandmother, despite everything she put him through. His new-found religion allows him to forgive her and work towards peace within himself. He struggles with his faith but eventually is released and starts his life again. He has brief legal troubles due to a weed-related charge, but he wants a better life for himself. He found writing therapeutic, and it helped him come to terms with many of the things he went through. I loved reading about his ups and downs, and I felt honored to be able to read his story. He wasn’t perfect, but I still believe that his story is inspiring.