Jinn

What do you think I'd look like with no hair?

I don't know.

You're pretty, so you could probably rock any style.

Why do you ask?

Just curious.

Okay.

- Have a good one. - All right.

See you later.

So what is identity?

What are the values, the ideologies, and practices

that make us who we are?

You will write an essay

about your identity and how you shape it.

Who are you?

How did you get that way?

Be as specific as possible, no generalities.

Tell me about a specific experience or several.

Tahir.

Tell us one thing about your identity.

Pork chops.

Amos, another disruption from you

and you will be out of here.

Sorry, go ahead, Tahir.

My deen.

Good.

Will you tell the class what that is?

The Islamic way of life.

Amos, tell us one thing about your identity.

Today, another round of US air strikes

are helping to slow the advances of ISIS fighters in Syria.

There's no word so far on military

or civilian casualties at this time.

Immigration continues to be a hot button.

Today we'll see highs in the mid to upper 70s

with just a few morning clouds

that we see tapering off in the afternoon.

It is maybe the perfect day

for a picnic or an unplanned date.

This week will be fairly similar

with cool, dry mornings, a few clouds,

that will taper off in the afternoons,

leaving us with the perfect, sunny spring week.

Back to you, Victor.

Cut.

All right, here we are.

What did you do last night?

- I was with you. - No, you weren't.

I bet she feel hella dumb gettin' that nigga's name

- tattooed on her back. - My God.

Can I get, like, two more pepperonis on my pizza slice?

That will be two extra dollars.

You have a really nice smile.

Are you Puerto Rican?

No, no, Ethiopian.

Just as beautiful.

Thank you.

Okay, well take care, I'll see you later, all right?

So is that your new boo?

But seriously, what are we gonna do for the talent show?

We gotta come tight this year.

- I'll help choreograph. - Perfect.

Yeah, me too.

Why don't we leave the choreography for me and Blaine?

We don't wanna end up like we did last year, you know?

Yeah. There's no shame.

No, but look, we'll meet up tomorrow.

Work on the routine.

We're gonna win this year.

It's our senior year.

- Senior year. - That's right.

We have some new believers joining us today.

I'm so happy you're here.

- Let's have them stand and... - Me too.

Introduce themselves.

Our new brothers and sisters.

My name is Jade Jennings and I'm from Los Angeles

and I'm just very happy to be here.

Thank you, sister Jade.

I'm sure many of us here already know you

from your weather broadcast.

I know I do.

I'm Jade.

I know, I watch the news.

I'm Malia.

Nice to meet you.

This is beautiful.

So, how do you feel so far?

I feel great.

Honestly.

It's this simplicity, really.

No God but Allah.

I feel just a oneness and complete.

Hey, Blaine?

Did you see this video of Ranelle?

Yeah.

I guess that's why she dropped out last year.

I thought she was going to Community College, too.

She does and I like some of these video, though.

Bye.

Hey, Mom, look at this video.

Remember Ranelle from my school.

Honey, I had the most magical night.

I went to the mosque.

You know the one my co-worker attends.

They're about to ban those places, Mom.

And I heard women have to sit in separate rooms.

No, Summer, this was beautiful.

I mean the people, the lights, the smell...

The prayer.

Any politician looking to ban that is an idiot.

My identity is shaped by my parents.

They come from two very different worlds.

My father from a large family,

my mother from a small, broken family.

Because of that, she made her own way.

Lives by her own rules.

I do, too.

My mother always says life is about growth, about reinvention.

I like to switch things up,

explore new styles, read new books.

I dance because my grandmother danced.

Movement is one of my only connections to my lineage.

To my DNA.

Mom, it's a sunny day today.

Why are you wearing that?

Because I want to.

Why are you wearing that?

You picked this top out for me, Mom.

Yeah, but I didn't tie it up like that, Summer.

Anyway, I was up late last night reading the Quran.

I swear I've never

- read anything-- - Okay, Mom.

I'll see you later.

Hey girl.

Hey, what's up?

I think my mom's on something.

Like drugs?

No.

She went to this Muslim temple.

It was weird.

Damn, that's tough.

You remember that Muslim bakery up in Englewood?

Yeah.

Yeah, my uncle got caught up in that.

Turns out their leader had like 20 wives, 40 kids.

All the women had to like walk behind the men

and bake bean pies all day.

Well, they say it was like corrupt.

They was like killing Nigerians and journalists

and then they was turned around

and selling bake goods and shit.

What?

Yeah.

So, where's your uncle now?

Well, he went to jail and now he sells shoes

up in Redondo Beach.

He never was the same.

Wow.

But anyway, we about to ace this calculus test.

You study?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's about the only thing there's time to do.

I don't know what it means to be a believer.

Growing up, we never went to church.

I wanna be what my mother wants,

but I'm scared of what I want.

To be with someone, to feel, to touch them,

to dream all at once.

My mother comes home from themasjid,

glowing in a light I've never seen.

It's a Godly light.

One I connect to.

I wanna glow like her, but I already feel tainted.

Full of a fire I can't put out.

I'm sure many of us are aware

of all of this turmoil and madness

that has descended upon our nation and our world.

And like you and myself, I sit at home

and I wonder and I think about what can I do.

What can you do?

What can Jumu'do