The Griffon News

Before two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Donna Gehrke-White wrote her book The Face Behind the Veil: The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America she said that she didn’t know how to act around veiled women.

After acquainting herself with these women she said she took a cue from their modesty, and began wearing long-sleeved shirts.

Gehrke-White, a Clarksdale, Mo. native, shared this story and other experiences when she spoke about Issues regarding Muslim women in America at Missouri Western State University’s Eggs and Issues on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

In 1991, Gehrke-White was part of a Pulitzer-prize team that investigated a murderous religious sect called the Yahwehs. Two years later, she shared in another Pulitzer with the entire Miami Herald staff for their coverage of Hurricane Andrew.

The Miami Herald features writer’s speech gave an extensive overview of what she covered in her book making many clear and poignant points along the way.

“The Muslim population will continue to grow in America,” Gehrke-White said.

Gehrke-White main focus, though, was the different kinds of Muslim woman living in America today breaking them down into four different groups: the New Traditionalist Muslims, the Blenders, the Converts and the Changers.

“They are not what we see in the world media,” Gehrke-White said about the New Traditionalist Muslims.

She stressed the fact that these Muslims are very aware of their rights, they work and their children are very important to them.

Gehrke-White, who is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa also stressed how important education is to Muslim woman for themselves and even more so for their children.

When speaking about the Blenders, Gehrke-White stressed that although they may not wear a traditional Hijab to show their faith they are still very religious.

While taking about the converts who consist mainly of African Americans who have traced their Muslim background back to Africa, Gehrke-White shared with the audience stories of how these Muslim women survive. One particularly touching story focused on one woman’s journey to flee Afghanistan for her family’s safety and who is now living peacefully in America.

“The United States is truly an amazing country,” Gehrke-White said. “God bless America. We do things right.” She then began to talk about the last group of Muslim women, the Changers.

This group of Muslim women includes doctors, actors and the first female Muslim judge who lives in Baltimore. These are the women who may have adapted the best to American life and culture.

After the speech Gehrke-White took time to meet and greet members of the audience, sign copies of her book and entertain questions from the audience.

“More education and we, the media, need to show the realities of the Muslim culture,” Gehrke-White said when asked what it will take to show America that the majority of Muslims are not religious radicals who wish our country harm.

The 150 in attendance arose early to hear Gehrke-White speak at Eggs and Issues, which was held at 7 a.m. in the Fulkerson Center on Western’s campus. The event included a hot breakfast, which was free and open to the community.

For more information on Gehrke-White or to purchase her book visit her website: www.facebehindtheveil.com.