#thobe

[khyzarz]

Under thobe

[islamization-in-latam]

[arab-br]

[faris-akhi]

[muslimmasculinity]

[fullafag]

Jordan, 1985. A portrait of a Bedouin woman in Petra. Photographed by Annie Griffiths for National Geographic

[riyadhzz]

Cover your Awrah

[faysalinarabisation]

Join us, our friend, you're family!

As I was walking through the city, a group of young North African men approached me. I found them cute and handsome in their sportswear. As this group came towards me, I felt strange. One of them said hello, and I replied. They gathered around me, noticing that they saw I admired them, so they wanted to see if I was a brother to them. Then they handed me a set of sportswear, led me to a quiet street, and told me to put it on. I blushed, so they decided to strip me down to my boxers, tearing off my clothes. I was forced to put on these soft, designer tracksuits, like the North African guy I must be. I was dressed, excuse me? What's happening to me? I start thinking in Arabic as I fall to the ground. My friends surround me and say, "Join us, brother!"

My skin tans, my nose grows, my hair curls, I feel strong, happy, lying shirtless on the ground like my brothers. They start to stand over me. I've become an Algerian Arab thanks to my brothers.

Getting up, I hug my fellow Arabs. I am Algerian, my name is Faysal, the Algerian proud of his roots. Thank you to my friends. I've transformed into the Arab my brothers saw me as I wanted to be.

For this story, I thank @octuscle who inspired this short story and the photos he took.