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| Rashida Tlaib with Mayaar, the daughter of filmmaker Adam Shapiro and human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf. (Photo: Twitter) |
"Writing in Elle today, Tlaib explained why she opted against business attire to pay homage to her mother and her Palestinian heritage with the dress:
“Throughout my career in public service,
the residents I have had the privilege of fighting for have embraced who
I am, especially my Palestinian roots. This is what I want to bring to
the United States Congress, an unapologetic display of the fabric of the
people in this country. This is why I decided to wear a thobe when I am
sworn into the 116th Congress.
My Yama (mother in Arabic) came to the
United States at age of 20, and just like any immigrant parent, she
wants all of her children to succeed, but without giving up on our roots
and culture.
As a young girl, I watched my mother hand
stitch thobes while sitting on the floor with a lamp at her side. She
would make the small designs of flowers and different shapes. Just
thinking about it brings up so many memories of my mother and how proud
she was of being Palestinian.” "
Rashida Tlaib wears a Palestinian dress to be sworn into Congress and inspires #TweetYourThobe
