america. i have a ton of other books. i wrote james patterson, one of my favorite authors. i finished bill clinton's book the day it came out. i finished the other book today that it came out. so i read everything. including a little light romance can escape the world. [inaudible conversations] >> good evening, everyone. welcome to the strand bookstore. i am the owner of this trend.

for a little bit of history, it was founded in 1927 by my grandfather, benjamin bass and it was finally called fourth avenue book row, which is located right around the corner from us from union square to astor place along fourth avenue. at its height it has 48 bookstores. in the 91 years since then, all but one of the stories has shattered, leaving it to be passed on to my father who just died in january and then to me, always to be kept independent. tonight is such a special night. we are so excited to have you here and to have c-span's booktv with us. at the 2016 we olympics, this evenings remarkable author ibtihaj muhammad smashed barriers as the first american to compete wearing a job and

made history as the first muslim american woman to medal. as a young woman, sat out sports as a means to fund college and was one of the only sports in which he could participate in modest dress. she was fast, hard working and devoted to her faith. but in a sport privilege than white people, she often felt out of place. if ibtihaj rose above bigotry and other success, named one of time magazine 100 most influential people in the world, she serves as a sports ambassador for the u.s. state department, cofounded athletes for impact and the clothing company luau love and inspired

the first barbie in her likeness. she is here to share first tour in your array new memoir, "proud." it is worth noting that the book has an adult edition ended young readers edition and both versions are officially out today and for sale here. she will be joined in conversation by jacqueline woodson, award-winning author of several books including miracle boys, brown girl dreaming come after to pop, so there's and show way. she was named the national ambassador for young people's literature by the library of congress 2018-2018. please join me in giving along workaround to jacqueline and ibtihaj.

thank you all. [applause] [applause] >> ims are again. my name is ibtihaj muhammad. thank you so much for coming. i see so many faces. very appreciative of this moment and am happy to share with everyone today. i'm going to read a few paragraphs from my book. mohammed, her voice turned off, the substitute teacher ms. winters squinted and brought the list of names closer to her face. she was stuck and i could guess

why. she was looking at the seven letters in my first name and wondering how to pronounce it. is your last name mohammed she asked? her eyes fixed on me. the only fourth-grader in the classroom wearing any job. who happen to be sitting in the front row. yes, i nodded. my eyes stayed glued in front of me. and how do you and how do you pronounce your first and young lady she asked. it is ibtihaj i said, pronouncing each syllable as slowly as possible. it's pronounced just like us but. that usually helps people understand how to say my name. but it didn't home this winter's gate she made another face, the kind you make when your mouth lands on something better. that's too hard she said shaking her head no and scribbling something down on the attendance sheet. we are going to call you if c. [applause] thank you.

thank you so much for that reading. i'm so excited about this book in the world. i was really excited about you being in the world when i first started following you as an athlete and then when i found out you had with "proud," which is a phenomenal book. >> thank you. >> thank you did i was excited your story was going to get into the world. just looking around this room is so beautiful to me in being able to see this diverse room, to see so many people in hijab. so many people who you have changed the narrative for as an academic, as an act based. and so i wanted to start by talking to you about your activism. welcome, everybody. i am jacqueline woodson and i'm glad you're here. and back to my question. so, in terms of being an athlete

and being an activist, what came first and how? >> will come in some ways as an african-american i was on a not do this. there's so many parts of my childhood that i feel like my parents reminded us to be conscience of where we came from, our lineage and always to be proud of that. and then you also have on the other hand i grew up with the ball in my hand in the sands where we weren't really given the option of whether or not to play a sport. it's more so which sport you want to play and we were always really encouraged to be active at when i was a kid we stayed outside until the streetlights came on. there was this importance put on not just being active, but also being healthy in a sense. >> and so when not, how did you

find fence in? >> again, we were playing all of these different sports and we had a hard time finding longsleeved tops in spandex to go underneath team uniforms. and i remember from the really early aged and in a lot of time with my mom had it been like that doesn't match her that doesn't fit. we have been to be at the stoplight in my hometown in new jersey and we saw fencing in the local high school. at the time but were familiar with the sport and we saw the athletes have done long jacket and long pants. i don't know what it is, but i want you to try it out. that's how i started fencing. my mom signed me up for a lesson. the fencing club which really turned out not to be a club, but this guy's a garage.

the maestro for the premier coach in our time in my dad took me toe my first lesson in the came home and my dad was like no, we are not doing this. because it was just weird. there was this random guy in a garage teaching at offense. my. my dad was like absolutely not. but i also being resourceful like my mom went online and i googled the top 10 schools in the country and they all had fencing teams. i'm one of five kids as you'll read in the book. my mom is a retired teacher. i had to be resourceful with how to pay for school. so i saw the top 10 schools that are fencing team and i was like yeah, i'm doing this. it was a means to an end in the beginning. >> while, and did you come to love it? >> i'm not sure if i've ever loved it seemed. i don't know.

i get that question a lot and i can't say that i've ever loved it. there are parts about the sport that i have an affinity for. i was head over heels for my high school fencing team. i mean, we were winning all the time. it's easy to be happy when you are winning. the entire time i was on the team we won almost every state championship. really good energy. everyone is really supportive. whether you were on the strip actually providing to the team or a cheerleader on the sidelines in may 1st 2 years i was sharing my teammate don. either way it's just this really supportive, inclusive environment. after high school, at some point in high school i discovered that a nonprofit, the peter vosberg foundation, which really has become more family than anything and a lot of that has to do with

just the nurturing environment it hasv created. i discovered the foundation at 16. someone told me there were black people who fence. new york city and i was like that is offensive, but i googled it and found them and that's how i joined the peter buskirk foundation. it was really out of necessity. i feel like i needed to be around people who look like me in order to grow in the sport. it is hard to have the sensation of being ostracized or beingt labeled differing day and and day out. >> so, thank you. [applause] so as you know, both the kids are fencers gave my son is 10 and my daughter who0 is here is 16. ..

>> i was 23 i had non national ranking i never had a senior competition before graduating from college there was a lot of naysayers around me telling me what was not possible that it wasn't in my future because i had never been on a cadet or juniorb team i don't have the tactical training or skills to qualify for the olympic team. so i feel my journey as an athlete is about challenging

with the people around me think about me and i feel society tries to put you in a box even with the fencing community that those that excel as kids are thought ofou as a one -- olympic hopefuls but those that are on the junior teams won't make it that they have that skill set. there is also that layerer of, i don't know what to call it but to be different in the sport there is a lot of pushback even wanting you to occupy that space. so on the national team there was a lot commentary around the team that never did me

even while i was on. more as a placeholder than anything else.hi and to compete. with that pressure to be exceptional to be accepted. and to get the pushback. and with those younger girls who may be our feeling are getting pigeonholed some sort of way? >> there is something to be said to be strong and confident cannot rely on people around you to encourage

you or motivate you but i felt like i needed my mom every single moment i was sad i felt especially while on team usa buto i did not allow these negative words coming from the national coach teaming or my training partners to affect myself that they conscious effort i am amazing i am great i can do this on the strip it off the strip in and out of competition something that i felt i hadud i was to contradict what i was

hearing around me even subconsciously i did not want that to affect how i felt about myself. >> that is so smart i know if anybody has gone online to see that but if you haven't a mess. you completely defy gravity you are beautiful. am i lying? i would want make my daughter watch the videos and i would be screaming you are the best. when it's money i came home people that i don't know who knew nothing about fencing watch the over the games would ask me about the commentary that they heard what was his problem? what didn't he like about your fencing or you? i know the guy who compensated you litigate and i have never gotten good bias from him but that is so funny you want to watch meg for like i have

combated this notion as a black athlete all i can bring to the tablele is strength so one of my strongest things as an athlete is my sense of timing i've been told all of my points are lucky that somehow i have been writing this wave of luck and i tell you to be black in fencing and a woman what theyfe have job not only to go to team usa and metal there is nothing lucky about that 17. [applause] >> that is so true. let's talk about the writing process. what was that like?

>> i never thought about writing a booktv honest. about to tell my story i think this has to happen because id i was a reading a story about the triumph that it was possible to come out that be the way that i perceived my future especially now in this moment but i didn't realize it would be so hard. i wish someone told me how difficult it would have been. my cowriter it was great to unpack these moments throughout my career that i think they happened so there

are speed bumps and hurdles and mountains you havee to climb. through having a strong faith and believing in my purpose with a faith in god i can't overcome things i have seen a lot of people thought they get out of especially in the sport as a religious minority but to be honest i did not know would be so hard. i don't know why i thought 300 pages would be easy. it is difficult but it felt so timely.t even from the time i qualified for the team all around the discussion of zero tolerance. videos being released police brutality to challenge all of these things and these misconceptions people have that look like me and to

dispel the stereotypes to change the narrative. >> i will ask three more questions before we open to the audience. i think about the black community and mental health a lot with the stigma that we have. also the working class communities have that as well. i remember being college and get to the competitions and everybody was really losing it. what i read about you and the team actually getting someone you could talk to what a

difference that would have me be first. it wasn't even on the radar you go to a track meet and you get sick and then you repeated again the next day and the next week. but talk about mental health and the fatigue that you felt it l felt like it was a reaction to having to do so much more work than the other athlete not only about the sport race and identity. that guy was experiencing this paralyzing fatigue that i did not even know what that. i just know when it would go time in almost 24 hours to get to the world cup after training the last few months and preparing. then i would wake up after

eating well and getting good sleep i would wake up really tired and get to the venue that would be so tired and i cannot play this and couldn't understand why i got on the strip my feet felt like i was like number six and figure it out. i don't why i didn't he psychologist all of a sudden i personally was a lot we want world championship now approaching and maybe having

never really lost it with only 40 coach. he would ask me why we lost so i felt pressure and i was coming to it mentally. and in to the sport she helpedd topping off the last. i remember having conversations no one else other than my sister and my mother that i was feeling not just overwhelming and i cannot explain it. i love my fair thing to pray. i don't want to bring on-time up to you. it was not as simple as pray for that depression and anxiety not just of those issues whatever read them.

i didn't even know i needed to ask for help that was a mom what do i do? everybody's mom is a doctor. she says you have to pray. i say that's not it but the sport psychologist helped me to figure out go to local competitions to fence with kids i know i need. i so much of my life not only to use the mantra strip down this heavy breathing like show

you no longer allow my teammates and coaches to dictate how i felt about myself that if something thank god i have arrived at this moment like that i could take control of my life give you that power to make me feel inadequate e late or as a persn and i made a conscious decision i am happy and people hateat that. >> that is always the best technicians fort theaters talk about the border in california? >> a few weeks ago i went i

call athletes for. the base in between that is federal property i will mention our where ten or 20 people from either side u.s. and mexico can visit their family members for you and it is interesting to read this

huge massive wall that are and i have seen them years ago so then i say how hard is security there but also to learn about who is detained or separated? there is a lot of misconception what is going on we think of latinos in particular there are so many who are on the same page a lot of nonprofit that i met with when i was there a smalley immigrant to hear about the ay the haitians got to the united states to take a boat

from haiti to brazil that walk from brazil to the mexican border. it is hard to understand the link that people go to to risk your life to fleeing domestickis or state violence to see better life board to turn people away permit children from their arms never to see them again but we can try to learn more that is something everybody can do. >> now we ask the audience. >> tell us your name.

>> i have to tell you that i just love you because you are so straightforward. but it is the differences of the people are still the same. so when you went too the border to people who flew the entire wall in some places you can just walk from the pond did you experience any of that or what people are dealing with right theree on site? and being a woman of color and fencingd and doing the work is your biggest challenge to overcome stereotypically to

make i'm sure what the story would be there would be the point in my career i paid i would not continue to clean myself up until do that for a lot of minority they have to try to make yourself more acceptable to say the same natural light and i feel when i was over earlier moment thought they there was a

healing me feel quite different from or to show that black women are not super all the types so let me try to interact anymore meaningful and normal way. i cannot even tell you the things people have said togs me your parents from we have known each other forever and we are together on team usa. but you ask someone in the middle of a team dinner do you have your magic carpet to go pray? the spaces. but i have so i went through

phases where i feel that i tried i want to be accepted by them because they aree your teammates we are in this together we are looking for that inclusive space but didn't think it is first but then it is the team. there are only so many spots when i tell you he dogged by their people really hope you have your foot to get there. so they can patch you that is the energy felt history -- eight years straight. i remember the city you can see the ocean and the fence

trail off for a quarter of a mile into the ocean. i didn't come across any part of the that was broken or the interruption of the fence. >> good to see you. what about your other interactions with fleets around the world? was there any comfort or hot energy from that?

>> only app world championships where people may be for the smaller countries that don't have a larger delegation there is a rather athlete or a black thing i can tell you that all black friends we hear kind of related hope that we are energy to black athlete anything other than what you want to see one third --dash third time to choose from algeria and she lackedk the any english and now she refers them friends. he just we have a friendship also families sisterhood that stems from having a family and

being the only two black girls fencing first. >> i know the sport i have friends who run tracker playing all that disparity in single parent i believe my foundation with you i do want to pay one third father that i think teachers help me to raise children.

life can help i am associate about starting programs in schools like the program that'll help keith? that is a great question i agree he does become a with those that were on the question but i do have my sister is sitting directly behind you she talked about this thatke we hope to start some type is or not their life

and to help the entity that it is with workers in the neck my tv that's going to the world of politics can be replaced especially with the restoration but if you take away the fight? the mac not be afraid to hear all about me and for those of we have to

change our personnel to give to the people like us to the board is unapologetic to our do not change parts of yourself team you are my inspiration and what inspired you. >> you? let the man you have advised much in the future? >> to work part there are so many out jim i the only there

my sister and teammates can attest that you left me. and you were party. >> hello. how did you feel the party has to be the. [applause] to make the most important question of the day. i loved barbie and i played with barbies i was 15 when i stopped playing with barbies i had a three-story doll house we had a will on the work that and that jeep.

do you? know about my barbie did. my parents only bought us black and brown dolls if we went down that way i'll if we already had those we didn't get a doll that david that was for us to see ourselves represented but for me to s be a barbie in my life is my life. forb full circle it is coming out really soon. sooner than you think. that is all packaging is amazing. >> we are here in los angeles of my two daughters so my

question. d-backs on e the other who were the most people in your life when you were growing up and you are the most influential now is the woman? >> i feel like tony identify the time to plan the plan also watered to help grow what it is today. if i think of kareem abdul-jabbar i remember thinking how when a plane that i barely make it. the highest level tuesday

athletes like serena and venus in me and apologized a word in this world so many parallels to my experience at the fencer was like that directly because i'm not even a map when they were starting to force tennis but watching them i could draw my aspiration thousand happy. >> as an athlete i want a muslim athlete to be successful and continue to see black athletes do well that allows them to be inspired ande themselves even now in 2018 are pushed out to say we are not welcome. this this is not a place for you.

for at the table tuesday we want you to be inclusive. i'm pulling up a chair and taking a seat and saying hello he said speeseventeen. >> hello. my question for you is very poor fencing career playing

sports did it ever cause you to go closer to your faith? >> yes. i like what i didn't qualify for the team in 2012 which a lot of people don't know. i felt nobody wanted to talk with me about it. especially my family. i felt like i didn't make it because it wasn't meant to be. i felt that it is meant for me the way god has it the way it is supposed to happen.n.upt i didn't qualify that's okay but what helped me to continue not be truly affected by not qualifying arguably the most important is my faith. ii have teammates in my opinion who were not as lucky still to this day have a hard time accepting defeat or not making teams or feeling affected by that and my faith allows me to become a greater athlete. that doesn't make any less competitive by is that defeat

is temporary and i cannot get so caught up in something as simple as a loss because that's an athlete i get to train and perform better competition for some things away they are fighting for i those are things that will be hopeful or die and not qualifying for the team. >> i have a question. what about the people that try to put you down in your career?

i don't eight or in any capacity i have so many full-time fan of blocking and deleting. they say you have thehe most positive social channel. everybody is so supportive i know because i happily did everybody have lost everybody so they constantly make accounts. through my health at not just for the that means that nobody really knows that i meant to be hurtful i have it on people

who have judged me that i don't act like also to be quite effective in. >> are these from fellow muslims are that you're not representing muslim light. >> yes but the people from work or out in the street to speak in a way to make the

common long -- comment so how do i react to that? >> what i always think about the single-story tenant talk they think there is a single story for the mexican dishwasher for the black or mexican we are many stories there are many layers to us there isn't a single way.to you are different there isn't a single way to be) time of course people have an expectation based on type to see black their individual. so what we have been talkingin about most of the night importance of being our with a deep respect for that. i always tell my kids when you

go outside you are ambassadors for our family and the black community on ways when you walk out world will be just what does that play it is a complicated narrative but at the time people have the post that we might not really in it that makes a lot of and thank you that with me every day i always feel like an ambassador for the black community for everything that i do. i feel that pressure all theor time not because of a public

figure but my faith my my my way i would like to be a ihop legacy people i like to but also the event was and information on the property for sale speeseventeen she willy be thank you for being here and also tuesday the 17th [inaudible conversations]

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