(KUOW) Fathia Absie wants you to come to dinner. The Somali-American filmmaker and writer is co-founder of a Seattle-based project called Eat With Muslims, where Muslim families host dinners for people of all faiths and cultures.
On March 4, about 25 people gathered in the community space of a Belltown apartment building. The dinner was hosted by Absie and co-founder Ilays Aden. The mood was light and fun — like a dinner party.
Guests gathered to talk, but it wasn’t a question-and-answer style event. Instead they answered questions as a group, like, “What’s the most beautiful thing in the world?” and “What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Muslims?”
Absie says she started the project because of the hateful rhetoric about Muslims that grew out of the presidential campaign.
“Nothing beats fear like face,” Absie says. “Once you talk to someone, all the differences you think you have just melt away. And our commonality will start revealing itself.”
“It’s the first since such a tragedy so it’s even more significant and symbolic uniting people bringing people together around a meal,” said Khan, executive director of the Women’s Islamic Initiative for Spirituality and Equality (WISE). “I think when we break bread together we humanize one another we get to know one another we build friendships we deepen our trusts with one another.”
The belief is food has the power to bring people together. On the menu tonight, Syrian fattoush salad, Iraqi red rice, a Sri Lankan lentil dish and Afghan chicken karahi. All the food was catered by Eat Offbeat – a company that trains refugees to become chefs. Invited tonight are Uber employees, community activists and city residents.
“I think food brings people together especially good food,” said Rami Abouemira. “The sense of community, sense of camaraderie just draws something out of the human touch, the human soul that is deeper than just having a basic conversation.”
