Essays

We Shitholers Shouldn't Have to Tout Our Successes
When did “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses” turn into “Give me your PhDs, your neurosurgeons, your top-performing telecommunications sales executives”?

Dear Donald Trump: An Open Letter From Jabeen Akhtar
Jabeen Akhtar gives Donald Trump advice on how to deal with Pakistani parents.

The Evolution of Comics from Batman to Burkas
Looking back on comics’ engagement with socioeconomic, political, and cultural events, it’s no surprise that as we step into this century, brown, mustache-twirling terrorists have begun stirring up trouble in the comics universe. And Captain America isn’t the only one fighting them.

The 17 Elements of a (Bad) South Asian Novel
Cliches about family, heritage, culture and dead grandmothers drives author Jabeen Akhtar crazy.