Eid Empanadas

Omar Hernández feels like an outsider at his Islamic school, An-Noor Islamic Academy, even after a year and a half. His mother is from Puerto Rico, and his father’s parents immigrated from Ecuador, giving his family a Latino-Muslim heritage that he feels is different from his classmates’. When his teacher assigns the class an essay on how their families celebrate Ramadan and Eid, Omar becomes nervous that his family’s customs will make him stand out even more. With support from his teacher and family, Omar finds the courage to share his family’s festive traditions, including their special recipe for empanadas. Through this experience, Omar learns to embrace his heritage and discovers that sharing his traditions can be a source of pride and connection.