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Is he an attorney who moonlights as a writer, or a writer who supports himself by practicing law? At 28, Wajahat Ali seems to have the best of both worlds.
Ali recently resigned from the small law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area where he practiced asylum and immigrant law in order to become a solo practitioner, giving him a more flexible schedule. He needs the flexibility, because he is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and The Guardian and is also an associate editor at AltMuslim.com, the leading American Muslim online magazine. And in his spare time he wrote a play, "The Domestic Crusaders," that is making its New York theatrical debut in September.
"I never really considered myself a writer," Ali says. "I've been doing so many different things the past few years that I've considered myself more of a dabbler. But now, I've gotten enough positive feedback, that I can take these labels like 'freelance journalist,' 'op-ed contributor,' or even 'writer.' "
Ali was born to Pakistani-immigrant parents and raised in the Bay Area. He stayed in the region for his education, graduating from the University of California at Berkeley and getting his law degree from UC Davis.
His play, "The Domestic Crusaders," reflects his upbringing and focuses on a day in the life of a contemporary Pakistani-American family. With multiple generations getting into heated debate against the political backdrop of post-9/11 society, the play explores the tensions – internal and external – that face American Muslim families today.
Having grown up speaking Urdu with his grandparents, Ali says this experience of cultural mix within one's own family means that "you're able to straddle East and West."
As Ali describes it, the play is more of a "grassroots movement" than a performance piece. He started presenting readings at workshops four years ago and has been incorporating audience feedback ever since.
"Each time you do it, you make it better."
"The Domestic Crusaders" will premiere at the famed Nuyorican Poets Café on September 11, 2009 for a 5-week run.
Keep up with Wajahat Ali on his Huffington Post blog:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wajahat-ali/
Posted June 12, 2009
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