Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” has long come 

to define itself as one of the most esoteric, 
passionate and wild-child offspring of 
American reality television. The show features 
the unhinged and intrinsically convoluted 
kingdom that dance teacher Abby Lee Miller 
built at her Pittsburgh dance studio. Producers 
painted Abby Lee as a maverick of the East 
Coast dance scene and ultimately a brash, 
unfiltered, iron-fisted ruler with no grace 
or tact for anything other than a weekend 
competition win and bedazzled, color-
coordinated jewelry. Abby Lee’s teaching 
style could often be likened to a hardened, 
Machiavellian-esque approach, in which her 
clear favorites — those she believed had the 
greatest potential for economic and cultural 
yield for her empire — were handpicked to 
be stars amongst the rest of her students. 
Abby Lee’s manufactured and painstakingly 
curated child prodigies were handed the most 
vulnerable and beautiful routines, budding 
music careers, one-on-one coaching and the 
coveted Abby Lee-branded and approved 
dance team jacket. 

Abby Lee Miller is a delightful enigma in 

her own right, and she built one of the most 
recognizable institutions in dance from the 
ground up, further cementing herself as a 
highly-seasoned veteran of the craft. During 
the show’s filming, Abby Lee was fond of 
declaring that her students should save their 
tears for the pillowcase, dangling solos as 
the ultimate bargaining chip and using a 
pyramid of the cast members’ headshots as a 
weekly ranking system of their performance. 
And viewers soon learned that the key to 
success at the Abby Lee Dance Company 
was to keep your head down, point your toes 
just right and keep your mother from ever 
contradicting Abby Lee’s administrative 

decisions. Abby Lee was also managing 
tangled legal troubles after she pled guilty in 
2016 to federal charges of bankruptcy fraud 
and received a one-year prison sentence 
along with a hefty fine. In April 2018, shortly 
after her release from prison, Abby Lee was 
diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, and she 
temporarily lost her ability to walk after a 
long ordeal with cancer treatment and spinal 
surgery. And now the last and most recent 
season of “Dance Moms,” outfitted with a 
new cast of moms, climatically yields a more 
self-aware Abby Lee Miller.

Adhering to its namesake, the stars and 

catalyzers of “Dance Moms” were the moms 
themselves. Often at odds with Abby Lee 
over solos and duets, costume assignments 
and Abby Lee’s spontaneous hiatuses from 
work or ordeals of favoritism, moms and 
daughters came and went. However, a core 
group of moms came to define themselves 
as the Abby Lee Dance Company’s original 
wunderkinds, and more deeply, irreplaceable 
in every regard. Melissa Gisoni, Maddie and 
Mackenzie Zeigler’s mother, was known 
for her steadfast support of her children 
and their opportunities. Jill Vertes, Kendall 
Vertes’ mother, was known for championing 
her “Little Kendall’’ at every turn (maybe 
rightfully so at times). Kelly Hyland, mother 
of Paige and Brooke Hyland, dragged 
Abby Lee by her hair during an altercation 
and left the show, though soon after, was 
canonized as one of “Dance Moms” most 
missed and audacious mothers. There was 
Christi Lukasiak, mother of Chloe Lukasiak, 
who was well-cherished for her quick wit, 
objectivity and shrewdness. And lastly, 
and most importantly, there was Dr. Holly 
Hatcher-Frazier, mother of Nia Frazier, most 
known for her integrity, loyalty, care and 
even-minded impeccable class.

In a world where a pandemic is 

restricting the way of life we have always 
known, why has only 18.4% of the United 
States’ population received their first dose of 
the vaccine? Why are a third of Americans 
so uncomfortable and untrusting of the 
vaccine and the vaccine production process 
that could protect us all from an even 
longer painful experience? While 18.4% 
is a disappointing number, according to 
data reported by 35 states on COVID-19 
vaccinations by race/ethnicity, only 7% 
of the Black population has received the 
first dose; in comparison, 13% of white 
Americans, 5% of Hispanics and 11% of Asian 
Americans have received the first dose of 
the vaccine. These statistics are partly due 
to the historical mistrust between the Black 
community and the medical community; a 
mistrust that runs so deep Black Americans 
are skeptical of a vaccine that could slow 
down the spread of COVID-19 which has 
caused 531,000 fatalities in the U.S. alone. 

This 
virus 
has 
disproportionately 

affected minority groups, and yet many 
minorities do not have access to the vaccine 
even if they do have interest. Across the 
country, and especially in the South, 
minorities are forced to drive long distances 
to find a vaccine site. In Dekalb, Ga., Black 
residents are 56% more likely to live over a 
mile away from a vaccine site compared to 
white residents. However, these barriers 
extend beyond the South. In Queens, N.Y., 
Black residents are 106% more likely to live 
over a mile away from a vaccine site.

These statistics speak volumes regarding 

the lack of progress not only in the medical 
industry, but in government as well. Time 
and again, minority communities have 
to go out of their way to receive the care 
they deserve, and in this case the lack of 

transparency surrounding the vaccine due 
to political tension and misinformation 
has not helped calm the nerves of Black 
communities. 

Instead of strictly adhering to scientific 

facts, the vaccine became politicized as 
the year went on, fogging the messages 
communicated by scientists who supervised 
these programs. 

Americans 
never 

received an opportunity to 
become 
comfortable 
with 

the process of the vaccine 
production. 

While 
scientists 
were 

trying to educate the country 
throughout 
the 
creation 

timeline, the political climate 
overshadowed these facts, creating a barrier 
of distrust between the American people 
and the product being sold. One example of 
the issue that is lacking transparency would 
be the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, which 
began in 1932 and concluded in 1972, in which 
medical personnel intentionally prevented 
hundreds of African American men from 
receiving proper care for the sole purpose 
of observing the progression of untreated 
syphilis. The ripple effects of this experiment 
continue to affect Black Americans today 
as the life expectancy of Black men at 45 
fell by 1.5 years, while also discouraging 
Black Americans from receiving medical 
assistance out of fear and a history of 

improper care. Furthermore, the Henrietta 
Lacks story of 1951 is another example 
of medical experimentation without a 
participant’s consent or knowledge. Doctors 
took cells from her cervix when she was 
battling cervical cancer for use in scientific 
research, and her cell harvest led to amazing 

discoveries all at the cost of her comfort, 

her family’s comfort and the comfort 
of Black Americans 
today. 

Many 

more 
stories 
show 
the 

medical 
community 

wielding Black Americans 
as pawns rather than treating 
them as patients who deserve 

great care.

We as a country must get 

to the point where we create a 
nurturing medical environment for 
the Black community, so that there 

may be some confidence in the vaccine 
and medicine in general, which could be 
accomplished through better education 
on the vaccine and complete transparency 
on processes within the medical world. To 
overcome this pandemic, a majority of the 
population, including Black and Brown 
communities, will have to be vaccinated to 
stop other variants. For us to trust our health 
care and our government with our bodies, 
we must be willing to overshare and reach 
out to communities who are systemically 
left out of the equation. Without trust, 
security and honesty, the community’s ties 
with its dark medical past will continue into 
our future.

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan in Color
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 — 7

YOUR WEEKLY

ARIES

Rest and recharge ahead of the 
Equinox and the arrival of the Sun 
in Aries – because from that point 
on, you will need to act quickly 
and decisively.

AQUARIUS

GEMINI

Ask for backing for a new 
business idea or project – you’re 
likely to get it. Focus on your 
community too and seek to make 
a difference.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

SCORPIO

CANCER

An excellent week for students, 
and a positive one in your love life 
too, with a chance to see eye to 
eye again if there have been 
problems.

TAURUS

Make room in your life for the 
spiritual and the mysterious, even 
if you have to change your 
schedule in order to accommodate 
it.

VIRGO

PISCES

LIBRA
LEO

New ideas and new experiences 
are beckoning – get better 
organized this week so that you 
have more time to enjoy life to the 
fullest.

Read your weekly horoscopes from astrology.tv

It’s a loving and romantic week in 
your relationship, with plenty of 
magical memories to make – but 
watch out for jealousy once the 
Sun moves on.

A very hectic week finds you trying 
to tie up loose ends and finish 
complex projects – but romance is 
on the way as the Equinox 
approaches. 

Fun gives way to focus as the week 
progresses. You sense that you 
have a lot of work coming up, but 
it’s important to maintain a 
balance between work and 

personal life.

Good news links money and 
domestic matters this week and 
there’s also the chance to start a 
new, fun, exciting hobby or past 
time

Your powers of persuasion get a 
real boost this week, and it’s a 
good time also to think about 
moving home, renovating your 
home, or redecorating.

People love and value you, but you 
don’t always realize how much. 
This week, your self-esteem gets a 
boost as it becomes clear how 
adored you are.

Enjoy the confidence boost of the 
Sun in Pisces before the Equinox 
shifts the focus to your values and 
your financial situation.

WHISPER

“Ahem... your mic is on.”

“I am interviewing for a pro-
motion tomorrow! Less work 
more money!”

“Top o the morning to ya!”

How “Dance Moms” Nia and Dr. Holly 

refined American reality televison

SIMONE ROBERTS

MiC Columnist

The four thousand word essay

“The ‘sickness’ of the lover is distinct from 

other illnesses. / Love is the astrolabe of the 
secrets of God.” (Rumi, Masnavi)

Heralded as a great thinker and poet, 

and relevant 800 years later, Rumi is a 
favorite amongst many Americans. His 
verses are plastered on watercolor paintings 
and hung in the homes of many, ultimately 
immortalizing his legacy. Rumi spent much 
of his life learning about Islam; his father 
was an Islamic scholar, he spent some time 
in Syria studying Islamic legal codes and was 
even a seminary teacher in Turkey. More 
notably, his mentor and great friend Sham e 
Tabriz taught Rumi fundamental Sufi ideas, 
which is apparent in his poetry. As a Sufi, 
Rumi put a heavy emphasis on mindfulness, 
or Muraqabah: meditating and contemplating 
the individual’s connection to Allah, being 
in tune with creation’s connection to Allah 
or more divine power and the human 

connection to the systems and flows in the 
natural environment, which is, essentially, an 
Islamic ideal. 

Thus, 
I 
always 
wondered 
why 
a 

Western nation steeped in stereotypes and 
assumptions about minority groups such as 
Muslims had put a Muslim poet on a pedestal. 
And, more importantly, why is Rumi’s 
identity never discussed or acknowledged? 
The reason Rumi’s poetry is popular in 
Western dialogues is that it touches on ideas 
of mindfulness through metaphors of deep, 
everlasting love. However, in Sufi poetry 
traditionally, these metaphors are commonly 
used in comparison to one’s relationship with 
Allah, emphasizing the idea of experiencing 
fulfillment through one’s love for Allah. 
Today’s translations of Rumi’s poetry leave 
out this quintessential Islamic connection 
because it doesn’t fit into the accepted 
narrative. However, Rumi was a Sufi Muslim, 
and Sufi Islamic theology was the main focus 
of his writings. 

For my extended essay (a 4,000-word 

essay per the International Baccalaureate 

coursework), I decided to learn more 
about the Islamic influences in Rumi’s 
works and that of his successors. I chose 
to write about trends present in Sufi 
Islamic poetry over time, analyzing the 
figurative language in three different Sufi 
poets: Rumi; Allama Iqbal, an Indian poet 
who inspired the partition between India 
and Pakistan; and Danial Abdal-Hayy 
Moore, a current Sufi poet who derives his 
message from his experience as a Muslim 
convert. Particularly, I focused on the 
idea of muraqabah. Working to cultivate 
muraqabah can strengthen the connection 
between the individual and Allah, which 
Rumi, Iqbal and Moore all mentioned in 
their literature.

Staying true to my exploration of 

mindfulness, the essay forced me to 
spend long hours reflecting on the idea of 
mindfulness (particularly in the shower). 
After typing the 4,000th word, I let out a 
sigh of relief. I felt satisfied with my work, 
believing I had effectively communicated my 
ideas. 

Six months later, I received my score for 

the essay, which was lower than I expected. 
I was disappointed, but only momentarily, 
because through this essay, I felt I had 
creative freedom for the first time. I relished 
my journey through each poem and my 
newly-founded relationship with muraqabah 
and my spiritual state. I gained a greater 
appreciation for poetry, Sufi ideology and 
myself. Despite the looming score, I’m proud 
of the essay and the message behind it. I 
pointed out the connections between the 
words and muraqabah in Rumi’s poems and 
those of his successors. I argued that this core 
idea is present, was always present and will 
be present in the lines, forever, for if it is Sufi 
poetry, then the language is derived from the 
author’s intuitive connection with Allah. 

Each poem I mentioned introduced a new 

perspective to me of how to view my place 
in this world and my position before Allah. 
Rumi showed me that love and Allah are 
inextricably tied together, and one cannot 
function without the other. Iqbal’s insights 
empowered me to be mindful of the control 

I have over my actions while retaining my 
connection with Allah. Moore illuminated 
to me the importance of being mindful of the 
interconnectedness with the world and Allah.

Though my grade on the piece could have 

controlled me, I chose how it would affect 
me, solidifying destiny for myself. Indeed, 
the score is an indication that I had not been 
writing with perfect clarity and that I had 
not properly implemented a structure to the 
piece. But it also indicates what I gained from 
my journey with mindfulness and poetry, 
which I will always cherish. My favorite verse 
mentioned in the essay is from the book “Bal 
e Jibril” in Urdu — or “Wing of Gabriel” — by 
Allama Iqbal. The verse inspires the reader 
to take charge of themselves and develop 
confidence. The speaker imagines a direct 
conversation with Allah, solidifying control 
over their destiny. 

“Develop the self so that before every decree 

/ God will ascertain from you: ‘What is your 
wish?’ / It is nothing to talk about if I transform 
base selves into gold: / The passion of my voice 
is the only alchemy I know!” (Iqbal, Bal e Jibril)

ZOHA KHAN
MiC Columnist

Is this racism?

Does this qualify

my statements, my actions, my desire for 

change

when I have not faced the darkest depths 

of injustice 

or really ever looked it in the eye

When my most intimate encounter with 

such

might merely be the lies of my own 

internalized fear

of my mom speaking in front of my friends

and in turn

closing the lid of my lunchbox between 

bites

When even the truths of my experiences 

feel less than valid

in all the moments second-guessed 
between the microaggressions and 

ignorant questions and the occasional slur

or jokes and slit-eye drawings that, hey, I 

absorbed without complaint
and after years, mastered the art

of turning my heritage into comic relief 

anyway

And yet it lingers

A conscious shame for looking like myself

one that hurts and that haunts

but never enough for me to speak forth

that I cannot punctuate nor hyperlink nor 

write into prose

that I can only find hidden 

in its ambiguity

perpetually in ambiguity

And then I think 

about Vincent Chin

and Fong Lee
and Cau Tran

all who did not live to see 30 
all who were brutally killed

with a baseball bat, by another white man, 
because of a ten-inch vegetable peeler

by an ebens and an andersen and a 

marshall not serving a day 

but only receiving a medal of valor

And I think

these are not mutually exclusive

they are not at all

and if we quietly teach ourselves to 

compare and repress

instead of to point to the beast underlying

where the common denominator is

an insatiable system that feeds on itself

then who is that serving

And when I mutter to myself 

Is this racism? It can’t be

am I only conflating it with my family’s 

simply being poor

or my unbelonging for a reason attributed 

otherwise

and am I neglecting the shield
of my father’s masters degree

We fall into that trap

and keep our mouths shut

and get lost in the second-guessing

failing to connect the dots 

towards a liberation that coincides

failing when, right now, our 

grandparents

cannot make it home alive

I wonder if our encounters brushed aside 

and history untold or forgotten
has turned into a gaping hole 

of invisibility 
and silence that

only please the white man

Stream of consciousness on a 
Tuesday afternoon, perhaps for 

one Asian American

SARAH AKAABOUNE

MiC Columnist

Read more at 
MichiganDaily.com

Black America and the vaccine

By Yoon Kim, MiC Columnist