Warning: This article contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel Episode 2. Read at your own risk!
If Ms. Marvel Episode 2 got one thing on point and truly groundbreaking, it is Nakia speaking up about being a hijab-wearing teen. She dropped a lot of truth bombs that she encouraged Kamala to fully embrace her roots and she decides to run for the mosque board.
Ms. Marvel Episode 2 Shows How Nakia Encouraged Kamala To Embrace Her Identity
Ms. Marvel Episode 2 showed a lot of the culture and heritage of Kamala being a Muslim living in New Jersey. With her is Nakia, a friend who has a strong sense of self and she shared to Kamala her thoughts of wearing a hijab.
At the mosque, Kamala and Nakia hurriedly prepare and it shows that men and women are treated differently. Nakia comments that women's facilities are almost rotten with the tiles of their comfort room falling, their carpets having mold, and their difficulty in hearing Sheikh Abdullha’s lecture when they can barely see him due to a divider.
Later in Ms. Marvel Episode 2, Kamala asks Nakia how she makes it look easy but Nakia tells her that it isn’t because she is “either too white or too ethnic” and being in between sucks. Nakia reveals to Kamala that when wearing her hijab, she feels herself and doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone.
See, this is not always portrayed in Hollywood or in any other show. Ms. Marvel is already groundbreaking when it comes to introducing Kamala Khan and injecting a piece of her culture and heritage is something that makes it different from other shows. Having Nakia speak up on the said matter is one of the firsts in the industry and a lot of Muslim women applaud her for standing up.
READ MORE: Ms. Marvel Episode 2: Who is the Mysterious Woman in Kamala's Visions?
The scene between Kamala and Nakia is really emotional and it perfectly portrays how women got each other’s backs. Other than supporting each other, it also lays down what it feels like to be in between two worlds at once. Nakia’s strong sense of self is something to be emulated, in fact, it is awakening.
One of the themes of Ms. Marvel is embracing your identity. Truly, with Nakia’s breathtaking speech, it encourages other women in the same situation to look from within and reflect that there is power in expressing your identity. Props to Marvel for showcasing what real diversification and inclusion is!
Ms. Marvel Episode 2 is now streaming on Disney Plus.