Usra Jabri: Culturally Rooted

This RBC student champions her Arabic heritage in more ways than one.

By Sterling Giles

Usra Jabri, a first-year student at Richard Bland College (RBC), uses her paintbrush to tell authentic stories of her Arabic heritage. But due to life’s circumstances, she had to learn about her identity and culture in isolation.

A few months after her birth in Prince George, Va., Jabri and her family moved to their homeland, Syria. The move was intended to be permanent, but the family was forced to move back to the U.S. a few years later due to worsening civil tensions.

5,900 miles away back stateside, Jabri longed for her extended family’s warm, intergenerational community. But instead of letting her roots wither away, she immersed herself in her culture.

Over the years, she has matured into a gifted artist. Cognizant of the sweeping generalizations of Arabic people in the media, she uses her medium to paint holistic pictures of her people.

“We’re always seeing the politics of war in the news,” Jabri said. “But we’re a colorful people.

“We’re a hospitable people. We love to share. We love family. We love community. I try to show that through my art. I choose a lot of warm colors, like reds, oranges and browns and I always add tessellations and geometric patterns in my work.”

In a similar vein of advocacy, Jabri serves as Historian of the RBC Student Assembly. The organization is dedicated to uplifting and representing student voices at the College.

After RBC, she hopes to utilize the academic pathway to William & Mary (W&M). She hopes W&M’s notable international relations and study abroad programs will cultivate her desire to pursue a career in international law.