Larycia Hawkins is the tenured Wheaton College political science professor who wore a hijab during Advent to show her solidarity with Muslims. She posted a photo and wrote on Facebook: “we worship the same god.” Wheaton announced that Hawkins has been placed on administrative leave, not for wearing a hijab but over “significant questions regarding the theological implications.” Evangelical Christians including Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, are casting shame on Hawkins who “obviously doesn’t know her Bible and she doesn’t know Islam.” (Note: Graham’s parents graduated from Wheaton in 1943.)
A number of Hawkins’ students are joining their mentor in wearing hijads…at least on Facebook. Alyssa Phillips posted a photo of herself wearing a hijab to which Hawkins replied, “I love you. I’m sooo excited to see this my friend.” And Jess Edelblut wears a hijab while standing in front of her Christmas tree. Christa Foster Crawford left a poignant message on Hawkins’ Facebook page: It’s a picture of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus Christ with the caption: “Interesting that most folks in the US don’t have any problem with this woman in a headscarf.”
