Black Muslims
With war in Gaza, American Muslims plan Ramadan of protest and activism
By Rhonda Roumani — March 8, 2024
(RNS) — 'Ramadan is not the month of taking a break or relaxation. It is a month of action and organization for us as an organization and as a community,' said an activist. 'We hope Ramadan will be a reinvigoration of the work we have been doing over the last five months.'
Black Muslims will play a big role in the next election. Join us.
By Salima Suswell — August 30, 2023
(RNS) — Black Muslims helped elect Joe Biden president and are gearing up for 2024.
It’s time to stop erasing Black Muslim Americans from the story of Islam in the US
By Salima Suswell — February 27, 2023
(RNS) — Black Muslim Americans make up approximately 20% to 25% of the Muslim American population, often leading the way for all Muslims in the area of civil activism.
The role of Blackness in the Hamline Islamic art controversy
By Kayla Renee Wheeler and Edward E. Curtis IV — January 12, 2023
(RNS) — We’ve heard little about the students who initiated the complaint and why they objected to a painting of the prophet.
On hit shows ‘Ramy’ and ‘Mo,’ Azhar Usman adds nuance about Islam (and joy) to Hollywood
By Monique Parsons and Silma Suba — October 4, 2022
(Interfaith America) — A few recent hits for Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus are shifting Hollywood's narrative about American Muslims. They also have another thing in common: Azhar Usman.
An immigrant Muslim finds his model of empowerment in Black American Islam
By Joshua Stanton and Benjamin Spratt — May 10, 2022
(RNS) — One in a new series of interviews with contemporary faith-based leaders reinventing American faith.
Amid book bans, Muslim authors, parents advocate for children’s books representing Islam
By Tasmiha Khan — February 21, 2022
(RNS) — For some Muslim children's book authors, the recent book bans have highlighted the need for schools to de-escalate diversity as a hot-button issue.
Black Muslim life honored in new online portrait exhibit
By Kathryn Post — February 11, 2022
(RNS) — Captured in dramatic lighting and paired with audio clips, the portraits highlight the beauty and diversity within the Black Muslim experience.
Humanitarian Day reborn, Umar Hakim celebrates Ramadan his way
By Rhonda Roumani — April 30, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Humanitarian Day embodies why Islam is relevant in America today,’ said a Black Muslim activist of Hakim’s signature event.
In San Diego, Black Muslims are working to expand voting access in jails
By Aysha Khan — October 13, 2020
(RNS) — Pillars of the Community is hiring a team of pretrial inmates to register eligible voters from behind bars. The group’s leaders say it’s part of their faith as Muslims.
Intergenerational reading group draws on legacy of Timbuktu to ‘rebuild a Black consciousness’
By Aysha Khan — July 27, 2020
(RNS) – ‘It’s imperative for us to start to rebuild libraries in our own homes and our schools so they are reflective of all our intellect and history,’ said educator Zakiyyah Ali, who founded the initiative.
In Minneapolis, a Somali-owned mental health clinic seeks to heal its community
By Aysha Khan — June 17, 2020
(RNS) — Healing Path Wellness Services in South Minneapolis burned down during protests. But the Somali community the mental health clinic serves needs it more than ever.
Mosques across America dedicate Friday sermons to confronting racism, police brutality
By Aysha Khan — June 5, 2020
(RNS) — George Floyd’s killing was the final straw for thousands of Americans pushing for racial justice. It may also be a tipping point for non-black Muslim communities.
Released from prison due to outbreak, fringe Muslim leader continues ministry
By Aysha Khan — May 11, 2020
(RNS) — Imam Earl Abdulmalik Mohammed, who claims to be the rightful successor to Imam W. Deen Mohammed, has been released early from federal prison due to the coronavirus.
Oral history project preserves stories of black Muslim seniors amid pandemic
By Aysha Khan — April 17, 2020
(RNS) — A new oral history initiative aims to train black Muslim youth to document their elderly community members’ stories, before it's too late.
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