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Our request...
Black, African, &/ African American Muslim? We want to hear your reflections on identity, history, politics, & culture. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
And tweet by tweet, thousands of responses came in, mashaAllah:
On broader society...
#BlackLivesMatter + Islamophobia
1.
My existence often offends. My slave heritage shan’t be mentioned, my faith shan’t be lived. #BeingBlackAndMuslim @MuslimARC @MuslimMatters
2.
#BeingBlackandMuslim means that when white people walk in the elevator, they don't know wither to grab their wallets or tip the FBI hotline
3.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim I daily repeat ‘with hardship comes ease’ - racists on one side anti-islam on the other.
4.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim drivin w/family wearin hijab & havin threatenin gestures by truck w/out knowin if it's skin color or religion is reason
5.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means I can be stereotyped as an angry, black woman and then a meek, oppressed Muslim girl all in the same day
6.
#BeingBlackandMuslim means the world sees you as mixed half gang member half terrorist. Twice as dangerous
7.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means that I'm 35 percent less likely to receive venture capital financing than non-minority-led companies.
8.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means whenever the media reports about Muslims, no Muslims who look like me or share my experience are discussed
9.
Means you have to deal with being called "Abeed" by fellow muslims and rag head by fellow black folk #BeingBlackAndMuslim
10.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is when you make up the majority ethnic group of Muslims in the US yet feel so invisible.
On intra-Muslim racism...
Examples of anti-blackness and racism in Muslim communities, including accounts of microaggressions and lack of solidarity
11.
#BeingBlackandMuslim is being the outsider within the one community you thought you could find solace in
12.
Only if they loved us the way they love our culture (food ,music and clothes). #BeingBlackAndMuslim
13.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means to hear those awful "it's a term of endearment" when they call you "Abeed" or "Kali"
14.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means having your Islamic knowledge quizzed constantly. "Say the Fatihah! Say the shahada!" Not your puppet.
15.
"You're black, I thought you were Muslim though?????" #BeingBlackAndMuslim
16.
"Did you convert in jail?" #BeingBlackAndMuslim
17.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim getting dissed for the thobe/Abaya, getting dissed for the jeans and tshirts.
18.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is when you get the cold shoulder after saying salaam, or struggle to fill the spaces tryna pray.
19.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means you constantly have to tell other that you were BORN muslim. Because somehow black=not born into islam
20.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Feeling confused growing up? "Mama why do they stare at us at the masjid"
21.
#beingblackandmuslim happy when you revert but when you ask for a daughters hand in marriage its "Astaghfirullah no blacks!"
22.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Having non-black Muslims say "what made you convert to OUR religion" Huh? YOUR religion?
23.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim when he's from Egypt "he's Egyptian" but when he's from Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone etc. "he's African" Oh the irony
24.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim homeless in Gaza. • Blacks make 1% or less of the the palestinian population.
25.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is rarely hearing any prayers about any tragedies currently happening throughout Africa in the masjid.
26.
When the masjid is called 'Masjid Bilal', but there are no black people in the committee #BeingBlackAndMuslim
27.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is being told how important African Americans are to Islam yet rarely seeing them properly represented in Muslim orgs.
28.
We are asked to retweet/post/share about tyrannical Arab leaders,yet many are eerily silent with Trayvon,Mike and Eric #BeingBlackAndMuslim
29.
#BeingBlackandMuslim is understanding the struggle of the #ChapelHillShooting with the Ummah but struggling by ur self bout #MustafaMattan
30.
#BeingBlackandMuslim & #Somali is having Somalis support ALL muslim initiatives but when we need support being ignored #ifundfoodnotterror
31.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means going to #BlackLivesMatter actions wondering if non-black muslims will show up in solidarity
32.
El Hajj Malik Shabazz 's (Malcolm X) Janaza was in a Church because many "Muslims" didn't think he was a"real" Muslim #BeingBlackAndMuslim
On culture and community...
"It's the best of both worlds."
33.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Means the best of both worlds. All praise and thanks be to Allah. 🙏✊💯
34.
I stand out in a crowd and I love that. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
35.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means that even though I'm Sunni, nobody bet not talk bad about my NOI or MST cousins. We family. Period.
36.
To be black woman Muslim, to love myself as Allah intended, is a revolutionary act. Alhamdulillah 💕 #BeingBlackAndMuslim #BlackLivesMatter
37.
There's no conflict for me in that I have a favorite Qari and a favorite Gospel singer. AlHamdulillah & Hallelujah. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
38.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim I'm fina make me gluten-free bean pie and stevia-sweetened Akbar juice, read #AfroVegan; cuz to eat to live is sunnah.
39.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Bonding with brothers at the Nation of Islam's Muhammad University of Islam school in Chicago as a Kid.
40.
Finding community and love in places like Philadelphia. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
41.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim #BlackLivesMatter #MakeItPlainPhilly
42.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means I'm America's Worst Nightmare but I am the culmination of all my ancestors' dreams. The freedom to love who I am.
43.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim my Imam & other community elders were NOI, Black Panthers, SNCC organizers back in day & brought that knowledge to us.
44.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means to not feel the need to hide your Islam or the urge to blend in and conform.
45.
Not sure what everybody else was doing but we had women on the Masjid Board since the 70s #BeingBlackAndMuslim
46.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is being in a unique position of identifying & empathizing with disenfranchised groups who only seek respect & dignity
47.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim. Reminding the imam to do dua for those we often forget. Rohinyha, Somalis, Central African Republic, Balkans etc.
On Islamic history and spirituality...
Faith and knowledge
48.
#BeingBlackandMuslim is listening to people regurgitate "there is no racism in Islam" without understanding that Islam isn't Muslims.
49.
Constant sighing and either hearing "one race: the human race kumbaya" or "one ummah racism doesn't exist" #BeingBlackAndMuslim
50.
#BeingBlackandMuslim is a manifestation of Allah's will. And I, God willing, am pleased with His decree.
51.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is knowing that racism will never be victorious over knowledge, wisdom & love. good deeds prevail over complexion.
52.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means many think they are superior to us but Allah humbles all of us by teaching we're ALL from Adam & he is from DUST.
53.
I will never compromise my African heritage nor the Sunnah. Both are deeply embedded in my creation. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
54.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim. Since the beginning of islam.
55.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means having to center blackness when many try to erase it from early Islamic history EXCEPT for tokenizing Bilal (RA)
56.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim having to remind everyone that not only was Bilal (ra) black, but so was our mother Hagar (ra) and countless.
57.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means expanding your knowledge of anthropology and realizing Bilal (Ra) wasn't a token black among whites..
58.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim means that people always emphasize that Bilal was a slave but never mention powerful Black Muslims such as King Negus.
59.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim when Arabs were persecuting Muslims, the Prophet sent his people to live under the protection of an AFRICAN King, Negus
60.
Umm Aiman was one of the blessed woman who raised the Prophet Muhammad, she was Ethiopian #BeingBlackAndMuslim
61.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appointed 17 year old Usama ibn Zayd,the son of a black woman as commander of a military expedition #BeingBlackAndMuslim
62.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is knowing about al-Jahiz (RA) who wrote well over 200 books on Islamic theology, philosophy, poetry and grammar.
63.
1st Mosque in Africa: Najash, Ethiopia http://t.co/3kgDCVH1pl #BeingBlackandMuslim #FirstHijrah 615 A.D.
64.
Harar is the 4 holiest city in Islam, located in Ethiopia #BeingBlackAndMuslim
65.
University of Sankoré, or Sankore Masjid is 1/3 ancient centers of learning located in Timbuktu. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
66.
A full 7 volumes of the Quran, written in 18th century Somalia. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
On Black Muslim luminaries and role models...
Freedom fighters and leaders, from the US and globally
67.
Sonni Ali Military strategist, conqueror, and founder of the Songhai Empire in West Africa. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
68.
Richest Man in World History was a Muslim and Black, Mansa Musa Of Mali read it here --> http://t.co/cD3oXJjbHZ #BeingBlackAndMuslim
69.
How many of y'all heard of the Male Revolt in Brazil? It was a slave revolt led by Muslims #BeingBlackAndMuslim #Brasil #Bahia
70.
Ayuba Suleiman Diallo from West Africa. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
71.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Writing Qur'an verses on your jail cell wall after being captured running away from slavery
72.
The 1st book on Fiqh written in America in 1830. Written by a Black Muslim, Bilali Muhammad #BeingBlackAndMuslim
73.
Ahmet Ali Effendi, World's first black pilot in Ottoman Muslim Empire #BeingBlackAndMuslim
74.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim is conquering Spain and having time for a game of chess soon after.
75.
Ahmed Sékou Touré great Pan Africanism who involved in gaining independence Guinea from France #BeingBlackAndMuslim
76.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim Black palestinians defending their land in the 1930's
77.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim One of the first female pilots in Saudi is @NawalAlhawsawi: http://t.co/50cCqPKPj1
78.
Famous NBA Star & 6 time NBA Champion, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(Lew Alcindor) #BeingBlackandMuslim #KareemAbdulJabbar
79.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim. Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola from Nigeria won the Miss World Muslimah 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
80.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim. Mogadishu used to be known as the city of islam. Today many hafiz in contests are Somali.
Unity.
Globally and spiritually
81.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim has to be one of the most enlightening hashtags I've ever seen. The overwhelming love and unity is so beautiful. Bless
82.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim. Carribean Muslims. African Muslims. Latino Muslims. Global black Muslims.
83.
#BeingBlackAndMuslim American makes you proud of our giants and committed to their legacy ✌✊ @MuhammadAli 💕 #MalcolmX
(Jazakallah khair and thank you)
Dedicated to challenging anti-blackness & racism in Muslim communities? You can join us at http://t.co/TeVTSYGHHy. #BeingBlackAndMuslim
The hashtag is still going strong. Add in your reflections under #BeingBlackAndMuslim.
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