The “American” in Muslim American

July 14, 2020

The Muslim American Experience, Beyond the Immigrant Story

Salam alaykum/Greetings of peace,

As we reflect on the calls for racial justice in the country, it is important for Muslim Americans to take this opportunity to understand the history and contributions of African Americans to Islam in America and to assess whether we’re individually and institutionally truly inclusive of all Americans of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

To that end, we are excited to announce the following educational webinar series about Muslim African Americans, featuring notable imams, academics, and activists, for our ING family of donors, affiliates, and speakers. Friends and allies are welcome.

The Series:

The 5-part series will not only address the history and richness of Muslim African American life and the contributions of Muslim African Americans to Islam in America, but will also discuss how anti-black racism plays out among Muslim Americans and how it is directly related to Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry against other marginalized groups such as Asians and Latinx. We welcome your participation and hope that we can all benefit from this knowledge that will help promote greater inclusion, mutual understanding, respect, and harmony in America.

• Wednesday, July 15, 5-6 pm PDT – A History of Muslims in America
• Wednesday, July 29, 5-6 pm PDT – Muslim African American Communities Today
• Wednesday, August 12, 5-6 pm PDT – Roots of Racism and How Structural Racism Functions (an ING Intercultural Panel)
• Wednesday, August 26, 5-6 pm PDT – Racism in Muslim American Communities
• Wednesday, September 9, 5-6 pm PDT – Calls to Action – Countering Internalized Racism

Our Speakers

(listed in order of collage from left to right) 

• Dr. Jamillah Karim – Former Professor of Religion at Spelman College, author, speaker, and blogger with specialties in Islam and Muslims in the United States, Islamic Feminism, Race, and Ethnicity.
• Dr. Mansa Bilal King – Senior Diversity Consultant at Yardstick Management, and Associate Professor at Morehouse College for 13 years.
• Imam Muhammad Ali – Chaplain at Bucknell University, Co-Director of a mentoring program for underrepresented students at the university.
• Imam Faheem Shuaibe – Resident Imam of Masjidul Waritheen in Oakland, CA for 36 years.
• Imam Zaid Shakir – Co-Founder of Zaytuna College, renowned Muslim author and speaker.
• Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin – Resident Imam of the San Francisco Muslim Community Center for the last 30 years.
• Sr. Amelah El-Amin – African American Muslim human rights activist, co-founder of the nonprofit Mu’eed that serves the homeless and low-income children in Oakland, CA.

Panelists: 

• Br. Shannon Rivers – Spiritual leader, member of the Akimel O’otham nation, and a former Co-Chair of the Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
• Rabbi Amy Eilberg – The first woman ordained as a Conservative rabbi and serves as a spiritual director, and peace and justice educator.
• Dr. Hien Do – Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San Jose State University
• Hazel Gomez – Organizing Advisor for Dream of Detroit; Coalition Internal Organizer with the LIVE FREE Detroit Coalition; Curriculum Developer, Trainer, and Mentor with the Muslim Power Building Project; Islamic Studies Seminary Student with Rabata.org’s Ribaat Academic Program

Registration:

Events are free and will be live-streamed on our Facebook page. Register here to receive updates and links to the live-stream.