OnIslam.net

In this folder, we are highlighting a collection of features that cover African Americans’ heritage and culture.

We wish the following articles will be of interest for our readers. At the same time, we would like to hear more from the African Americans about the contemporary role models, those who bring vital changes to their social life, their stories, local news, and current challenges.

Enjoy and share!

• “Muslim Martin Luther Kings”

The journey of the apostle of civil rights and non-violence began at the age of 26 when he led a famous bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama for 385 days triggered by the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. The issue ended in a court with a rule of banning any racial segregation for being un-constitutional. [Read more]

• From Black Superiority to Equality

With social leaders such as Rev. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and later Elijah Muhammad combating racism throughout the streets of America by means of their movements, reality proved that little or none of these movements were rarely ever religiously formed and/or inspired. Rather in the beginning, religion had no great role within these movements aimed at reforming the societies. Religion as a main objective for such patriotic and nationalist movements at the time was out of the question. [Read more]

• "Malcolm X, How Much We Need You These Days"

Malcolm X was an amazing and fascinating African American character whose main legacy is to stand up for justice even if it to turn against your own kin. He was a character to be remembered and the legacy he left need to be reflected by people of all color and creed. It is easy to sing the slogans of justice but it is very hard to do that when the culprit is one of your own. It is simple to speak up when someone does something wrong, but it is not easy to do the same thing when the wrong doer is from within. [Read more]

• “My Fellow African Americans, We Are Royal”

"You are a royal. You come from a royal background," the Spruce Street neighborhood boys were told in Smitty's barbershop when they came in for their weekly haircuts. With these words, the lives of these young African American males were impacted forever. They were inspired to think about themselves in a way that was broader and grander than they had ever imagined. [Read more]

• "But If Not"- Martin Luther King

“I say to you, this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for, then you aren’t fit to live. You may be 35 years old, as I happen to be, and one day, some great opportunity stands before you and calls upon you to stand for some great principle, some great issue, some great cause, but you refuse to do it because you are afraid. You refuse to do it because you want to live longer. You’re afraid that you will lose your job, or you are afraid that you will be criticized or that you will lose your popularity, or you’re afraid that somebody will stab or shoot you or bomb your house. So you refuse to take a stand. [Read more]

• Does American Society Keep the Legacy?

Scores of celebrations will take place in Washington, DC in conjunction with the 16 October dedication ceremony of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. However, 43 years after King’s assassination, his dream has yet to be fulfilled. As we dedicate his memorial, each of us should look back on his dream for equality, justice and peace in our country and the world, and remember that King’s vision extended well beyond race. [Read more]

• African American Muslims Fighting Islamophobia

African American Muslims have a role to play when it comes to the widespread Islamophobia (an irrational fear of Islam) that is prevalent in the West. The unfortunate fact is that some Americans see Muslims as a disease to be rooted out. However, as is the case with immunization, the "disease" can sometimes also be the source of a cure. African Americans have faced derisive stereotyping before – including public name calling and a complete exclusion from basic human rights. [Read more]

• An African American Woman Speaks From Her Heart

African American Muslim women are a rare gift in that we have a unique perspective on what it means to be Muslim in the United States. Our historical references as women are specifically honed and readily available to address issues of oppression and struggle for liberation as well as opportunity and success.  We have experience communicating with those different from us in faith and culture; we have the stamina needed for a sustained struggle in the interest of social justice. Our lives are intertwined with those who oppress and those who seek to liberate. [Read more]

• "America We're All Ears…"

With this primary thought, I have been very keen to figure out this hard equation: Despite the Americanized lifestyle, why do communities still look different? It was obvious to me that there are still two major factors that hold the American grassroots communities, namely race and religion. Paradoxically, they are the same two things that are not mentioned in official documents, for it is rude to ask somebody about their religion or to refer to their race or color. [Read more]