Black Muslims BEEN here
Welcome to the 41st installment of This Black-Ass Life! We’re a day late and a dollar short because we both had QUITE a Monday, buuuut we’re so excited bring you today’s newsletter! Given Ramadan, this week we want to celebrate Black Muslims.
Don’t forget: We've managed to grow this list thanks to y'all forwarding to friends so please keep it up! Forward this link to subscribe to five friends. And send us topics you'd like to see covered, texts from your Black-ass people, and any Black-ass anything from around the world and web.
l. The Facts
Black Muslims have been in America before there was an America. During this holiest time, we honor their history and contributions.
Brought by force during the transatlantic slave trade, some scholars estimate that over 30% of enslaved Africans who came to the new world were Muslims. However, not much is known about early American Muslims because many were forced to convert to Christianity.
The Great Migration of Black people (1916-1940) to the North helped encourage the African-American Islam revival and the growth of the African-American Muslim Nationalist Movement.
There are also Sunni communities dating back to the 60s, such as the Dar al-Islam movement. Some communities have even earlier origins, such as Quba Institute with roots in the 1940s Izideen village in New Jersey.
Orange Julius Caesar and other Islamophobes would like you to believe that Islam is a foreign religion, with only internationalist interests. Black history tells us they lyin'.
Shouts to some influential Black Muslims who have made incredible contributions, like: Malcolm X, Andre 3000, Shaq, Mahershala Ali, Ice Cube, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dave Chappelle, Muhammad Ali, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Yasiin Bey, Rakim, John Coltrane and so many more.
Special spotlight on former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the original Kaepernick who sacrificed his career to not stand for the anthem, speak freely about injustice and join meetings with “controversial” civil rights organizers.
Why does it matter?
Islamophobes be damned, the Black Muslim population will continue to grow in America, not only because of immigrants from Muslims nations, but because Black Americans are converting. About half of Black Muslims (49%) are converts, in contrast, only 6% of Black Christians are converts to Christianity
Black Muslims are also more woke than the rest of Black America. In a recent pew poll, 92% of Black Muslims say there is discrimination against Black people, compared with 78% of Black Christians. From Mahmoud Abdul Rauf to Malcolm X and H. Rap Brown, Black Muslims have been and remain some of the bravest vanguards of Black liberation.
What can my Black ass do?
We must protect Black Muslims as they live at a precarious intersection of race and islamophobia. The recent relentless attacks on Ilhan Omar are proof.
Check out these tips for how to be an ally to specifically Muslim women.
Here’s a longer guide to getting educated and being an ally.
Even more info on how to support the Muslim community (note: this mentions the attacks in New Zealand).
And get informed on Ramadan!
ll. Other Things
It’s been a WEEK.
Shaymaa Ismaa’eel went viral for dismissing Islamophobia beautifully. Here’s how she’s doing now.
A reminder that abortion is still legal in all 50 states.
I (Mitu) am moved by how fab the Old Town Road music movie is.
Trey Songz has a baby?!
A high school football coach tackled a would-be school shooter.
A Mississippi jury awarded $3 million to Black strippers in workplace discrimination case.
“I can’t skip my brother and sister.” Halle Berry refused to ignore Black journalists despite a publicist trying to cut them off.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Jumoke):
These cool AF Nigerian kids intimidate me with their cool kids attitude and also make great music. Are youth still saying AF?
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) am looking forward to the hot ass summer sun. My skin is about to get real dark and as evveeennn tone as the good Lord intended. Use sunscreen everyday everybody.
I (Mitu) look forward to summer pools opening. We’re firmly pulling up on cookout season!
lll. Lacrosse Player Names Are Predictably Absurd
Instead of a Black-Ass text, we present you the opposite: Lacrosse names
Stay Black, thrive, even out your tan lines and we’ll hit your inbox next on June 3.