Is black hostility to Muslims growing?
So many Muslims seem to still be blind to the growing hostility and/or indifference to Muslims and Islam in the Black American community.
The Islamic Center of South Florida received the go-ahead Tuesday to begin construction on a new mosque, despite a fight from some residents in the neighborhood where it would be built who are opposed to bringing a Muslim place of worship into a predominantly black community.
Commissioner Pat Larkins was one of the most outspoken critics of a new mosque. Larkins, who is black, said there is a perception in the neighborhood he represents that Muslims do not give back to the community.
“I am not opposed to constructing the facility,” Larkins said. “I am opposed to the conduct of the Muslim business community in our neighborhood.”
Larkins drew applause from those in attendance at Tuesday’s City Hall meeting when he said there was no need for the mosque in a predominantly black neighborhood.
[...]
Larkins said he is opposed to the way some Muslim business owners operate and treat blacks.
“I think it’s a shame when I see beer and wine sold by people who claim that they preach Islam at 4 o’clock in the morning in my community,” Larkins said.
Sam Smith, who lives in the neighborhood where the mosque is supposed to be built, agrees with Larkins.
“The ones that own the stores, they’re very disrespectful to our kids,” Smith said. “…They think all the kids here are trying to steal.”
Why would there be no need for a masjid in that neighborhood? Would it possibly be because the inside of the masjid does not reflect in the most remote way what is outside of it?
Then the typical response from the Muslims: “Who US?!” …”What are you talking about?!”
“I find it very disturbing, to say the least, especially these comments coming from somebody in the leadership of the city,” Naseer said. “Of all people, I think Mr. Larkins should not be the one talking about stereotypes or having perceptions and making decisions based on perceptions.”
So in other words, these are all just “perceptions” not based in reality at all. No need to address this or promise the people that we will do better in contributing to the community.
Even though the masjid in this case was still approved, Muslims for the most part are increasingly at best a forgotten about non-factor in the black community.
Link: Predominantly Black Community Objects To Building New Islamic Center
*Update: Abdullah and the Liquor Store
**Update 2: Black Community’s view of Islam and Muslims
***Previous Article: “Pops”
****UPDATE 3: More evidence of the growing hostility blacks are showing for Islam and Muslims is shown in this article. I have seen this type of anti-Muslim rhetoric growing much stronger in the past few years in other cities.
The black ministers’ stance in opposition to the mosque has surprised some experts on Islam.
”For the first time, you are seeing a group of black pastors following the white fundamentalist leaders of our country,” said Lawrence Mamiya, an activist and professor of religion and Africana studies at New York’s Vassar College.
Traditionally, blacks and Muslims in America have forged a healthy, harmonious relationship — in part because their leaders tackle the same issues affecting their neighborhoods — drugs, crime, racism and other social ills, Mamiya said.
If ministers’ sentiments about Islam were to become a trend, it would cause a ‘’serious serious split in the black community,” and threaten that relationship, Mamiya said.
This is because over the past decade, efforts that were done in the past have fallen by the wayside as some of the younger Imams and teachers, even black American ones, denounced such community activism as a “waste of time”. Now this is what we see. Sadly, those who denounce these efforts are so out of touch that they are not aware of this new trend…
Filed under: Changing World, Convert Issues, Race
Salaam ‘Alaikum
Well, I don’t think it’s fair for every single Muslim to be expected to be responsible for every other Muslim. A Muslim sells liquor, we’re all guilty? A Muslim bombs a building, we’re all guilty? No way. If Abdullah is selling liquor, I shouldn’t be punished for it or called out for it. If this were another way, if a predominantly White or Asian group of people got together and said, “We don’t want that Black church here b/c some Black teens bullied our kids,” it would be a national outrage. But not when it’s Mozzies. These people wanted to curtail Muslims’ ability worship, in a sense, not only b/c of their objections to “party stores” or whatever, but also for religious reasons (I’ve read other articles about this controversy. They didn’t want ANY Muslims in the neighborhood, they wanted it to “remain Christian.”
That said, if the people behind the masjid want to object to this, they have to do more than say “This isn’t fair and we expected more from a Black person” (which is what he obstensibly said). They have to say, “And we disapprove of that stuff, and this is what we’re going to do to make this a better community to live in.” Or maybe he did say that, and the journalist / editor didn’t include that…
Personally, just speaking from my experiences, there is also sometimes a disconnect b/t the masjid board guys, the da’wah dudes, etc. and the liquor store guys, who they look down upon as uneducated, dirty, maybe ethnically inferior. Not all the time, of course, I’m just saying that at least here in the NE, there is definitely a class tier thing going on, and sometimes a complete disconnect (esp. if we’re talking about people who own bodegas and party stores, vs. that nice Mobil station that has cases of beer in the fridge).
Mr. Nelson hit the nail on the head, sorry sister Umm Ziad I have to disagree. The problem was the response this issue has been an issue for a long time and it needs to be addressed. Every group of people has their social ills and it is upon that group of people to confront and deal with those issues that is what you call leadership. Leadership is not ducking and running under the cover of cires of stereotypes and racism. Stereotypes exist only for one reason there is truth to them, I say the response should be an overwelming we are going to work with your communities to make it better and we will put political pressure on those who would bring shame and disgrace to our religion. I know many “good” Muslim brothers but because of family loyalties they wont confront this real problem.
Many of the established leaders of the black community are based strongly in the Christian community, so it would be no wonder that they would have an issue with a religion that is taking so many of their community away.
However, there are real and serious issues that need to be addressed. If this is going to be nothing more than a immigrant based mosque were American Muslims, mostly black, are not going to feel welcome, then the man has a point.
Umm Zaid:
Wa alaykum as-salaam
I’m not saying that all the Muslims should be responsible for the actions of the store owners, but I am saying that if we were more active in the communities in which the masjid is built, I don’t think we would see this kind of opposition. And Allah knows best
Your point about the church opposition only makes my point stronger in that the church in the past decade has been very active in the black community and are very happy to point out that Muslims are very absent.
Abu Sinan got it right. The Masjid cannot continue to be some strange place to the people that live in the neighborhood for people who live outside of the neighborhood.
They don’t know the good Muslims because they are the ones that come to pray and leave to go back to whatever part of town they live in, while the store owners are there all day to give a bad example. They have no idea that these brothers/sisters oppose this.
Then most importantly, the people in the neighborhood don’t have a cousin, a brother, a sister, an uncle or an old friend from high school that is Muslim and that can balance their view of Islam and Muslims. The masjid is just some place for those guys selling poison to the neighborhood.
I feel that instead of getting indignent, Muslims should look inward and see why they think this of us.
And this is not to pick on this community in Florida. This story could be repeated across the country to one extent or another
There is just too much to say on this topic and I have decided to write on it myself. It is very complex; but lets just say that the issues that Tariq brings up is very real.
I seriously doubt that the African American community objects the masjid being built in their communities because they are “deeply rooted in Christianity.” The fact remains that Islam is viewed as this elitist religion whereas the people are “too good” to mingle with the “common folk.” and Muslims have no one to blame for this but OURSELVES. The lack ot participation in the communituies, the lack of concern (”hey it’s not MY community, let THEM deal with it”
is the very thing that the black community is looking at, and it is sad to say, this is a BIG issue amounst foreign Muslims. To non muslims, these are the same individuls that occupy stores etc in THEIR communities who never speak, never contribute to the wellfare of the community, but instead sell alcohol to drunks who sit outside these stores slurrng their words and harrassing peole passing by.
Muslims are viewed as people who uphold a certain moral value (Esp. the few who do contribute to the community and have an active voice as in some major cities), and the fact that this virtually disappear when it comes to deeling with “people not amougst us” is not something that is not seen by others. Throw in a little racism, 911, and they response is “heck no not in our community…what have they done for us lately?” This is in no way a stab at Muslims, but a rude much needed reality check. What have we done to perpetuate this? Subtract the “non muslims” and evauate the situation; this even occurs amounst OURSELVES. The same brothers and their families that do not even want to stand next to you in the Salaat line are the same brothers and their wives who developped a newfound “companionship” with alot of the “american” muslims after 911. We cannot fix this problem until we “fix” ourseves. Instead of worrying about who has on the longest hijab and the thickest beard, we need to be trying to come up with a solution that brigdes OUR community and becomes a community that gives back.
[...] If you haven’t read Tariq and Umar’s latest entries, please do. Somehow, I knew that these Muslim-owned liquors would come back and harm us in some kind of way. [...]
Salaam ‘Alaikum
Rasheed:
If you have the time, please go to my blog, go to the search box, and search “Pops.” I wrote about the effect of the “liquor store Muslims” on neighborhood people months ago. I’m just pointing out another side of it. I’m sorry, but I don’t think that I should be held to blame for the liquor store Muslim. That doesn’t mean I don’t think Muslims shouldn’t be dealing with them, but I’m saying that I’m tired of being held accountable for every bad thing a Muslim anywhere does– whether it’s a man beating his wife, a brother who goes out drinking, a bombing, or a liquor store. In this religion, I’m accountable for what I do, not what some guy across town or on the other side of the world is doing. My point wasn’t to Tariq, it was my thoughts when I read about this — or when I read about this masjid controversy here in Boston (where some people want to punish all of us for things Qaradawi has said on the other side of the world) or anywhere else.
That said, I tend to think that masjid committee types are out of touch in a big way, esp. when it comes to urban communities where the masajid are sometimes located (my experience in the NE is almost strictly with urban masjids), and esp. when it comes to Latinos and Black Americans, and if anyone can find that I’ve ever said anything other than that, I’ll treat you to a slurpee. (Actually, a few of my readers have asked me to get off of that topic and move on… I think it might make people uncomfortable). (snort)
Umm Zaid:
Ma Sha Allah, nice article wow…when you write you WRITE
Look the point I am making is this, like it or not we are respresentive of Islam. And that being the case we do have to address issues like these in a proactive manner. I think you will agree that outside of that beautiful brother in Chicago from imancentral, that most Muslim communities are at best apathetic to the circumstances of the lower class. So have the apathy of practicing Muslims on one hand coupled with the Joe’s (Yusuf) and Mo’s (Muhammad) bringing vice in to the community to make a quick buck. I don’t think it is realistic to expect people to react any other way. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. In other words people won’t care about Islam until Islam starts caring about them. I
As salaamu ‘alaykum Tariq,
I want to post the same comments here I did over at Umar’s blog.
Here’s what I’m getting at…no doubt there is a major problem with this issue. I wouldn’t say its a growing problem because I actually think the situation is not as bad as it was say 10-15 years ago. It is still horrible and a major problem.
Now, moving on to solutions. If these brothers are not religious, are not praying, we as the Muslim community are very limited in the influence we can have over them. If they are praying and still engaging in these activities, although that may seem more disturbing (and it is in many ways) it is actually better becasue then there is more chance of them coming around.
As much as I would like to see confrontation around these issues (i.e. the Muslim community demanding that these stores close) the Muslim communities in the inner city are too weak for that to be successful in the short term. So, we have to strengthen our communities, and in the meantime we have to accept that a longer term process of showing alternative business models and working on the hearts of those in these stores is a better bet.
In a lot of ways, I think we have to focus on the kids of the owners of these stores. Many of these kids grow up in the culture of the inner city but they also grow up thinking their best career option is following in the footsteps of the older generation. We have to make sure that they grow up with an Islam that is relevant to them and that they are supported in making their businesses or other careers as halaal and beneficial to the community as possible.
Allaah knows best.
Abu Noor:
wa alaykum as-salaam,
I agree that not much can be done about the store owners except to constantly remind those store owners that do attend the masjid to make efforts to clean up their stores. Not necessarily close.
Basically what I am saying is that the people who live in the community only know these store owners and don’t know those who are inside the masjid. For all they know, the entire masjid if full of store owners. We know that is not true, but many of the people believe that because the only Muslims they know are the store owners
I hope that those who attend that masjid will take this opportunity to be more proactive in the community and get to know the people and be friendly neighbors. Participate in neighborhood cleanups and neighborhood watch. Perhaps open a playground on the masjid grounds that is open to all neighborhood children. Offer to tutor some of the neighborhood children, etc, etc. Let’s bring something to the table.
It would be even better if they actually LIVED in the community and became a part of the community. The people of the community would then have something to contrast the store owners to. “Oh, Those guys just don’t practice their religion” They would seperate Islam from these store owners
There was a community in New Jersey that cleaned up the neighborhood the moved into to such an extent that the street the masjid was on was named after the community by the city. Crime went down in that part of the city as the neighborhood was cleaned up. This is the type of example that we need to follow.
As salaamu ‘alaykum Tariq,
I think we basically agree on this issue alhamdulillaah and as you know we’ve tried to do many of the things you mentioned here in Chicago with IMAN (www.imancentral.org).
My only additional point for everyone to consider is this: Tariq is right when he mentions the importance of living in the neighborhood in order to influence the people. Obviously in many inner city neighborhoods living in the neighborhood would be a tremendous sacrifice and is not really realistic in large numbers in the short or even medium term. On another note, having a whole bunch of immigrant or even ‘white’ Muslims move into the community with the idea that they’re going to “clean it up” is problematic as well and brings up notions of gentrification and exploitation as well.
The key has got to be leadership that is from the neighborhood and knows the people already. At least in Chicago, it is hard to believe that there is not a large number of these African Americans who have not at least been exposed to Islam and many who have even probably taken shahada at some point. The key is to help support and develop these brothers, not to think that people from the outside will come in and save the neighborhood from its residents.
This is where one will have to deal with the more difficult issues that Tariq explores a lot here on the blog. The transition to Islam for people who are suffering from a lot of the social problems brought about by the environment created in the inner city as a result of the Firaawnic government of this country. Look at Musa (as) and the Bani Israel. The Bani Israel were Muslims but they had a lot of social problems as a result of their years of oppression at the hands of the Pharoah. Even with two Prophets (as) to teach them and with witnessing miracle after miracle in front of their eyes, they still had a lot of problems for a long time.
Don’t get discouraged, though, then look at the example of the magicians who went from disbelievers working for Pharoah to shuhada” in a matter of moments, NEVER underestimate the power of emaan. It is what will really change things. So, continue giving the da’wah inshAllaah and know that Islaam will overcome all obstacles in the end.
Allaah knows best.
Tariqnelson,
There are many Muslim communities that have taken proactive steps in “cleaning up” their surrounding neighborhods. There are some neighborhoods that I have been to where the non muslims have a deep respect for the Muslims there because anytime ANYTHING happens, they know they can turn to the Masjid for help. Crime? What crime? The respones, “Man you better not sell and crack over there, those Muslims don’t play.”
I have seen places where men do not even THINK about approaching a woman in a negative light, Muslim or not, because of the example the Muslims teach as well as provide. It is not just “lip service.” These are the communities that open their doors to the community, participate in local events, have Muslims on the boards in the schools and teachers in the low income schools. The communities that are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get “down and dirty.”
In saying that, many communities often choose not to be bothered with the non muslim communities that the Masjids often occupy. Truth be told, alot of people are often curious about Islam and don’t feel as if they are even welcomed to inquire about it at the Masjid because they are often locked down like some sort of fortress. In order to began solving this issue, we most become PROACTIVE! The attitude some Muslims have is unacceptable, “You are the enemy, we must not talk to you, you are beneath us, but hey come into my store and buy alcohol and look at Playboy while you shop.” Why do we even support these places?!!? I have seen successful Muslim shops where alcohol is not being sold at all.
It is true, we cannot be held accountable for the actions of what some of the Muslims do, Umm Zaid, however we can at least try to combat the negative stereotypes that exist. Why do we have to wait until tragedy strikes to show our “patriotism?” (i.e. 9/11). Examples of Dawah don’t exist meerly in words, but through our deeds and ACTIONS.
Bismillaah, wal Hamdulillaah, was Salaatus Salaam ala Rasulillaah, wa ba’d
While as both an African-American as well as a Muslim, I find the remarks from Commissioner Pat Larkins very disturbing and insensitive, I find the Islamic community leadership’s response to the criticism (at least what was printed) as equally inept and insensitive. I wonder what would be the response from our local Houston leadership if the same criticism was levied against our Islamic community?
Al-Hamdulillah, as a community, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and logged countless hours of hard work and sweat labor in recent relief efforts in which members of the African-American community were arguably the great majority of the beneficiaries. Unfortunately, you know like I know, that the peoples memories are short-lived when it comes to charity. They take and receive during their time of desparation and soon forget those who were there for them in their time of need.
However, the question that begs to be asked is… does CAIR or the local Islamic leadership in the major metropolitan centers across this great nation feel that they have a responsibility to speak the truth and address the core issues irrespective of whose toes are being stepped on? Why not address the issue of Muslims being perceived as blood-suckers of the poor and disenfranchised? Why not confront the perception of duality in how Muslims deal with their fellow man and how they deal with the commandments of Allaah and the warnings from his Messenger (saaws) regarding selling khamr and swine, lowering the gaze and fair dealings in trade?
It is not enough to simply brush impressions off by labeling them as stereotypes as if these perceptions will simply go away by themselves. This stance is arrogant and condescending. It serves no good end. It doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity to educate the critic or the public in general about Islaam and what our Deen is about.
What is so wrong with having the guts to declare in front of the people that those who are selling beer, wine, and liquor…selling pork…selling lottery tickets…and pornographic magazines in their businesses are in many cases Sikhs, Hindus, or Chaldean Arabs who are not Muslim, but Christian? What is wrong with educating the people about the fact that there are many who are often mistaken for Muslim by virtue of appearance or accent but who are infact not Muslim at all?
However in those cases where Muslims are in fact the guilty ones, what is wrong with admitting that these are weak Muslims who are in clear disobedience to Allaah? Do we always have to wait until “Uncle Sam” or one of his Sambo “scholars” in full-Muslim garb puts the deviant label on someone before we confess that this activity is both a scourge on our islamic community as well as the greater society, express our outrage at it and then move to do something about it? Is the reason for this lack of sincerity of action on the part of the leadership due to the fact that alot of this ill-gotten wealth finds its way into the bank accounts of certain “Islamic” organizations? Am I over-stepping here when I say that the time is ripe for the establishment of an “Islamic Better Business Bureau” or a similar body of commerce that would regulate businesses and rate them on their business practices. This would truly establish a line of demarcation between those who are doing business within the limits set by Allaah and His Messenger (saaws) and those who are not…..those who see the value of posting the bureaus endorsement seal of membership, contributing a portion of their profits to the bureau’s community development fund and those who don’t.
One of, infact arguably the most profound movements that I have ever been proud to be apart of was C.R.A.I.D. an Imam W.D. Muhammad-led campaign to remove all images that portrayed the divine. I was not a “member” of this community. My bayaat was to another Imam. But to me, after listening to the Imam, this was a campaign that had such far-reaching implications for all of mankind that I had to get involved. I think that today we need such a campaign to clean up these images that so-called Muslims are portraying of Islaam. It will take a visionary of un-waivering courage to break the stranglehold that those forces of ill-wealth within and outside our community has on what is preached from the mimbar.
One more glaring point of hypocrisy that I would like to cite here is that when white folk began to criticize the actions of Muslims, we are quick to demand an apology and encourage that they undergo sensitivity training or some other sort of training that would give them an accurate picture on Islaam. Why doesn’t the anti-Islamic sentiments expressed by black folk get the same kind of attention? Aren’t these folk in need of a dialogue so that their fears, concerns, arguments, etc. can be heard and addressed? I think that it’s too easy to pont out a “terrorist” who maims and murders innocent non-combatants and say this is a bad Muslim and this is sort of activity is not justified in Islaam. However, because truth tends to be painful, and too many of our leaders run away from this sort of truth, it is more difficult to give black folk a “town hall meeting” to discuss issues between Muslim business owners and these communities…..communities in which these the great majority of these owners don’t live in, but extract from, money that sends their children to college and helps to build spacious suburban Islamic centers. Is this not clear, unadulterated hypocrisy or am I not seeing the picture clearly?
I have taught science and coached basketball in the Islamic school system for the past 13 years. I once heard two students of mine in the school lunchroom trading stories and laughing about the antics of drunken blacks who would come into both of their father’s stores to buy their khamr of choice. The strores were located in pre-dominantly black and poverty-stricken neighborhoods. The fact that the drunks were black and the students were not wasn’t an issue. I know these two boys. They would’ve joked if the drunks were from any other ethnicity as well. I told the students that it would be better to invite them for a cup of tea and to talk to them about Islaam.
I advised them to, in the meantime, not broadcast their father’s haraam activity; for it is wrong to broadcast his sin. I told them that they should pray and ask Allaah to strengthen their father’s imaan and show him a way to provide for the family within the limits of Islaam.
I also shared a story of how, as a younger man, I was forced out of a Tableeghi Jamaat so-called “dawah” activity, because I insisted that going with me to speak to the Musllims who were selling pork, wine, liquor, near- rotten meat and produce in my neighborhood was more important than asking brothers for names and addresses of brothers who don’t attend the masjid regularly. At a time in which I was seeking help in cleaning up my community my fellow Muslim brothers were active partners in the filthy trade; while others where compliant in their silence and inaction.
In a post 9-11 world when all of these slick spin-doctors in the media have a microscope on us it is better to speak the truth direct without mincing words and trying to sell half-truths. The enemy only takes this stuff (in and out of context) to make us look guilty. He puts the right spin on it to make us look less than genuine or as if we have something to hide.
I pray that our leaders here in the Houston Islamic community will continue to be a testament to Allaah’s command to stand up for justice and that they never make excuses or reasons for not always speaking words directed to the right.
Al-Hamdulillah, according to the drawings the Islamic center complex will be a beautiful center when it is completed. I hope that the local Islamic community in South Florida will seize this opportunity to do something truly great and inspiring in the community. They could start by insisting that in the center’s construction phase, people from the local community be hired as skilled tradeworkers and unskilled labor. I have worked as project manger/site supervisor on construction in which the federal government required that community members be employed in this capacity so I know that it can be done. It awaits to be seen if the South Florida Muslim community will do the right thing as well.
Fi-Aman’Allah,
Br. Jamaaluddin al-Haidar
to the deen and the game. . . stay true.
MYBA-Muslim Youth Basketball Association http://www.mybausa.org
I agree with much of the comments made above, particualtly those by Jamaludin and asistersabilitytoprocess.
There are a number of points which have to made in light of the article that Taariq posted up:
1. We should remember that this may be an anomaly in terms of the issue, as it is well known that Muslims have done much work in communities cleaning it up and so forth and engaging with non-Muslims via da’wah in the communities.
2. In the UK, we have the same problem in the city of Birmingham, wherein there is a huge gap between black brits and what are termed as ‘Asians’ (i.e. Pakistanis and those form the Indian sub-continent), this led to a riot last year which resulted in three deaths and many injured. It was very bad, as one black UK Afrocentric website (blackchat) allowed a huge variety of unknown and anonymous posters on their forum call for the killing of Asians and other simplistic nonsense. The riot was after it was alleged (and later proven to be totally false and fabricated by an Afrocentric radio station in Birmingham) that a black girl had been gang-raped by 22 asians in a Afro-hair shop (which was owned by Asians). The shop in question was closed down and then a riot insued. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_race_riot_(2005)
3. As for CAIR then as jamaludin noted their approach is rather simplistic.
4. It seems as if there is not much da’wah in those particualr areas and interaction with non-Muslims in that area.
5. In London, we don’t really have that problem due to the vast amounts of people that embrace Islaam in the black areas, such as Brixton (in particular). Mashaa’Allaah, which is a good example of black youth embracing Islaam for about twenty years. http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76
6. After the riots in birmingham a fabricated document was put together which calls to a ‘holy war’ against blacks!? We rejected this straight away and looked false anyway, some of the Rastas in Brixton were giving it out and saying 2this is what your people are doing2 but we respondned to it immediately.
7. I am in the final stages of completing and re-writing a book Defining Legends - Analysis of Afrocentric Writings on Islaam, may Allaah help me to complete it and all of these issues will be discussed inshaa’Allaah within it.
8. I think that Muslims need to drive the issue home that such alcohol sellers are not exactly the best example of Islaam in practice so that they can see the difference. Its loke now in London after the bombings we had to do a huge drive to dispell the myths about Islaam and terrorism, which in fact some of us in London have always been condeming anyway.
[...] All of this, on top of selling poor quality food, is the reason why they have such a bad reputation in black communities. [...]
[...] alcohol consumption is a very big part of their overall daily activity. And those opposed of the non-Muslim African Americans may complain privately but do not publicly voice any resistance in my neighborhood. In other-words its big business for [...]
[...] attitude of the Muslims in general throughout the 1990’s left us open to a rift between the Muslims and the Black community. Whereas this relationship was strong in the past, these groups had successfully religiously [...]