dia de los muertos

So today is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead [2] [3].I don't think I'm going to be eating candy skulls but I will be thinking of my loved ones who aren't here anymore.

interesting exercise

Can you sort people by race?

the challenge of being both black and muslim

The Challenge Of Being Both Black And Muslim by Mark I Pinsky
From the Orlando Sentinel, by way of Blackelectorate.com

interview with najee ali

Interview With Imam Najee Ali, Founder of Islamic H.O.P.E. on his reconcilliation with Russell Simmons, the future of the American Society of Muslims (ASM), unity with the NOI, and more broadly the future of Muslim political organizing.

rosa revisited

As some of you may have learned recently in the flurry of stories about her (or from the film Barbershop), Rosa Parks was actually NOT the first African-American to refuse to give-up her seat on a segregated bus in the name of equality. About 9 months before Rosa Parks took her stand (by sitting down) Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year old high school student at the time showed exceptional courage for making the same decision. In fact, as a plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, Colvin's case played a role in helping to dismantle legal segregation in this country. (Rosa Parks was obviously a powerful symbol and inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycotts but technically her case didn't have much legal impact)

Some suggest that Colvin's prior act of resistance is understated in the history books because it was decided she was not a suitable symbol for the civil rights struggle. Rosa Parks was older, and had more "respectable" image while Colvin was a young dark-skinned, poor unwed woman who was pregnant by a married white man.

Several accounts of Claudette Colvin's role in the movement against segregation:
THE ORIGINAL FREEDOM RIDER
BROWDER v. GAYLE: The Women Before Rosa Parks
She had a dream
In The Shadow Of Rosa Parks: Unsung Hero Of Civil Rights Movement Speaks Out
Claudette Colvin, Cindy Sheehan, and Us
Daybreak of Freedom: The Montgomery Bus Boycott

But in fact, even Colvin was not the only person to refuse to give up her seat before Rosa Parks. Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald and Mary Louise Smith (the other three plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle) made the same decision.

And in 1944, about 11 years prior, Jackie Robinson (yes, that Jackie Robinson) refused an order to get to the back of the bus while he was in the army where he faced court martial but he was ultimately acquitted. In the same year, Irene Morgan also refused to give up her seat on a Greyhound bus to a white person and her court case, Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia, also chipped away at the legal foundations for segregation.

So clearly, what made Rosa Parks special wasn't just the mere refusal to give up her seat. We are tempted to see major events as being caused by individuals, either great heroes, or great villains. But in reality, such individuals are often "in the right place, at the right time" and backed by many others who blaze the trails or provide other kinds of support. This doesn't take away from Rosa Park's greatness, but it should help us see her actions in a broader context.

A Common Dreams piece more about the general hero myth surrounding Parks: Let Us Honor Rosa Parks by Shattering the Myths About Her

Two previous Grenada pieces which address related topics:
the people, united
rosa parks (1914-2005)

imam mustafa el-amin and cedric muhammad

Exclusive Q & A With Imam Mustafa El-Amin on: The American Society of Muslims, Theology, and The Role Of Blacks In Spreading Islam In The United States

This is an extensive two part interview between Imam Mustafa El-Amin and Cedric Muhammad at Blackelctorate.com.

Part One ranges from discussions of El-Amin's time in the Nation of Islam, his research of Freemasonry, and Imam Warith Deen Mohammed's resignation as leader of the American Society of Muslims.

Part Two deals more with the future of ASM, Muhammad (saaws) as the last prophet and messenger, 9/11, African-American dawa, relations between the Nation of Islam and ASM, and future political/ economic developments in the organized African-American Muslim community.

aminah beverly mccloud

Exclusive Q & A With Dr. Aminah Beverly McCloud, Professor, Islamic Studies in Religious Studies, DePaul University. An excellent interview. I've actually met her once. She's a trip in person. We need more people like her who are willing to speak their own minds.

Part One emphasizes the struggles faced by African-American scholars in the field of Islamic studies and academia in general.

Part Two deals more with modern negative portrayals of Islam, the sunni-shia split, other movements within the ummah, and the status of women.

mccarthyism watch

Ever since 9/11, Matthew Rothschild at the Progressive has been keeping track of the changes in the current political climate through his web-based column, McCarthyism Watch.

tony blair v. hizb ut-tahrir

21st-century McCarthyism discusses the British governments ban of the non-violent Muslim group, Hizb ut-Tahrir or HT.

why i almost never feel like dressing up for halloween

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To Thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

-Paul Lawrence Dunbar

andalusian agony

Andalusian Agony by Ameer U. Shaikh is a good explanation of the role Spain has in the collective Muslim psyche. Personally, I'm still articulating for myself how I relate to it. Obviously it is going to be different due to my background, but I'm basically taking a whole blog to explain how...lol. Spain is mine and not mine, but in ways which are different from other Latinos and other Muslims.

"funny, you don't look moorish"

Even though I use the term "modern-day Moor" I should probably clarify that I'm not from Morocco. Also, although I think the movement is interesting from a cultural perspective, I'm also not a part of Moorish Science which has a distinct Circle 7 Koran as their scripture. I explain what I do mean by "Moorish". elsewhere on the blog.

in the ghetto

In the Ghetto...? by Jamshed Bokhari is a piece looking at how immigrant Muslim youth, especially from South Asia, want to immitate and participate in "gangsta" culture. It's a nice read, although in my opinion Bokhari only really scratches the surface. More could probably be said about the role of class, and racism (both from the immigrant community towards African-Americans, and from the larger mainstream society towards Muslim youths) and other factors which play a role in the decisions these kids are making.

lyrical swords

Dilshad D. Ali's article: Raising the Social, Political, and Spiritual Consciousness of Hip Hop is a review of Lyrical Swords: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix by Muslim convert and hip-hop journalist, Adisa Banjoko. (If you want to read more from the man directly, Adisa's blog, Holla at a Schola is also on my blogroll)

ramadan round the world

By Salma Elhamalawy

an article on about how Muslim communities in Chile, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and China celebrate the month of Ramadan.


The 3,000 Muslims that live in Chile try to integrate their lives with their spiritual beliefs in a difficult environment

The celebration of the month of Ramadan possesses an important religious and social meaning for the Islamic community and Latin America is no exception. In the Hispanic world, Muslims should adapt their schedules in order to break their fast, but at times, due to work difficulties, they have no choice but to delay it. They are limited to breaking the fast with a glass of water, and have to wait until they leave work to break the fast collectively as tradition states.

Ramadan in Chile

Fareed Maymoun, a Moroccan immigrant, is used to waking up early to go to his job as a construction worker, but when Ramadan starts he gets up half an hour before sunrise. “It’s an important time for me. For the 3 years that I have been living in Chile Ramadan has a very special meaning for me. The first day is marked by a reunion at the mosque to celebrate another year, and break the fast together with the rest of the community.”

Like Fareed, the 3,000 Muslims that live in Chile try to integrate their lives with their spiritual beliefs in a difficult environment. “Christian co-workers are now used to my fasting. When we are on our lunch break many openly admire the will of those who are fasting, although they do not understand why we do it,” he states.

The first days of Ramadan as well as the last days are marked by family visits while children enjoy their new toys and sweets

The Islamic Center itself fills with children and their parents, when the prayers are finished families get together to enjoy the many activities prepared: popular songs, and delicious food.

“In the mosque a festive atmosphere is evident, people fill the halls and their children run from here to there. You hear kul 'am wa anta bikhair, to wish many happy returns for the beginning of Ramadan” Nawal Alvarez states.

The majority of families take advantage of this day to eat together. “We prepare Mote con huesillo, a special juice with pieces of dried apricot.” explains Nawal.

“In Morocco Fareed and I would have met with all our relatives, but here we’re going to eat with some friends at the mosque. Last year was the first time to break the fast without my family and it was very hard”, adds Yasmina, Fareed’s wife.

Nawal and Yasmina have it all prepared for this year, the first weekend of Ramadan they will organize an iftar (meal to break the fast) at the mosque. “We will be eight women cooking and the menu is a traditional one, first sweet tea then couscous and dried fruits with many Ramadan sweets”, explains Yasmina.

The first days of Ramadan as well as the last days are marked by family visits while children enjoy their new toys and sweets. However, for those working, their situation is no different from those of any Muslim minority.

“The difficult thing is when we are not allowed to leave a short time before the Maghrib (sunset) Prayers. For us, it is very important to be with the family at the Prayers and the breakfast. Normally we offer to work during lunch breaks to compensate. But sometimes the supervisors do not accept,” stated Fareed. “In Chile it is more difficult than in other countries because here there are fewer Muslim immigrants. In France, or Germany, there are businesses where Muslims are a majority and they are able to manage their work hours.” He said.

Ramadan in Spain

The celebration of Ramadan acquires a special importance in all Spanish cities--like Madrid, Barcelona and Catalonia

In Spain an Agreement of Cooperation, between the Spanish State and the Islamic Commission of Spain was established in 1992 and approved as Law 26/1992. The law affirms in article 12.1 that: “Members of the Islamic Communities belonging to the Islamic Commission of Spain who desire, will be able to request the interruption of their work on Friday of each week, from 1 p.m. to 4.20 p.m., as well as finishing work one hour before sunset, during the month of Ramadan”.

The celebration of Ramadan acquires a special importance in all Spanish cities--like Madrid, Barcelona and Catalonia--where numerous Muslim communities reside. Muslims get together to break their fast and they organize social meetings in the mosques. Amin Villoch, a Spanish Muslim, illustrates this, “The first day of Ramadan more than 9.000 Muslims gather at the mosques in Madrid to celebrate the breaking of the fast. Ramadan is an important factor in reuniting the community. The Islamic Center of Madrid always prepares many activities during this month for them.”

After the Maghrib Prayers, the mosque becomes a place of festivity. Everyone eats harrisa (an oriental sweet) and dates; Ramadan treats which no Muslim house lacks. “Women spend all day preparing typical food to offer to their relatives and friends whom they meet at the mosque”, explains Amira Masaad. “The first day of Ramadan is a special day. Although, it’s difficult being far away from my family, the mosque organizes events and activities to bring the Muslim community in Spain together.”

Many of the Muslims living in Catalonia visit the mosques occasionally, more to meet the community than to pray. However, when Ramadan starts, the mosques are filled with Muslims. “Muslims celebrate fully these 30 days and dedicate a lot of time for prayers.” This is when the situation becomes difficult too, “the lack of space for Prayer comes to light during Ramadan. The Catalonian Muslim community puts a lot of effort into establishing new places for Prayers and to be able to continue to attract more Muslims.”

Other activities that Spanish mosques organize during Ramadan include Arabic classes, Islamic culture classes and Qur’an and Hadith discussions.

Ramadan in Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

In Nicaragua approximately 300 Palestinian, Jordanian, Iraqi, Libyan and Nigerian citizens, as well as 4 Nicaraguans; all faithful Muslims, celebrate the month of the Ramadan. In 1999, Muslims established a mosque in Cuidad Jardin, where they gather every Friday to pray. Ahmed Hajjami, a Muslim who has resided in Nicaragua for 6 years, assured us that approximately 300 faithful Muslims, celebrate Ramadan in Nicaragua.

“We begin at half past five in the morning. There isn’t any difference in complying with Ramadan in Nicaragua or any other part of the world”, he said.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that given the characteristics of Nicaragua, it is more difficult to carry out Ramadan’s obligations. “One of the main obstacles is the time to pray, on some occasions we only pray in the morning and at night, it is almost impossible to pray the other three times,” he explained.

For Muslims in Nicaragua, the renewal of faith during this period is the main celebration. Ramadan is not a month of penitence by fasting, but of festivals with banquets, gifts and new clothes.

The mosque also publishes a calendar with prayer times and times of fasting, which is coordinated with Al-Noor Mosque in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic there are approximately 2,500 Muslims, and the ones that reside in the capital regularly attend the festivities of Ramadan at Al-Noor Mosque, the only mosque in the city.

Yunis Ribas explains, “Although the community is rather small in the Dominican Republic, Muslims gather on the first day at Al-Noor Mosque and their families usually accompany them. Later they meet in Recoleta at a halal (permitted by Allah) restaurant, a Jordanian immigrant runs it. We usually have harira, a traditional Moroccan soup, and shawarma, a spicy meat dish, on the first day.”

The mosque distributes audio materials for the Muslim community, and Muslims gather for Tarawih Prayers before heading home. “You can see the happiness of Muslims when they exchange greetings after the prayers, especially when there are new faces. Usually the day ends with a traditional herbal tea.” Yunis declared.

Ramadan in China

For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity.

Li Xan is a Chinese student who studies engineering at the Universidad Del Desarrollo in Chile. He has been living with his father in Chile for 3 years now. However, he remembers how his family used to celebrate Ramadan in China. “During Ramadan my father would get up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and an hour later he’d arrive at the Mosque of Niujie, in the center of Beijing, just in time for the Dawn Prayer.”

For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity.

“Every day in Ramadan, we attended all the five prayers at the mosque. My father’s friends understood our commitment, and when he was occupied with a lot of work they would help him to do it so that he could be punctual for Prayers”, Li explained.

Li is among more than 20 million Chinese Muslims that live by Ramadan’s obligations, continuing strictly the Islamic doctrines, praying five times a day in mosques and abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.
According to the Islamic association of China, Chinese Muslims have convenient access to prayer services as there are more than 34.000 mosques throughout the country.

”Since the foundation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, the rights and religious liberty of the Muslims have been protected by the constitution and the law”, he states.

The Niujie Mosque, built in 996, and that of Dongsi, 500 years old, are the two most two famous mosques in the capital. The Niujie Mosque is an important center for Islamic studies and operates a Qur’an school. During the last 50 years, the government has assigned, on numerous occasions, special funds for the repair of these buildings because of their historical importance.

Beijing has over 900 Muslim restaurants and food stores. Some supermarkets sell food especially for followers of Islam. “Thanks to the social stability and the fast economic growth of the country, Chinese Muslims enjoy a peaceful Ramadan. Many Muslims share traditional food with their neighbors, and distribute gifts to poorer Muslims,” noted Hang Xian a 61 year old Chinese Muslim trader.

Wherever you are, Ramadan is undoubtedly a most special month.

Source: Islam Online

orlando valencia's body found

From the Word War 4 Report: Paras kill Afro-Colombian leader

On the morning of Oct. 27, authorities certified that the body of an Afro-Colombian found washed up on the banks of the Rio Leon at Bocas de Zabalo, Chocó department, dead of gunshot wounds, was that of Orlando Valencia, a peasant leader from Curvaradó who was abducted by paramilitaries Oct. 16. [...]

The Comisión de Justicia y Paz states that the conflict has its roots in commuunity efforts to recover traditional lands legally titled to the Afro-Colombian villages for the past five years, but now under the control of big palm-oil producers following the forcible eviction of peasant cultivators by the paramilitary Bloque Elmer Cárdenas. Justicia y Paz cites over 100 assassinations of Afro-Colombian peasant leaders related to this struggle in recent years.

black studies professor arrested

Once I met a professor (older African-American man) from Stanford who was complaining that people who saw him on campus would often assume that he was a bus driver. He even joked around about getting t-shirts made which said across the front "I am not the bus driver". I guess some folks have a hard time imagining a Black person in an academic position.


Other folks have a REALLY hard time: Black Studies Professor Arrested (for the full story)

San Francisco State professor Antwi Akom was arrested last night and placed in county jail for going into his campus office. He was released earlier this evening.

While in jail, he spoke with numerous friends and colleagues in the Ethnic Studies Department to tell them what happened. Among them was Shenoda, his teaching assistant Ashley Moore, and Dean of Ethnic Studies Kenneth Monteiro. According to these friends, Akom came to campus around 10 p.m. Tuesday evening to pick up a book he needed for teaching his class.

When he arrived in the front of the Ethnic Studies building (which is where his office is located), he was approached by a security guard who asked him what he was doing here. Akom reportedly told the security guard he was a professor and he was simply going into his office. He then proceeded to go inside.

“When he came out, there was a white cop to meet him and told him to put his hands behind his back,” said Shenoda. [...]

racial tension in birmingham turns deadly

Damn... we (however you want to take that) really need to practice what we preach. Racial Tension In Birmingham Turns Deadly: Riots between the British Asian (i.e. Pakistani, presumably Muslim) and Afro-Carribean immigrant communities in the UK highlight racial tensions that have increased in recent years.

orlando valencia

From In These Times: Orlando Valencia, an Afro-Colombian activist, was recently kidnapped by paramilitaries aligned with the Colombian government.

"because i know you don't read the newspaper"

Like It or Not, 'Boondocks' Will Finally Hit the Airwaves Apparently they had to rework the first episode to remove some Rosa Parks jokes. It is about time they put this on tv. I expect to be cracking up so much, I will need to watch with an oxygen mask.

Boondocks trailer courtesy of Adisa.

and several old posts:

boondocks tv interview
birth of a nation: a comic novel
boondocks: public enemy #2
boondocks: livejournal