Black History Month: Reflect and reunite

Last updated on: February 25, 2011 at 11:02 am by Hesham Hassaballa

Black History Month: Reflect and reunite 2011-02-25T11:02:33-04:00 Hesham Hassaballa

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Honoring the struggle

Ever since the horrific attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the American Muslim community has been under intense scrutiny and pressure. There are some in this country who will stop at nothing to characterize the American Muslim community as “foreign,” “other,” “suspicious” and “disloyal.” Consequently, all across this great nation of ours, American Muslims have been attacked, discriminated against and harassed. Muslim houses of worship have been the subjects of threats, hate graffiti and even acts of terror.

Many times, these attacks are “revenge” for acts of terrorism abroad, which makes absolutely no sense, because the overwhelming majority of Muslims the world over, not just in America, have nothing to do with the crimes committed in the name of their faith. In fact, the overwhelming majority of the victims of “Islamic terror” are Muslims themselves, and thus, it is neither right nor proper to terrorize a community which is already terrorized by the barbarians acting in the name of Islam. Now with N.Y. Republican Congressman Peter King planning to hold hearings on the radicalization of American Muslims and the “lack of cooperation” by Muslim leaders, it seems that the community is in for some rough seas ahead.

Yet, as we reflect over this sad state of affairs, we must ask ourselves the question: have other communities experienced such difficulties? Have other communities been the subject of marginalization, attacks, threats, and suspicion? Have other communities had their houses of worship attacked? Have other communities had to fight for their rights, just as American Muslims have to do so now?

The answer is an unequivocal yes.

One of these communities, whose history we commemorate this month, is our African-American neighbors. Ever since the founding of this country, African-Americans have struggled to gain equal rights. First, they had to deal with the scourge of slavery and the fact that this country had to fight a civil war to finally eradicate this horrific practice. Yet, even after emancipation, African-Americans faced serious discrimination and exclusion. It was not that long ago when African-Americans were not allowed to sit at the same counter, drink at the same water fountain or even sit in the same seat on a bus as their white compatriots. They were also subjected to systematic domestic terrorism at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan.

It was after decades of such abuse and terror that African-Americans finally stood up and said “no” and the civil rights movement was born and with much sweat, toil and even blood, they won many victories, including the right to vote without intimidation and the eradication of “separate but equal.” All Americans – including many in the Muslim community – have benefited tremendously from their sacrifice. We owe those knights of the Civil Rights Movement a tremendous debt of gratitude, for they fought not only for their freedom but for ours as well.

As Americans, but especially as American Muslims, we can never be heedless of this history. As we struggle to fight the forces of hatred who seek to marginalize the American Muslim community, let us reach out to the African-American community, who has already fought the good fight and who continues to fight this fight today, for racism against African-Americans has hardly gone by the wayside. Our two communities are natural allies, as we both face similar civil rights challenges.

And the first place we must start is within our own faith community.

As sad as I am to say it, there is a large rift between the African-American and immigrant Muslim communities here in the United States. This rift must be healed and this gap must be closed. We are all brothers and sisters in faith and our Prophet told us that “A white (person) has no superiority over a black (person), nor does a black have any superiority over a white – except by piety and good action.”

As we begin our outreach to the African-American community, let it first begin with our African-American Muslim brothers and sisters. In reality, the Muslim community must reach out to all communities who face discrimination and work with them to achieve liberty and justice for all. It is the demand of God: “O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” (Quran 4:135)

Let us not fail in this most important civic and religious duty. The future of our community, and our country, is at stake.

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and writer. He is the co-author of “The Beliefnet Guide to Islam,” published by Doubleday in 2006. His blog is called God, Faith, and a Pen. His latest book is Noble Brother: The Story of the Prophet Muhammad in Poetry (Faithful Word Press).

Commentary

Hesham Hassaballa

Previous Post

February 23, 2011

Food and culture: It’s not the halal you expected

Next Post

February 27, 2011 Congressional radicalization hearings: Putting Muslim Americans on trial moves the US back

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2012 Elections 30 Dayd 30 Writers (2017) 30 Days 30 Writers 30 Days 30 Writers (2015) 30 Days 30 Writers (2016) 30 Days 30 Writers (2018) 30 Days 30 Writers 2017 Ali Asadullah Ali Eteraz Alper Bilgili Arthur Richards Asides Asma Uddin Black History Month Briefings Charles Turner Commentary Cyrus McGoldrick Eman H Aly Fatimah Popal Hajj Hajj and Dhul Hijjah Hesham Hassaballa Hisham Hellyer Ibrahim Abusharif Inas Younis Irfan Yusuf Jalal Baig Junaid Afeef Laila Alawa Laila Alwala Mas'ood Cajee Muqtedar Khan Nakia Jackson Newsmakers Parvez Ahmed Podcasts Rabia Chaudry Rafia Zakaria Ramadan Reviews Safiyyah Ally Saud Inam Shahed Amanullah Svend White The Opinionated Oncologist Visions Wajahat Ali Zahed Amanullah Zahir Janmohamed Zainab Khan

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did King Nebuchadnezzar order everyone to worship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A lion A golden statue The sun His crown