Muslim Organization’s Stance on the Baltimore Uprising Sends a Negative Message to NbA Black Muslims

Last updated on: May 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm by NbAMuslims

Muslim Organization’s Stance on the Baltimore Uprising Sends a Negative Message to NbA Black Muslims 2015-05-02T19:00:15-04:00 NbAMuslims

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By Layla Abdullah-Poulos

As an African-American Muslim, I am constantly faced with microaggressive behaviors from my non-Black coreligionists, and I have learned to overlook most of them in order to maintain solidarity. However, when a Muslim organization like the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), with notoriety and a history of interaction with Black communities, neglects to appreciate the socio-historical context of the Black experience in the United States, the connotations can be of broader detriment, and it should not go unchecked.

While reading the organization’s recent press release about the Baltimore uprising, I immediately recognized racial codes Blacks typically encounter by those either ignorant of circumstances or who wish to ignore them and feed into stereotypes.

ISNA’s referral to “wanton destruction, thievery, looting and arson” infers that the riots occurred in a bubble with no apparent impetus. Because we all know that Blacks never have cause to be upset about their oppression.

Furthermore, generally labeling protestors as “rioters” and directing them to “cease their destructive behavior” is an oversimplification of events as they unfolded and focuses attention on a small percentage of protesters. ISNA’s apparent haphazard thrust into the dialogue is one where the organization chastises people for speaking out against the injustices and oppressions inflicted upon them. It may not have been their intent, but the words dispersed certainly read like a condemnation without addressing the realities of racism in this country.

The organization’s release also infers that the protesters somehow disappeared or became rioters. So similar to the media, ISNA chose to turn a blind eye to the continued efforts of demonstrators.

I also sense a double standard, as rock throwers in Gaza are applauded, but Blacks throwing rocks in Baltimore are discredited as destructive and wanton.

Ultimately, ISNA’s prejudicial attack on protesters (even the rioters) only jeopardizes the development and maintenance of lines of solidarity between non-Black Muslims, Black Muslims, and Black non-Muslim populations; it smacks of racism and discounts the injustices that Allah commands us to rage against.

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