What's On The Horizon For Black American Muslims?

What's On The Horizon For Black American Muslims?
(Note: This is a reprint from 10/22/08)

Time and circumstances have created an opportunity that now resides squarely at the door of the Black American Muslim…“THE TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP.” The same holds true in the larger Black community in America as we scuffle to redefine ourselves in the wake of leadership that has 1) aged not only in years, but ideals 2) will be forced to capitulate to the new “non-racial” politics of a President Barack Obama which are the politics of non-aggression and 3) has bought into the illusion of socio-economic assimilation, though history and statistical data spells’ out a significant failure of this schism as an attainable goal and objective for Black people on a mass scale. This same narrative will play itself in the Muslim community amongst its’ Black so-called (for lack of a better phrase) “indigenous population”.
The nepotism and cronyism of past and present Black American Muslim groups, that has dominated the concentration of leadership within the context of a few “chosen ones”, has stymied us. As a result of this, no real room for the natural process of homegrown leadership that embodies fresh ideals and approaches which will enable us to prosper. The key crisis that the Black American Muslim community will face will be “redefinition”. “THE TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP must openly engage itself as a new body-politic in the key crisis in Black Muslim America …the crisis of direction. This new bank of leadership must rapidly organize itself as a broad-based cadre around linear issues that seek to define ourselves as a serious player within the Americana Muslim construct. A entity that now includes immigrant Muslim populations from various points of the globe that have very different socio-political goals and objectives than Black American Muslims and the mass ability to attain them very quickly in the context of a racist White America. In addition, we must construct a base coupled with a critical think-tank for African Muslim affairs abroad (as the U.S. Government launches its offensive toward Somalia, Sudan and other Muslim countries on the African continent). This point brings to me a very significant point in this brief writing.

The legacy of Black American Muslims is the legacy of slavery and the struggle to free ourselves from every element of its’ perpetual existence. The spiritual conscientiousness’ of converting to Islam from the yoke of the American Slave experience of Christianity represents the’ plateau in the victory over oppression. While there are other levels’ of oppressions, the exorcising of the yoke of Christianity is primary. Thus, the legacy of struggle remains a foundation in the life of the relatively new Muslim. I think it is farsighted that as a religious-conscience group (bound by our history) to think that we can negotiate those principles and it’s’ far reaching implications to immigrant Muslim communities that by their own circumstance have very different agendas’. Nor should it be important. Well, what do you mean? Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz (Malcolm X) argued on his return from Makkah and his Hajj that we should establish two separate entities’. He established one entity for political purposes only and another for Din. As a model, Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz (Malcolm X) established the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) for mere purposes of protest, nation building and a vehicle to fight domestic and international oppression. On the other hand, he established the Muslim Mosque Inc. for those who wanted to study the Din of Islam and provide effective Dawah to the broader community. As we look forward to …“The transition of leadership” the model of Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz (Malcolm X) is superior. This model will allow successes and victories on many fronts that are hampering the growth and significance of the Black American Muslim. Case in point: The full and complete integration of the Islamic community in America is vital and must take place. Understanding the aforementioned socio-political goals of the various immigrant Muslim communities allows us to conclude that they are just that...Social and economic upward mobilization. We cannot confuse this with our ultimate aim to become a whole and synergetic part of the Ummah of Sayindina Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim). Al-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz’ (Malcolm X) wisdom of establishing two fronts gives us the latitude to begin to understand ourselves effectively. 1) Those whom are the politically conscience activist Muslims’ and seek to engage in struggle against oppression domestically and internationally will meet inside of that corridor 2) A separate and sacred entity (for Din only) will allow for the harmony and synergy of both immigrant and indigenous Muslim communities.
Understanding and accepting that the immigrant Muslim community by nature has a very different agenda than those whom are historically homegrown is significant. First, we must come to grips with our own history in this country to fully embrace this. Please understand that slavery is an economic condition, first...and in the case of America had sever racist implications. The legacy of slavery still chases Black America as whole to this date. The very fact that we are so far behind the beneficiaries of slavery (our White counterparts) cannot be swept under the American Flag. As a result, politically, we must be engaged in struggle. The issues that confront us are not necessarily the issues that affect other Muslim groups in this country, but we cannot let these different struggles become a dividing point. So we must meet at a common place…the Masjid and the AHL AS-SUNNAH WA'L JAMA'AH.
For the immigrant Muslims, they seek full assimilation into American society…some have given way to the idealism of a broad-spectrum bourgeoisie with big time aspirations. Take a cursor glance around the Information Technology and Pre-Med departments on any tier 1 college campus in America to understand this. It is dominated by immigrant Muslims that shortly after graduation will be high salaried Doctors and corporate I.T. department heads. Remember…slavery is first (before anything else) an economic condition. History has showed us that prior to 2001 the immigrant Muslim community voted overwhelmingly Republican. With the onslaught of oppressive legal statutes as a consequence of George W. Bush’s “war on Islam”, the immigrants Muslims have changed their voting patterns 180 degrees…they are now Democrats. The different goals and objectives of these two groups…one whom have has found itself living the continuum legacy of slavery with no Reparations to think of, the other whom has firmly planted their feet in the American middle and upper middle class- through hard work and a cultural value system from the old country intact…must only be negotiated within a process that Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) gives us in the Quran –As-Shura.
The new leadership (among Black American Muslims’) on the other hand cannot make the mistakes of the old vanguard in seeking pure assimilation for assimilation sake. This was a socio-political gaff that in the past context took religious overtones. The justification of Din into a goal of assimilation with largely Christian America is a mistake and carries with it transparency and more of the same hard-luck.
The deep resentment displayed in the Black American Muslim community towards immigrants Muslims serves the enemies goals of divide and conquer. Have we forgotten what the American Government sponsored Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) accomplished in dissimilating Black organizational struggle in the recent past? Have we forgotten the successful campaigns of Western Imperialism and its’ effective dividing of Africa with the end game of pitting brother against brother and rendering Africa helpless? Rasoullah (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallim) sought a single Ummah. Don’t lose sight of this.
I served as founder and chairman of the Florida Branch of The National Black United Front. Recently, I parted ways (the entire Florida branch concurred) with the national body over the issue of the Sudan, Darfur, and the so-called Arabs of that region. After spending nearly a month in the Sudan and Darfur last year on a fact finding mission, I was appalled to find upon my return the Anti- Muslim behavior of the Pan African-Nationalist community in this country. I debated the national body on the issues of my vast research on the ground in the Sudan only to be rebuffed toe to toe with the likes of Rev. Herbert Daughtry (the founder The National Black United Front), current national chairman Dr. Conrad Worrill, and academics in the movement such as Dr. Oba T’Shaka and Dr. Leonard Jefferies all whom are blinded by their ultra- hatred for Muslims’ in general and Arabs in particular. (Writers’ note…the Arabs of Darfur and primarily the Sudan are darker in skin color than most Black Americans and very proud of their African heritage and history. I asked Arab Muslimah what is the meaning of the word “Sudan”. She forcefully threw up a Black Power fist reminiscent of the 1960’s and shouted…’The land of the Blacks’…please see our latest project on Darfur…an eyewitness report at: www.darfur23.org)
My point here is that the Pan African/Nationalist community is aiding and abetting an eventual overthrow and American occupation of the Sudan in order that they may steal the vast resources of the Sudan, Oil and Uranium... (See Joe Biden). On a domestic level, we cannot fall for this trap within this Ummah. The Muslims’ of the Darfur must settle all differences in the context of Mashura.
In summation, because of external consequences of Globalization we (all of us) now live in a completely different but intersting environment. In our worlds…there is no more “here”, but only “there-there”. In a click of the mouse on your computer you can interacting with a Muslim at his kitchen table ten thousand miles away. No longer can we live in separate conclaves and expect to truly understand ourselves and how we are to relate to the rest of the world. Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) says in Al-Quran… “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has al-taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”.
(Al-Hajj) Abdul-Malik Aziz
Co-Convener, Darfur 23
http://www.darfur23.org/