Editorial Note: (This is a guest post from brother Hameed of Muslim Empowerment Institute. This blog post is excerpted from a chapter of the forthcoming book written by Brother Hameed titled,“Toby Muhammad: From The Back of the Bus To The Back Of the Camel.) The Nation of Islam was not only the predecessor of Islam in the Black American community, but by and large, they were also a forbearer of Black consciousness and liberation theology among Black Americans. Black empowerment,... Read more
Join us this Saturday April 29, 2017 at 8pm EST – Islam In America Movement on American Muslim 360 – BlogTalk Radio for an enlightening and empowering discussion: Imam Amin Nathari and special guests, Hakeem Muhammad – activist, law student and creator/blogger of the thought forum Truth to Power and Brother Hameed – author of the groundbreaking new book “From the Back of the Bus to the Back of the Camel: Analyzing the Psychology of Toby Muhammad” Hosted... Read more
“If you want to live in a better community, make your community a better place to live.” The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Due to the crumbling infrastructures, West Baltimore’s black communities have often been described as, “abandoned and left for dead.” Despite this widespread neglect of black Baltimore , one entity that has not abandoned them are their black brothers and sisters in the Nation of Islam. Over dinner, Black Muslim brothers in Baltimore began discussing what could be done to improve the... Read more
Attributes of Toby Muhammad Are you a black Muslim whose foreign exported interpretation of Islam has led to you becoming hyper focused upon issuing criticisms of others? Are you now devoting a disproportionate amount of time studying the alleged deviations and innovations of scholars from the past to present? Have you began to operate under the premise that in order to practice a more authentic version of Islam you must culturally apostatize from Black America and adopt Middle Eastern culture? Have... Read more
The following is a short clip at my lecture at Howard University’s Muslim Student Association addressing Shaykh Hamza Yusuf’s disrespectful pathologizing of the black community at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference. I further discuss how the cowardly and spineless response of black Muslim “leadership” was completely antithetical to the persona of Malcolm X who embodied black rage. Read more
Thanks to Muslimarc and HowardMSA, I will be speaking on my article, “Do Not Speak to Me about Malcolm X” at Howard University. The topics discussed will encompass: How Muslims have systematically abandoned what Malcolm X stood for and the actions Black Muslims take to continue the Islamic agenda of Malcolm X. Why Masjids in the black community must tackle gang-banging, drug trafficking, and other social ills in the black community and must have the vision to transform those... Read more
In my last article, I stated, “Do not speak to me of Malcolm X if you believe the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has no valuable insights to contribute to the betterment of the Black Muslim community.” In response, I received several “hate-mail” from critics who harbor anti-NOI/anti-Farrakhan sentiments claiming their views are a product of the tragic events surrounding Malcolm X’s assassination. Due to the commitment I made in my previous article,”Stop Bickering and Continue the work of Malcolm X,“I will... Read more
As-Salaam Alakium, Recently, there have been numerous discussions predicated upon seeking to increase dialogue between Islamic scholars and various Muslim activists. Many people have sought to create initiatives to bring Muslim activist more under the tutelage and guidance of Islamic scholars. In light of this, I would like to pose a question directed to Islamic scholars about a theological inquiry that I have been thinking of extensively. This question fundamentally shapes my activism. First Question. To provide context to my first... Read more
Have you ever wondered what it was like to hear Malcolm X speak live? Check out my exclusive interview with brother Abdullah who heard the powerful voice of Malcolm X at rallies and Mosque #7 in Harlem, New York. He provides us not only with up-close insights about Malcolm X but also former heavy Muhammad Ali,whose home he visited. As a Pan-Africanist who later moved to Senegal after the assassination of Malcolm X, brother Abdullah gives key insights for how... Read more
Once upon a time to be Muslim in America was synonymous with black consciousness and automatically connoted a commitment to improving the condition of black life. Hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons describes his childhood neighborhood as containing, ”a mosque, a rehab and a Steak and Take which was all owned and operated by the black Muslims.” Within his neighborhood, Simmons says he was immensely inspired by brothers in bow ties who sold the Muhammad Speaks newspaper. Describing his neighborhood as being replete... Read more
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