Black History Month: Black Muslim Women Share Their Experiences "We are Muslim and Black and the two cannot be separated."

Today is the last day of Black History Month, but that doesn’t mean we should not continue to honor and respect the achievements made by Black Americans, share their stories, and amplify their voices throughout the rest of the year.

In light of that, we are highlighting the voices of a few of our fellow Black Muslim sisters with the hopes of shedding light on their realities and the changes we need to make as Muslims and as women in our community.

These inspirational women open up about their experiences, what Black History Month means to them, as well as how others can advocate for Black Muslims all year long. Read on to learn about their experiences, insight, and advice below!

Lul Mohamud, @thelulmohamud
Emory MPH, Global Mental Health/Trauma, Executive Director of The Person Center

What has your experience been like as a Black Muslim woman?  

The experiences of Black Muslim women are so colorfully varied and complex. With millions of Black Muslim women across the world, their very existence remains essential to the history and growth of the Muslim Ummah, especially here in the United States. 

Black Muslim women are leaders, sustainers, stewards of the faith, and serve as guiding lights of families, industries, and communities. In short, Black Muslim women are essential to the beautiful tapestry of this world, as they comprise many unique and beautiful threads that make us who we are. 

My experience has been ever-changing, and will continue to be. For myself, living as a Black Muslim woman has been spending time to reflect and rest after years of fighting what others told me I am, and working to truly embrace who I am meant to be.

Accepting and celebrating my desire to lead while pushing back the narrative that stepping forward is a sign of aggression or a threat to others. Accepting and celebrating my desire to serve, and learning the power and honor in servitude for a greater purpose beyond the tropes of weakness or inferiority because I dare to be a Black and Muslim woman in service. 

My experience as a Black Muslim woman, thus far, has shown me that, through the lessons of our faith, who I am and how I choose to move through this world is not only in my hands, but that who I am as a Black Muslim woman is a blessed reflection of that very legacy of courage and strength from the women before us, and the line of women that are yet to come.

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

Black History Month means so much to me because I see it as a time to reset my intentions and evaluate those of others. In my line of work as an advocate for African survivors of domestic and sexual violence, we are working to break through layers upon layers of obstacles that are indisputably connected to the identities and experiences of our survivors. 

As Black immigrant women survivors are our sole focus at TPC, our team depends on understanding the intentions of other service providers. We must ensure that their mission to end pervasive forms of violence is deeply rooted in liberation and restorative justice for all.

In a time dedicated to activism and learning, if the approach of those who our survivors turn to fails to recognize, let alone center their stories and realities, the harm that could occur against survivors of various trauma would be devastating. Our survivors need more than political grandstanding or reshares of diversity statements. We need conscious, equitable, and long-term action. 

Action makes change, and change can save lives. It is about time we do two things at once, that we learn and we act, for the sake of the Black women and girls who are left with the weight of the world and without options.

How can others advocate for Black Muslims? 

One can become an advocate by first gaining proximity to the people you want to help. Too many times, I have seen that Black Muslim women are ostracized and exoticized because others only get to know Black Muslim women as subjects of study or conversations. Not many women, including Muslim women, actually know Black Muslim women through genuine relationships. 

The reality is that being an advocate, especially for survivors of violence linked to racist and exclusionist sociocultural and political structures, begins with reevaluating the actual degree of inclusion that you have in your own social circles. Failure to do so can result in tokenization, and further emotional and psychological harm on the very individuals you believe you properly support. 

Being an advocate means being a long-time learner, and knowing that you will never be able to always get it right. Being an advocate means knowing that no matter your intentions, and no matter how much you hope to do the right thing, it is not the survivor’s role to placate your emotional need for validation. Who are you then truly advocating for? 

In short, Black Muslim women are the best advocates for Black Muslim women. And advocacy in its essence begins with the pledge to elevate, trust, and defend the voices of Black Muslim women when it comes to making change. This does not mean Black Muslim women must do all the work, it means you promise to trust us as we guide the hands that chose to help lift us as we continue to climb.

Adiyba Abdul-Baqi  | @nursedeeba
RN, BSN, and Wellness and Mental Health Coach

What has your experience been like as a Black Muslim Woman? 

My experience has been mostly positive. For the majority of my life, I have been blessed to live in areas that are diverse. However, I have experienced racism in my career as a Black hijabi nurse who is often the only one like me. In addition, there are various levels of racism in the Muslim community. Many communities don’t acknowledge or respect our Black American experience and treat us like we are not Muslim enough. We definitely have work to do. 

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

It’s a month that attempts to highlight Black history and all of our trials and triumphs, although Black history and American history are intertwined and really should be discussed all year round. But in the spirit of gratitude, we accept this month as an opportunity to celebrate Black excellence and joy.

How can others advocate for Black Muslims? 

They can take the initiative to educate themselves on our history, be present, and speak out against the injustices. As MLK said: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” They need to reflect on their biases and how they may perpetuate and contribute to systemic racism. Also, support Black Muslim leadership and give them a platform. Together we can stand united against oppression.

Khadeejah Abdusshakur | @feistea.kat
Certified Mental Health Ambassador, Owner of Kovered in Joy, Creative Services at Oddball Creatives LLC

What has your experience been like as a Black Muslim Woman? 

I love being a Black Muslim woman. It’s interesting and definitely not always easy. I think the most frustrating part is constantly being “othered” by both other Muslims and non-Muslims alike. I don’t know if I’ll ever not be a little irritated when a Muslim from another background asks me where I’m from “originally,” or assume that I am a convert/revert simply because I am Black.

I am reminded of the Charles Ball quote, “I knew several [people] who must have been, from what I have since learned, Mohamedans [Muslims]; though at that time, I had never heard of the religion of Mohamed. There was one man on this plantation…who prayed five times every day, always turning his face to the east, when in the performance of his devotion.” We’re not new to this. Black Muslims brought Islam to America, had it stripped away, and reclaimed it. Subhanallah.

And then there are the non-Muslims who assume I’m Middle Eastern or Bengali. When I was in college, my middle-aged Art 101 teacher asked if he could draw me because I was “so exotic.” He never missed an opportunity to remind me of how exotic he thought I was. When I worked in retail, I had customers speak to me as if I was directly responsible for 9/11, and I’ve had customers compliment me on my good English. Yeah, it’s definitely been interesting.

What does Black History Month mean to you? 

Black History month is complicated for me because, for the first part of my life, I was homeschooled (birth to 11), and there was not much talk of Black History Month. For the next part of my life, I lived abroad for nearly 8 years.

Now, as an adult, every year BHM is a wonderful time for me to be exposed to an abundance of information, both historical and current about my people. And while I don’t wait until February to educate myself, I find that I always learn something new, fascinating, and empowering every Black History Month. The feeling of connectedness, love, and support is unmatched.

How can others advocate for Black Muslims? 

One very important way that I think others can advocate for Black Muslims is to invite them/us to speak. As far as I’m concerned, there shouldn’t be any conversations, campaigns, or movements regarding Muslims/Islam in America that does not have a Black Muslim voice (or several voices) present.

Another thing others must do if they intend to be our advocates is to educate themselves on the history of Blackness in America, as well as the current anti-Black structures and institutions that still exist today. We are Muslim AND Black and the two cannot be separated.

Salimat Bakare | @thearchiriter
Architect at Crystal White Architects, Graphic Designer at Young Aspiring Nigerian Architects (YANA)