ISIS has No Friend in Black Liberation

While Jake Tapper conducted an interview during the early weeks of protest in Ferguson, a protestor raised a sign bearing just two words, “ISIS Here”.  A mini-firestorm followed with exploitative  blogs and hysterical articles on possible recruitment from the ranks of the ‘disenfranchised’ of America.  This week, Newsweek followed up with an article, “ISIS Urge Ferguson Rioters to ‘Be Like Malcolm X’”

But let’s get real, the notion that ISIS can somehow co-opt the struggle for Black Freedom is not only deceptive and ahistorical, it's ludicrous.   Press blurbs of ISIS gaining ground, recruiting or even effecting the Ferguson Movement is reminiscent of Hoover's campaign to distort the Civil Rights and Black Power movements with communist and terrorist significations.

Fear-mongering is a science. ‘Islamophobia’ has become passive language for the criminalization of Muslims but the optics of ISIS protesting along-side the original ‘criminalized other’ serves perfectly to escalate the fear-level of ‘privileged’ Americans towards Black bodies.  As we awaited the Grand Jury announcement, we heard ominous warnings from authorities of ‘the potential presence of ISIS’ which further validates excessive militarized force, massed National Guard presence and a pre-emptive State of Emergency that is being used against American citizens.

But let’s get real, the notion that ISIS can somehow co-opt the struggle for Black Freedom is not only deceptive and ahistorical, it’s just silly. Press snippets about ISIS gaining ground, recruiting or even affecting the Ferguson Movement is reminiscent of Hoover's campaign to distort the Civil Rights and Black Power movements with communist and terrorist boogie men.

The history of Black Liberation in America is complex and surely can’t be adequately broken down in a blog, however it is important to briefly address the relationship between Islam and Black Liberation.  Black Liberation or Black Freedom has never been about domination or obtaining supremacy over another, it has always been - and remains - the struggle of the oppressed fighting for fair treatment and equal justice.  During the reconstruction period following slavery, Blacks didn’t seek vengeance for our captivity nor build armies and brigades to get back at previous slave masters.  Black folk sought land, built towns, industry and legally fought for rights of equity to protect their property and their families. Throughout all the Black Freedom Movements were never militia formed to repress White bodies.  Instead, Black Freedom Movements have always been about the repression of White Supremacy.

Islam’s role in Black Liberation is deeply historical and is as complex as our struggle for freedom.  As the curator of the African American Journey to Islam exhibit, to delve into this now would be fun but lengthy, but inshort…’Islam is as American as apple pie and Chevrolet’.  It was our first protest. It resides in our earliest Black Liberation life and provided our first safe spaces of equality in America. 

In Alex Haley’s Roots, we saw Kunte Kinte, reciting Arabic, practicing Islam and resisting slavery.  This depiction, although, biographical was also accurately historical in its narrative.  From the father of Pan-Africanism, Edward Blyden’s promotion of Islam.  To Marcus Garvey’s heavy Islamic influence from his mentors.  To Mufti Muhammad Sadiq’s missionizing Islam in Black communities in America, ordaining Black ‘Sheiks’ who empowered African-Americans to start Muslim communities.  To Elijah Muhammad raising the Nation and Malcolm X, proposing resistance that included self-love and dignity.  To Warith Deen Muhammad leading over 2 million African-American Muslims in peaceful spiritual revolution while still empowering Black bodies.  Never in these manifestations of Islam in America has sentiment been repressively anti-America.  Islam in America has always raised, supported and defended Black bodies against white hegemony and oppression.

St. Louis is home to one of the oldest Muslim communities in America and presently a city of significant Muslim leadership that has always served Black communities.  From agencies providing resources and experienced political leadership, to leaders in education and business communities, Islam in St. Louis has been and continues to be a vital entity in the struggle for justice and equality in its Black communities.

ISIS has no place in Ferguson and no place in Black Freedom Movements.  Our Movements fight against oppression, segregation, discrimination, inequality, sexism, classism and superiority.  The fight in Ferguson is about Justice for Mike Brown, the Ferguson Movement is about Justice for Black bodies.  Let’s keep the focus on the fight against a system that vilifies Blackness,validates its destruction, and perpetuates it through a cycle of judicial impunity… ISIS be damned.

“We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”
― Malcolm X