Why POTUS Needs to Say "Black Lives Matter"

In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), one week following massive racial protests in Selma, Alabama that turned deadly with the violence of Southern Whites, stood before the U.S. Congress and the nation and delivered the historic Voting Rights Act address.  It began with, "I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy" and ended with the mantra that had been the heartbeat, purpose and call to action for a movement started and powered by the poor and oppressed of America.  In these three simple words, that were loaded in righteous indignation, bloated with pain and suffering, considered heretical by white supremacy, LBJ resounded the call of the oppressed in America with the boldness of historic Presidential leadership and the moral courage of a prophetic warrior.  When LBJ ended his voting rights speech with "We Shall Overcome" all of America knew this movement mattered and eminent change was on the horizon.

President Barack Obama stands in a similar moment.  Three simple words can be uttered and it would cause a cataclysmic shift in racial politics in America.  The world would gasp in awe. The sun would rise on the sufferer. The lands would be healed and the dream that humanity laid forth would be realized when a Black man became President and saved the world.  Perhaps, I sound a bit dramatic but reflect on the presidential journey of BO, running on 'Hope' in a world of despair, preaching 'Change' when the salvation of humanity laid in the balance. He became our MLK, our Madiba, our Malcolm while wielding the power of a Bush.

Nearly seven years later, reality has settled in, MLK represents more holiday than freedom, Madiba is gone and the clouds of inequality and injustice still hovers over black and brown people. POTUS has made historic achievements in healthcare, drug sentencing reform and promising initiatives to affect change in communities. However, we still find ourselves waiting on that moral moment when the leader of the Free and Not-so-free world visibly stands with the 'wretched of the earth' not above us but as one of us.

LBJ wasn't as smooth as BO at code-switching but when he resounded, "We Shall Overcome", Black folks didn't have to take out their secret negro-decrypta-code books to decipher what he meant. He frankly and unapologetically validated the mission of the movement. Selma has become Ferguson and BO stands in the same moment as LBJ in 1965.  President Barack Obama can utter just three words that would shift the paradigm and become what we've always wanted him to reflect, support and defend.  Yes, the movement needs policy and congressional bills to legally protect Black and Brown bodies. Yes, the movement needs the presidential reminder that these things take time and commitment, to stay the course and see it through. Yes, the movement needs a President-backed-super-anti-racist-DOJ squad to fight injustice. However, what is needed in this moment, right now, after more than three centuries of white supremacy, the ignominious treatment of black and brown bodies, that the provisional citizenship of blackness and the curse of Ham to finally find redemption through the voice and validation of the most powerful man in the world simply saying...

"BLACK LIVES MATTER".

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

Why Muslims Struggled with Ferguson

Watching the local news Saturday, Aug. 9th, reports of a young black male being shot by a police officer was the top story.  At first glance, as a desensitized American, I listened with one ear, smh… another cop, another black male! Later that night, more details began to come and video of police with AR-military grade  weapons, armored riot gear and dogs directed at a group of angry neighbors, friends and family of Michael Brown in Canfield apartments.  At the moment, none of us could have imagined that this would be a ‘tipping point’ and ignite a world response to racial injustice and crimes against human rights.

Ferguson challenged us all. It wasn't just the fact that an unarmed black male was killed by an armed cop.  It wasn't just the voices of outrage from the community. Yes, it was partly the level of police response and military tactics used against citizens it's oathed to serve and protect. But, what challenged us most about Ferguson were the images of the protesters and neophyte activists. They didn't fit the activist profile, didn't have polite speech, didn't look like the protesters we've seen from the early civil rights movement dressed in slacks and dresses, calmly performing acts of civil disobedience. Nooo, these activists resembled the 'young black' we fear. The ones we see on street corners and on news mug shots. The ones who play loud music, cussin and fussin, sagging pants, exposed underwear, dreaded hair, tatted bodies. No, we thought,  these aren't activists, these are thugs who are causing a raucous. So we couldn't side with them...hell, they looted stores and burned down the Quiktrip!

Just as the demonization and criminalization of our black young blinded us from looking beyond their presentation, the militarization of police and their sheer brute disregard for black life brought the media and world to Ferguson and forced us to pay attention.

As a Black Muslim father of three, two boys, part of my daily consciousness is knowing Black young life is under attack and on a multitude of levels. These conditions existed long before they were born and are as complex as they are dynamic but their awakening can't be timed or predicted it just happens. The 'enough-is-enough' moment rang in the hearts of young black 'tweeners' in Ferguson, much as it did when the thirty-something year old MLK and Malcolm X led and inspired 'tweeners' of their day to stand against oppression and affected change across the globe.

But back to the question, why did Muslims struggle with Ferguson? There's no shortage of commentaries on Gaza or ISIS, Islamophobia or religious oppression from Muslim writers and activists. Muslims have voices and representation available thru every medium from mihrabs to Fox news so why nearly a 'blackout' concerning Ferguson. I could answer this quickly in Kanye speak by saying, 'Muslims don't care about black people', but let's be fair. Islam and Black folk have been together since the beginning of America, even before Columbus. Islam has been to black spirituality to what bebop was to big band, hip hop to rock 'n roll, it allowed us freedom of spiritual expression.  Islam is the 'other'  black religion in America and historically has played a significant role in the liberation of her black people.

it is the African-American Muslim who paved the way for mass Muslim immigration. It was the civil rights struggle that made it acceptable for other 'brown' people in this country, even when they checked 'white' on their census. African-American Muslims were products of the racial conditions in America and were advocates of justice during the early struggle. During the '50s and '60s, Sunni Muslims spoke softly while groups like the Nation of Islam confronted the American dilemma. When Muslim immigrants came in mass to America in the 70s and 80s, being classified as white, many learned quickly it was better to assimilate then side with the 'other'. Not to make 'mischief' but rather accommodate.  

This wasn't a uniquely American phenomenon as Farid Esack, recalls in his book,  'Quran, Liberation and Pluralism', when South African Muslims existed comfortably during apartheid and struggled with the notion of taking a stance against white privilege and oppression. Like Ferguson, no mosques were being destroyed and prayers were not being prevented so...no obligation to act or speak. I could lash out and just say Muslims struggled with Ferguson because of racial subversion, accommodation of the majority or just plain fear but I'll leave with this...

We, Muslims, struggled with Ferguson because of the same reasons the majority of Americans struggled.  We struggled to see how an unarmed, poor, black teen could be innocent because a white cop must've had good reason to shoot him. We struggled to look beyond our perceived 'vulgarity' of black 'tweeners', our recessive discriminations and the 'want' to be 'acceptable'. We struggled  to witness Michael Brown as a creation of Allah, created for purpose, created for our benefit.  We failed to be Muslim in this moment. We were cautious, afraid to be aligned against the majority, particularly, after all the work we've done since 911 to attempt to recapture our 'safe', census status. So we paused, cautiously using language like 'mediate' and 'bridge'. We struggled because of politics, how can we sit on the 'Hill' and protest it's governance. We struggled because we're more interested in protecting 'in God we trust' then protecting what and who we as Muslims have been entrusted with...the poor, the orphan, the sufferer. Muslims struggled with Ferguson because we've lost our core and are more interested in accommodating the majority then speaking for the disinherited of American Society.

I can't say what the prophet would have done in Ferguson because I don't know, I only know what he did in Mecca. I know he wasn't afraid to speak truth to the majority when it wasn't popular, he spoke against systems of oppression and he wasn't afraid to be aligned with disenfranchised 'tweeners' who were suffering in pain, agony and despair. In the Quran, Allah (swt) tells us to be more like the Prophet...that includes at times when it's inconvenient and unpopular....times like Ferguson.