Ramadan 2015: #BlackMuslimRamadan Hashtag Celebrates The History And Experiences Of Black Muslims

Peep the #BlackMuslimRamadan hashtag on Twitter, and you'll see tweets as diverse as the black Muslim community itself: colorful photos of delicacies like fried green tomatoes and bean pies; reflections on what it means to be a minority within a minority in America; and hundreds of faces of black Muslims simply practicing their religion.
It's all part of an effort launched by Donna Auston, a doctoral student in anthropology. The history of black Muslims in America is as old as the country itself -- but is often, like so much of black history, marginalized or dismissed. As a black Muslim, Auston didn't see her experiences reflected in media representations of Islam, especially during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. So she started the hashtag as a way to reclaim the narrative about what it means to be Muslim.
Every year, news outlets do "Ramadan Around the World" features -- I almost never see people who look/celebrate like me. #BlackMuslimRamadan
— Donna Auston (@TinyMuslimah) July 7, 2015
What does it mean to be Black & Muslim this #Ramadan? Join us for #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/Z9JVoT7Ejj
— #BlackMuslimsMatter (@Rasheed_Shabazz) July 8, 2015
Soon after she started the effort on Wednesday, the tweets started pouring in -- and they haven't stopped. Many feature the foods that black Muslims break their fasts with:
Fried green tomatoes for Iftar today. Cuz sambusas get old, man. #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/BgYOGTnhU3
— Jeddah Mind Trick (@sarakh7) July 10, 2015
To every non-Black American Muslim, if you haven't had a bean pie, you are seriously missing out #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/IFUOnq1geW
— Zeba Khan (@zebakhan) July 8, 2015
I'm just saying Caribbean's love curry. #RotiRamadan Ali's in #Boston #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/qaAv0T910d
— Azizah Kahera (@AzizahKahera) July 10, 2015
While others highlighted the discrimination black Muslims encounter -- both from outside and within the Muslim community:
My #BlackMuslimRamadan struggle: Walking into a masjid with my dredlocs and being asked if I'm Muslim or if I'm in the right place @*@
— KoolDreddy (@KoolDreddy) July 10, 2015
#BlackMuslimRamadan Just thinking about my place as a Black Muslim doing social justice in the South being a double targeted minority.
— Andre Canty (@Andre_Canty) July 8, 2015
So needed. It's hard for some Arabs/Pakistani to believe and understand I was born and raised as a Muslim. #blackmuslimramadan #afroLatino
— Siri M Carrion (@Siri2Siri) July 10, 2015
Many tweets shared the history of black Muslims in America:
The first Muslim in the country were not immigrant from Asian or Middle East but were bought as slave from West Africa. #BlackMuslimRamadan
— زليخة (@Zuleykhatt143) July 10, 2015
The Akbar family built one of the 1st Mosques n America 1st Cleveland Mosque #BlackMuslimRamadan #BlackDynasty Legacy pic.twitter.com/ucVNJ8oUJT
— نوال الهوساوي (@NawalAlhawsawi) July 10, 2015
The history of Black Muslims in America that no one ever reads about! #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/SWTATnwADs
— Be Savvy! (@SheIsSavvy) July 8, 2015
And many simply shared the faces of black Muslims around the world:
My lovely Fam Eid 2014 #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/cjas1kw5dP
— Brotha K (@Jazaaya) July 10, 2015
Imam Plemon and Imam Pascha Atlanta Masjid Eid Prayer 2014 #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/EhUWtpVHex
— KK Scott (@KKusa) July 10, 2015
MyBabies 1st Eid in Philly! "We get presents everyday for 3 days?! Thats better than Xmas!" #BlackMuslimRamadan pic.twitter.com/QsuDbdsHMx
— Kameelah M. Rashad (@KameelahRashad) July 8, 2015
It's not #Eid until you hit #MasjidKhalifah's Eid Block Party!!! #BROOKLYN #BEDSTUY #blackmuslimramadan pic.twitter.com/3O2fLlkaQn
— IG: Najmah53 (@najmah53) July 9, 2015
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.