Navigating Racism within the Muslim American Community: A Call for Acknowledgement and Action

As an Indian individual facing racism in America, the experience is a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of prejudice. Whether in the form of microaggressions, stereotyping, discrimination in job opportunities, or verbal abuses, the challenges are real and deeply affecting. However, this experience is not isolated to individual or personal encounters. It is a broader societal issue that intersects with complex identities and backgrounds, such as religion, ethnicity, and community.

Addressing Intra-Muslim Racism

The Muslim American community, much like any other immigrant or minority community, is not immune to internal challenges. Acknowledging and addressing intra-Muslim racism is a necessary step in fostering a more inclusive and united community. This was a crucial realization for the founders of Islamic Networks Group (ING), a peace-building organization that works towards promoting understanding and harmony among religious and misunderstood groups.

ING launched a webinar series titled 'Educating Ourselves: Expanding the Muslim American Experience Beyond the Immigrant Story'. This series aimed to address the issue of intra-Muslim racism, which has often been swept under the rug or not fully unpacked as a national conversation within the Muslim community.

Why Address Intra-Muslim Racism?

The Muslim community in America is diverse, with significant numbers of African American Muslims. According to the Pew Research Center, one-fifth of Muslim Americans are African American, with some surveys indicating a figure closer to 28%. This diversity highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of racism within Muslim American spaces. Existing research, such as the 2017 study by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), has shown that African American Muslims experience intra-Muslim racism from other immigrant communities, such as South Asians and Arabs.

Webinar Series and Findings

ING's webinar series, which started with a presentation on the history of Islam in America, sought to address these issues. The webinars included discussions on the history of African American Islam, the roots of racism in the U.S., and intra-Muslim racism within the community. Through these webinars, it became evident that addressing racism within Muslim American spaces is critical, especially given the ongoing national conversations about racial justice and equality.

Key Themes and Questions

The webinars also included a panel discussion on the institutional and interpersonal aspects of racism within the Muslim community. Key questions aimed to reveal where internal racism operates in local Muslim communities. These questions could be directed towards both non-African American and African American Muslim communities, addressing issues such as institutional racism and individual/personal racism.

Institutional Racism

How often has your mosque or Muslim organization engaged with African American Muslims and their organizations?
When engagements did take place, were they mutually beneficial? Did you solicit feedback from the African American community and was their feedback incorporated into your plans?
How often has your mosque or organization offered or provided fundraising help to African American mosques or organizations?
Has your community joined with African American Muslims in dealing with problems related to Arab/Muslim-owned liquor stores in inner cities?
How many mosques and organizations have African American Muslims on their boards or staff, or among their volunteers?

Individual/Personal Level Racism

Have you or others in your community made or expressed an assumption that African American Muslims are recent converts or that their understanding or practice of Islam is not correct?
Is there a difference in how your community treats African American converts as opposed to white or Latinx converts?
Do you have African American Muslim friends? Have you ever invited African American Muslims to your home for social events with your family?
Have you ever attended Jumu'ah or other events at African American mosques and, if so, how often? Do you ever see African American Muslims attending your mosque and do they feel welcome?
Have you volunteered or attended fundraising events for African American mosques or Muslim organizations?
Do you know of any intermarriages between African American and non-Black Muslim families? Do your children have African American Muslim friends?

Conclusion and Future Actions

These questions serve not just to elicit uncomfortable truths but to provoke action towards countering racism. The spirit of the webinar series is to foster a more inclusive and understanding Muslim American community. It is not about guilt but about active participation and contributing to a positive change.

The final webinar in the series, scheduled for September 9, will focus on 'Calls to Action – Countering Internalized Racism'. This event aims to discuss and implement actionable steps to address the identified issues and foster a more inclusive environment.

As community leaders and members, the responsibility to confront and address racism is shared. By starting with local communities and open dialogue, we can pave the way for a more united and understanding Muslim American community.

Further Reading and Resources

Maha Elgenaidi. (2019). Does the Muslim American Community Have a Problem with Intra-Muslim Racism? Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). (2017). Getting Race Right. Muslim Arab Rights Coalition (MuslimARC). (2015). Understanding Race in Muslim America: A Preliminary Findings Report.

Contact Information

For more information or to register for future webinars, please contact Islamic Networks Group (ING) at mail@ Join us in this crucial journey towards a more inclusive and united Muslim American community.