African American Muslims in Philadelphia - Essay Example

African American Muslims in Philadelphia Philadelphia is an important center for African-American Muslims. Apart from the fact that diverse Muslim population emerged and settled here and the presence of different movements like Sufism, and Nation of Islam, there were key personalities in the city like W.E.B Du Bois and Malcolm X, who were active in the fight for African-Americans’ rights. Philadelphia has benefited from cultural, economic and historical perspectives, however the Philadelphia media concentrates on showcasing how radical the Muslims are and how the religion advances male chauvinism. Though the roles of men and women are clearly spelt out in the Quran, the bone of contention is: How are African-American women perceived or treated in this religion? While these women put themselves on the same equal ground as their male counterparts, the media and Americans in general see them as a subjugated group. Sunni African American women believe that Muslim is the first and only religion that is centered on feminism. They recognize this religion as their source of redemption in a male dominated world. Even though their opinions and views may seem absurd to most Americans, the religion keeps growing in popularity among the Blacks. It is worth noting that men were attracted to Islam as it put a lot of emphasis on male leadership1. Elijah Muhammad used this opportunity to affirm the role of both men and women in religion, leadership being the primary role of men. In African-American churches, leadership positions were mostly taken by women with one overall male leader- the pastor. Black women were also attracted to Islam despite being reduced to housewives and child bearers by the sect. This was due to how they viewed Muslim men and the respect that the religion accorded women and children. Unlike their irreligious or Christian counterparts, Muslim men were responsible, focused, loved their women and were always smart in suits. This attracted the women to the sect. Many came from abusive and dysfunctional families; Islam offered a source of reprieve and comfort for them. Elijah called for the men to protect and provide for their black women to preserve the purity of black skin and to discourage interracial relations with the whites. It was not for the benefit of the black women. In fact, men were in control of their spouses bodies. The only time men were not allowed to copulate with their wives was during menstruation and when they were sick. Regardless of whether she was in the mood or not, a Muslim woman was mandated by her religion to meet her husband’s sexual needs. 2The irony of it all is women’s roles were reduced to procreating and child rearing, but most women were forced to work to supplement their husbands’ meager incomes. The policy of seclusion and segregation ensured that Black Muslim men did not associate or work for any white man. As a result most households did not have much and most women were therefore forced to sell foodstuffs and weavings to get extra coin. This is a very important aspect of African American Muslims. They did not adhere fully to the doctrines of the Quran; their actions were mostly affected by past experiences and present circumstances rather than their holy word. For example, the harsh economic times forced women to work, even though they were not to play the role of providers as spelt out in the Quran. Another issue that has received major backlash from both the American media and the people is the Muslim women’s dress code. Americans consider this mode of dressing oppressive. Women are to cover all parts of their bodies including the hair. What are left uncovered are the palms, feet and eyes. The covering is to protect female bodies from male gazes. The covering may symbolize Muslim identity and feminism when it reflects personal choice. It may also represent oppression when women are forced to wear headscarf. It is worth noting that women cover due to pressures from their family, religion or communities surrounding them, but given a chance to choose many would opt to uncover some parts of their bodies. Many black women felt less pretty as they interacted with white females during Elijah’s time. The total cover in Islam offered a reprieve for them to feel good about themselves without necessarily exposing their bodies. Despite the many facets and faces that Islam has and the negative energy that it brings among Americans, the religion has facilitated cultural diversification in the country. A good example would be Philadelphia which is among the highest Muslim populated areas in America. 3The city is filled with Muslim apartments with uniform interior designs and Arabic texts, objects and artifacts. The Muslim community has also been instrumental in educating people about their history and culture. Recently, Muslims came up with a project dubbed as Muslim Voices of Philadelphia. The project is divided into three components: short community projects made by Muslim communities in Philadelphia, a documentary about the lives of 19th and 20th century Philadelphian Muslims and an outreach campaign inform of websites and books. 4In the fashion world, the Muslim women in Philadelphia have not been left behind. An Islamic fashion convention is to be carried out annually in the city to commemorate the beauty of being both black and Muslim. This convention is known as Show Me How to Cover and was set up a year ago. Evidently, Islamic religion is actually a male centered religion with most clauses and hadiths raising the man above woman. It is also worth noting that religious leaders infiltrate doctrines to suit their goals. For example, if truly men and women were equal, then women would also be allowed to pursue all jobs like men. There are nations where women are not allowed to drive like Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, the Quran clearly states that women and men are equal and should not be misinterpreted. Men are the sole providers; this does not mean that women should be reduced to housewives and procreators. They should also be allowed to work. Polygamy may be growing among black Muslims in Philadelphia, however this should not be used a factor to downplay the relevance the sect had on the city. No religion is perfect, even Christianity was used in colonization of Africa. Works Cited 1. Jamillah Karim. “Through Sunni Women’s Eyes: Black Feminism and The Nation of Islam.” The Trustees of Colombian University in the City of New York. 2006. 2. Metcalf, Barbara Daly. “Making Muslim Space in North America and Europe.” Berkeley: University of California Press. 1996. http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft2s2004p0/. 3. Samantha Melamed. “Hijabinista: Philly Muslim Women Merge Faith and Fashion.” Philadelphia Citypaper. March 03, 2013. http://citypaper.net/Cover/Hijabinistas-Philly-Muslim-Women-Merge-Faith-and-Fashion/. Read More