How Young Black Muslims Experience Racism | Kofi Achampong & Samiya Abdi

What are some ways to rethink how we address the issue of anti-black racism within our communities? Are there some key steps that we need to take as a community to combat anti-black racism? In our show today, we sit down to talk to our returning guests, Samiya Ahmed, a Toronto based Somali Canadian community activist and Kofi Achampong, who works in the capacity of a policy advisor and stakeholder relations the provincial government, with a JD from York University about two important initiatives they’re each involved in - Equity and Anti-Oppression Training and the Black Muslim Initiative.
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[@Farah_quddubi]

I really find it funny when people assume Islam is arab/Desi. Islam came to east Africa before India 🇮🇳 subcontinent via the journey to Habasha and Taabi’in(2nd generation) doing business with Somalis 🇸🇴 in Mogadishu and Berbera.

[@dzlad3281]

Very nice guests well spoken and friendly people, it is sad and irritating to see the amount of racism against black people in Muslim communities and we should all work hard on teaching out next generation to be more tolerant and educate them on the subject and try to open our mind and not fall in racial prejudice trap

[@sahadaouattara]

I don't like the word tolerant. I know your opinion comes from a right place.but I think that was a wrong wording. tolerance is when you have to deal with something that is a struggle for you. hating someone because of their color is haram it's not something that should turn to tolerance. black Muslims are humans not some habit.

[@anabnulislam3499]

Am black alhamdhulilah and I was born Muslim ialways say it's about Amal not skin colour! Allah alam

[@patrickdejesus3411]

I am an Asian Muslim man who has felt racesial separation in the mosque my self. So I know that it is a real problem there

[@itstheotherwhitemeat]

Patrick Dejesus??? that's do to the fact that the koran states that dark skinned people are not going to go to heaven. look up 3rd sur verses 105-106. just trying to help you out my friend. you are also a direct descendent of jesus. so are the blacks and whites. the koran was written by the catholic church but it got out of their control and grew bigger than they thought it would. please look up this proof for yourself. Mohammad's wife was a nun sent in by the church to do just what she did, she was the real mole on his back.

[@MsSteeldog]

Christopher, your comment couldn't be more wrong. Stop reading propaganda. One example is that the man known as the wisest man to live(Luqman) was black. Bilateral a black man was told of a special honor he would receive in Jannah. As the Prophet Muhammad said there is no Arab over non Arab, there is no white over Black or Black over white. The only thing that separates you is Taqwa.(Islamic piety). Seriously how could you really think such nonsense. You should at least do some study with Muslims. May Allah Guide you to Islam.

[@ieioij]

Patrick DeJesus you are probably a fake Muslim user who wants to blame Islam for racism, you are probably taking advantage of this video without even understanding what is said in the video. I'm a muslim born black and I never seen what you said, do you live in another planet or something?

[@itstheotherwhitemeat]

sloovy mann the koran states that Muhammed was white and had many black slaves. prove me wrong. I bet you cant. the wisest man to live. give me a break, the wisest man to live was Yeshua (jesus). like I said 3RD SUR VERSES 105-106 "In that great and final day of redemption, only those with white faces will be saved and all those blackened faces will be condemned". does it not say this in the koran. it states many times that muhammed was indeed white and had many black slaves. he also had a donkey that he flew to the moon to split it didn't he. "stop reading propaganda". well you cant help but read PROPAGANDA if you read the koran. thank you and nice try.

[@itstheotherwhitemeat]

realmatic schism sloovy mann just commented that I should stop reading propaganda yet the only thing I commented about was what I read in the Koran. she literally just admitted it is propaganda. I believe only the crazy Islamist read the Koran and are living it faithfully. you just cant get through to these people. Muhammed actually had many black slaves and even bragged about it.

[@Broeske3]

I am glad to hear this. Discrimination and rasicm exists in muslim communities and world. This issue should be addressed. Thank you. May Allah bless you and give you strength and success.

[@ieioij]

Salar Abbas The lack of religion teaching is the reason for these problems

[@ieioij]

solomon duncan I'm a muslim and I witnessed and still witnessing Allah's bless.

[@ieioij]

solomon duncan didn't you notice that the people in this video are speaking English and living in a non-Muslim country? we always here these problems happening in non-Muslim countries. so the Muslims in non-Muslim countries are lacking religion and they are influenced by non-Muslims.

[@ieioij]

solomon duncan all of us are witnessing the bless, for example, historians think that the spread of Islam so rapidly in Africa and other nations is a miracle, so we all are miracles, especially Africans.

[@ieioij]

solomon duncan what africans are you talking about? I'm a black arab, and im in the U.S., and I think my life back in africa was way better.

[@alhassangangu4357]

There is no Muslim name, there is just name. The prophet's father was called Abdallah before Islam. None except few of the Sahaba changed their names after becoming a Muslim. The exception was only when those name reflected idols.

[@DarioHaruni]

Or when the names were offensive (some very bad names were given to women because female babies were seen as bad luck).

[@alhassangangu4357]

@@DarioHaruni absolutely 💯

[@anthonyhardaway1835]

I am east African Muslim. And racism exist within my mosque. People look at people think that I'm not muslim because of my skin color . This isn't right. The prophet peace be upon sent his companions to africa first out of all places

[@fahadnaushad4557]

The more you get discriminated for your colour and religion. The more that proves that you are the best race & best religion !

[@robakles1]

😂😂 no it doesnt work like that

[@dh5474]

Fahad Naushad 👏🏽👏🏽

[@abdoulayeadam6498]

Muslims, Christians, Jews they’ll should be just people when it comes to religion no matter what their background differences or colors. For example: if blacks have their own place to worship, Arabs have their own and others have their own. How a religion shape or religious people in general will be look like?

[@applebee6455]

3:29 - 3:36 Isn't that a good thing? Why would black people want the Muslim stereotypes associated/connotations with them on top of what else that happens?

[@charlielucky3186]

Great job sister Aisha god bless you sister

[@awaladam8611]

I have been explained This kind Discrimination.But that is not what Islam teach us.

[@anthonywest4173]

NICE VIDEO.

[@zafirahcoleman1604]

Truth of the matter is ...If you truly believe and love Allah swt there can be no hate.... due to skin color. I'm Black and I am from the deep south (USA) and I love people and I only hate what God hates. Alhamdulillah. I am truly blessed. Amin.

[@hamisisalmah8764]

That man is handsome and that lady is beautiful ma Sha Allah everybody is beautiful God creates beauty ma Sha Allah

[@MuslimYouthMedia]

13 minutes 2 speakers they don't respect them, what can u really say sharing 13 minutes ?

[@alihamilton2577]

Honestly i think you need to be less prejudice when interviewing the African Americans/black , it seems that this channel gives much more preference to the every ethnic but the black community. You need to make it a priority to involve them more and give them more respect and stature as you do the rest . Inshallah you will take this with the an open heart

[@Tallotus7]

Why did You not interview Indigenois African American Muslims...they can give you all the truth as well!

[@swalehmwidau5775]

Well black muslim they shouldnt worry about any ather people they think of them,take off your fear and ignow the race. Your juty is worshipping Allah so do your think and them people who are race let them in hands of Allah because Allah Himself doesnt know about race in islam. Infact He say all muslim are brothers and sisters doesnt mutter how wealthy or colour you. You can be poor and blue but as long as you are muslim you can be together with Rasulullah Himself. I am black myself and our masdjid has morocco,syria,dutch, polish people and once you get in our masdjid you may think we are all from one dad and mum,and that how muslim should be.

[@misscamara12]

I wish the brother had a better example of facing racism from non black muslims aside from being able to marry interracially. If they are generally respectful to you, but prefer to marry within their culture, I don't think that is the strongest argument for racism in Islam. There could be various reasons why they could want to marry within their culture. Why do black men seem to seek to marry outside their race much more than others? I'm sure there are plenty of black muslim sisters from different African countries who are eligible to marry. Besides, there are plenty of interracial muslim marriages. Seems they are also excluding black sisters from their search, which is racism in itself.

[@anabnulislam3499]

misscamara12 Wat will happen is that we are left alone and those white men and Asians n Arabs don't want us and we don't want them so we remain unmarried for along time Allahuallam

[@sahadaouattara]

why is there a problem with a man wanting to marry interracially?.are you his owner to tell him why he should marry someone within his ethnic background. isn't he human? .it happens people actually do reject others for marriage because of their color or ethnicity. it happens so I think that's his right to bring that up

[@misscamara12]

Sahada Beloved I agree with you that people are free to marry interracially. I was not saying he must marry only within his ethnic background, but that some black brothers also reject black sisters because of their race as well. They are doing the same thing they are complaining that other races are doing. Aren't they also rejecting black sisters because of their color?

[@sahadaouattara]

+misscamara12 .yes they are .however I believe people should marry who ever they want as long as the person is Muslim.I don't think west Africans have that problem of marrying another African.do you maybe mean african American.men?.

[@misscamara12]

Sahada Beloved Yes, I believe this is more of an African American problem than African problem. Ironically, the brother in the interview was west african based on his name. I'm West African & don't really notice this problem with us.

[@badukwame]

Kofi, I was born a muslim but left to join my Ghanaian ancestors belief. So Pure.

[@theonemanarmy820]

Badu Kwame I beg to differ with your statement, there is no way you could be raised as a muslim at the same time claim christianity as an An African Ancestry, because christianity came with the colonizers while African people had their own belief System. another thing is that you haven't studied the Holky Qur'aan, for if you did then you would never have to leave it because of what you might have experienced about those followers who have disapointed you, you'd have known that Islam.doesnt belong any particular people but for all the people. Why do you even want to seek validation from anybody if your aim is to have a relationship with Allah? The only validation and true aceptance is from Allah full stop, so what if someone tries and dicriminate against me? These are ignorant unsecure people whose only sense of pride is the colour of the skin they are in, nothing much in their heads. They have neither knowledge od this world nor the hereafter one.(the Holly Qur'aan is the knowled of the hereafter.) Allah is not going to judge one's colour of their skin, but your deeds. Allah hates the arogant regardless of their skin colour. Peace.

[@alexn.2901]

The One Man Army Where did they say they became Christian?

[@darylifillifill1677]

This Muslim Queen can play Halo in a DC Comics Movie

[@stevenhunter7626]

I mean your family

[@wisenubianpolygynyseekerwh5456]

That Is Why I Would Never Be This Again It Angyed Me As Well As Insulted Me I Could Never Get A Wife And Was Dis Respected So No Never Again!!

[@fahadnaushad4557]

ooh. Explain me before independence came to us US blacks, They had churches for negros !. But in Islam when we pray together, we don't see black,white,yellow,red,brown,rich,poor,young,old

[@user-xm5le5ok2r]

Whatever, in many Arab Islamic nations there is Racism and Classism too.

[@hanadeen]

I am Somalia I never had a problems with other Muslim communities, most people see me as Muslim based on my look. the sister looks more Arabic then black.

[@lilliestephens2090]

THERE SHOULD BE NO RACISM, NO MATTER WHAT GOD YOU SERVE. IF YOU ARE RACIST YOU ARE NOT SERVING GOD.

[@DefenseFirstAndLast]

, there's no racism in Islam without a religious place most people are racist because they're scared to lose their religion through cultural differences

[@oreste8570]

Most points they bring up apply to whites aswell.

[@Zazezoo]

White Muslims? Well, whites have bad experience mainly from ignorant South Asians, who like asking whether they are reverts or refused marriage. Either way, can't compare what us black Muslims experience with the white privilege. White Muslims have much more respect and support than blacks.

[@abode409]

People often times associate refusal for marriage as racism among Muslims. Muslims of every ethnic group tend to prefer to marry among who the know. This often time has very little to do with race. Mashallah I'm sure the brother Kofi is a good guy but just because a brother doesn't give you his daughter doesn't mean he didn't do it because you are black. There are probably 20 different things a father considers when he gives his daughter away.

[@wosamosman9814]

While what you say is true but its a bit misleading as there is quite a bit of racism in the muslim community from non-black Muslim towards black Muslims like always reduce the role played by black muslims to the role of slaves / minions who were liberated by Islam as if they never had civilisations or cultures that were way more advanced than Islam in the beginnings 😤

[@hashiralam6127]

How can people believe in racism and Caste

[@sonerkadir7920]

it's called stero typing.

[@stevenhulk3461]

No religion respects black people because we are the first people. The truth is from OUR history & the only way we’ll discover the true god

[@HebrewHoney777]

Exactly

[@jamesbarnes2568]

They going to be real pissed when they die and they see Jesus Christ and he tells them they've been tricked there's no such thing as Allah

[@winterd7748]

James Barnes 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@mplsridah]

Winter D you're also an Islamophobe? wow bantus are gross

[@Hakeem.X]

There's no such thing as a "black' person and there's no such thing as a Muslim name. I was born a non-Muslim with an Arabic name and I'm of African ethnicity. Not black.

[@kevingross6795]

I think you better take a look in the mirror again. Seems to me you have a identity crises of who you are . your proud to bear the name African of a slave trader Ciprio Africanus which the term african comes from. smh

[@abk6450]

Kevin Gross Look back even further than Africanus and you will find the ancient kemets used to call the whole land mass "Afru-ika" which Africanus used himself ironically. So in a way Africa is just fine.

[@crazybruno3850]

@@kevingross6795 black is American which is usually have mixes from the past

[@user-xm5le5ok2r]

I have nothing against Islam. But like all religions there are man made rules and laws that have nothing to do with God. For example, the wearing of the hijab, burka, and other dress attire for women is a great example. God could care less what you wear!

[@KhalidAli-jc7cv]

How do you know God does not care what you wear. Do u think God would feel its oke to walk naked

[@zoiepopskullkerr]

A black man must not be a Muslim get out of it

[@amonduul2154]

Africans were among the founders of islam in 700

[@vasileiospetropoulos2046]

Tell me about the racism against white in Turkey in Algeria in other Muslim paradise. About the rasism against other Christian traditions in other Muslims countries and if you do not like the Christian countries do not come do not visit them

[@eldavis3084]

Vasileios Petropoulos that doesn't exist. I don't know if you're white but all the places you named and many more WORSHIP white people, especially Christian. So what are you talking about?

[@yusi.k01]

Vasileios Petropoulos Salaam. I am a mixed race muslim whose mother is Afro-Latina and whose father is a Kurd from Turkey. There is very little racism against white people in Turkey besides cherry-picked incidences. In fact, the anti-black and anti-Kurdish racism is much more apparent there. I have seen it with my own eyes at mosque and in the general community. Furthermore, I would question you about what “racism against white” people looks like. There is no institutional exclusion in these countries nor widespread police brutality against whites.

[@dzlad3281]

Vasileios Petropoulos You're right when u say that in some Muslim countries people don't like Christians and Jews but honestly I'm from Algeria myself and I was in contact with some foreigners in Algeria and they never complained about racism or any of that it's just more of a religious sort of competion or superiority if u want and I think that exist in all religious communities