Out of Darkness & Into the Light:
Illuminating the Black Muslim Experience
Images from the 2nd Annual Black Muslim Symposium Courtesy of NYU Black Muslim Initiative
Flyer for the 2nd Annual Black Muslim Symposium
Africa House was delighted to support the NYU Black Muslim Initiative for their second annual Black Muslim Symposium themed “Out of Darkness & Into the Light: Illuminating the Black Muslim Experience.”
For centuries, Black Muslims have influenced the development of Islam in America. This conference highlighted the dense, yet rich history of Black Muslims in America, from its earliest stages until today. The symposium also discussed the contributions that women have played in this journey, as well as unpacked taboo issues such as mental health and healing through the arts of music and meditation.
Read more about this sypmosium here
About the Black Muslim Initiative (BMI):
The Black Muslim Initiative is a student-led group that was established in the fall of 2017 to speak on the duality of being both Black and Muslim. This duality often puts people in a position where they think they have to choose one identity over the other.
Their main goal is to shed light on the experiences of Black Muslims within the broader Muslim community at NYU while acknowledging and accepting their history and ancestors’ legacies. They want people to feel a sense of acknowledgment, respect and empathy being at the intersection of multiple identities and communities. In addition, they seek to integrate and create an atmosphere that is inclusive of the larger Muslim community. Ultimately, they hope to bridge the divisions and misunderstandings and to dismantle the stereotypes alongside the ignorance that persists about Black Muslims.