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US Muslims Go Online to #ResistRacism

Layla Abdullah-Poulos
17 May, 2017

NEW YORK – Amid rising marginalization of Muslims and immigrants, Muslims across the US remain steadfast in their endeavors to resist racism, with many seeing racism and oppression as antithetical to Islamic teachings, towards which they have an obligation to extinguish inside and outside of Muslim communities.

As part of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative #SacredPledge to #ResistRacism campaign, activists Asha Mohamood Noor, Ramon Mejia, and SaharPirzda moderated congruent Twitter and Facebook online discussions to encourage people to learn about layers of institutional and interpersonal racism and become committed to ending it.

The online discussion was a cooperative effort between the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, CAIR Michigan, Sapelo Square, Vigilant Love, NbA Muslims, the Love Project, the Muslim Wellness Foundation, Inc., and the Claremont School of Theology.

According to MuslimARC sources, the discussion received over 2,000 tweets in the two-hour period. Moderators posed seven questions to participants, who provided some thought-provoking and enlightening responses.

What are the structural and institutional inequalities we tackle when we #ResistRacism?

The word racism often strikes the idea of people wearing hoods and robes or garnishing swatstikas. In reality, racism involves multilayered structures of privileging and oppressing people based upon race.
Therefore, it is not simply a matter of people who hate other races/ethnicities, but includes systems of government, institutional, and interpersonal marginalization. #ResistRacism participants explained a few of the ways racism and inequality endures in the society.

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What are ways that you #ResistRacism by disrupting your own implicit bias or internalized racism?

We would all like to believe that we do not embody bias, but it is a stark reality stemming from being a member of a race-based society. During the online discussion, people shared how they may be vulnerable to engendering and internalizing racial bias and how to resist it.

What are some tips to #ResistRacism by interrupting oppressive interpersonal racism?

Just as traumatic as systemic racism, interpersonal racism involves communal and one-to-one instances of bias. It may include microaggressions, microassaults, or slurs on a daily basis. Also known as “everyday racism,” victims often experience it so frequently that it drains them of mental/emotional energy and creates stressors in addition to the day-to-day ones everyone faces.

The Prophet Muhammad said, “A Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslim’s are safe.” Therefore it is especially important for people to safeguard each other within the faith as well as members of society. Participants advised on ways to disrupt instances of interpersonal racism.

With the spike in hate crimes against Latino, immigrant, and/or Muslim Americans, how do we #ResistRacism?

Hate crimes are not new in the United State or the world. However, the rise of hate crimes targeting specific groups makes it necessary for Muslims to understand the influence racism and bigotry have in jeopardizing people’s safety and robbing them of their civil liberties. Moderators and participants highlighted the need for solidarity in stemming the tide of hate washing over the country and for everyone to speak out against racism.

What are some resources and guides you can use to #ResistRacism?

Wanting to end racism is a noble sentiment. However, it takes building a knowledge base about institutional and interpersonal (everyday/casual) racism if an individual or group wants to be a part of the solution. Discussion participants recommended titles and people to follow on social media.

Share your inspirational stories, pictures, or quotes to #ResistRacism.

Inspirational words are at the cornerstone of social change. Moderators and participants shared sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) as well as thinkers and activists from the past and present that keep them enthused in their work and continued struggles against racial oppression.

What are actions and events that you plan to take part in to #ResistRacism?

Anti-racism requires action on multiple levels, and it is not productive to expect everyone to hit the ground in the same capacities. Participants explained multifaceted ways they plan to be a part of combatting racism and hatred.


Conversations such as these are constantly needed as well as the dedicated people having them.