Lifestyle

Sister to sister: Two black women writers talk about love and leaving Islam

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2024

IAM

Black Muslims in America, Nation of Islam, Islam, Muslim Women, Black Muslim Women, African American Women, Aaliyah Bilal, Temple Folk, Zainab Karim, Black Writers, Black Women Writers, Black Women Authors, Black Women Authors, Black Books, theGrio.com

“Are you participating in Ramadan this year?”

My sister and I often ask ourselves this query, even when we already know the reply. That’s a matter I don’t desire to answer or be asked. It jogs my memory that I’m a Muslim only in word and name.

Black Muslim women in white applaud Elijah Muhammad during his annual Savior’s Day message in Chicago in 1974. Photo courtesy of John White/US National Archives. (Image via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Islam is my mother’s religion. In her seek for something to imagine in, she met my father, a ruthless man who happened to hold the important thing to her salvation: Islam. My father got here to Islam through cliché; while trying to escape the Vietnam War, he was ultimately arrested and imprisoned for nearly two years. While in prison, my uncle Ahmed sent the Holy Quran to my father. In Chicago, a city with a big Muslim population anchored by the Nation of Islam, my mother and father met, modified their surnames, and created a brand new family name for themselves and their children: Karim. They hoped that we can be a generation of Muslims that had transcended the sadness of our previous incarnations.

Islam gave the impression of a utopia with the promise of peace and salvation through faith, prayer, fasting, modesty and community. I wanted to be a part of this utopia. I wanted to be a part of something greater than myself. I wanted to be accepted and embraced by the community.

However, the faith created by the prophet (peace be upon him), continued by the master, and later congealed by the pastor didn’t entirely serve the curiosity that was inside me. I had far too many questions that seemed to haven’t any answers, which led me astray.

So far I actually have been “wandering” for 25 years.

Black Muslims in America, Nation of Islam, Islam, Muslim women, Black Muslim women, African American women, Aaliyah Bilal, Temple Folk, Black writers, Black women writers, Black women authors, Black authors, Black books, theGrio.com — Photo: Simon and Schuster

When I first heard about Aaliyah Bilal’s collection of short stories, Temple Folk, I used to be delighted. Here’s a book that focuses on the experiences of black American Muslims – but truthfully, I wasn’t planning on reading it. Apparently, I actually have come to terms with the choice to stay as distant from the mirror of my past as possible. However, the universe had other plans for me. In the next months: a New York Times article on Bilal when her seminal text became Finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for FictionI actually have had more conversations about Islam and my experiences lately.

Then the query got here up as to whether I can be open to talking to her. As a author, my answer was a convincing “yes,” but I still felt anxious. Was I ready to open the book alone story again?

In Temple Folk, Bilal takes us on a journey into what it means to be a part of a movement that deserves more respect in its name. “The way people talk about the Nation of Islam and its culture is extremely negative,” she said after I spoke to her on behalf of Grio. “And it is so strange to me because I believe: don’t you understand our history? Do not understand?”

I see. Story after story, I was drawn into my past and faced with what could be my future. “Temple Folk” destroyed me – in the most compassionate way. As I spoke with Bilal over the Zoom call about our history with the Nation of Islam and what each character in its history has meant to me and the culture at large, I found solace in our conversation — and in those short three hours: a sisterhood so urgent and possible , even after leaving the Nation.

(.)

Zainab Karim: First, I want to start by saying “thanks.” I immediately understood the emotional depth of what I was reading because it was my experience.

Aaliyah Bilal: Wow. Thank you .(…)These stories were born from a deep need to see ourselves in this culture. I have simply never been able to uniformly address the representation of the Black experience that our literature provides us with; provided to us by our film and television. There are always these points of contact, but I never feel like this is my life – “This is me.” I’ve always wanted to see my own experience – experience – really beautifully portrayed.

I also know that there have been some works of art about black Muslims in America, but I have never really connected with this work. It’s as if a lot of these jobs are for other people, trying to convince the average white American that we are decent, nice people. And I just felt like I didn’t need to be convinced about it. I just want to see myself because we have so many rich stories to tell. I think that was the seed of “Temple Folk.”

ZK: I don’t even remember a book where I was so close to it, where I felt like someone got my diary and started writing about my life. Especially the character Intisar from the story “Sister Rose”… I was the same age as Intisar when I left (the Nation). … I just left hoping there was a place for me there. And after 25 years, I still haven’t found one. So after reading “Sister Rose” I cried for a long time…

And I think there are more Muslim women who, if they were more honest, could see themselves in many of these stories. We talk about how we left our community, and the theme of escape constantly comes up in your stories.

AB: As you can see from all the stories, this is just my bias… for example, the story doesn’t work if we don’t see the main character transform. That’s why I try to bring all the characters in these stories as close as possible to the moment of transformation in which they find themselves on the other side; where we see them “before” and “after” a key moment in their lives. “Sister Rose” is a story I wrote for myself. I think of every Muslim woman I know. Our stories are very similar. I say, “This is only for us.” And this is admittedly medicine for (me), because I actually have walked away from myself mosque feeling: “Something is really wrong here.” I began to understand this after I was in college. Like, “Oh, they’re attacking us. This entire world is set up to privilege men and feed women the belief that by covering up, we can only be respected if we behave that way. That’s right! And that’s when my feminist awareness really started to grow.

But at the same time, I was getting messages from friends, people I really respected and loved who were still in those spaces. And only now have I really come to terms with the fact that we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are many genuine, beautiful people that I would like to feel like I still have access to, even though I have gone through a personal evolution in the way I relate to my faith. That’s why for me this story is the most fantastic, otherworldly and truly fictional story in the book. It’s my fantasy to continue to be in community with people I disagree with in some ways.

ZK: I want to touch on something else: In “Cloud Country”, Your upcoming graphic novel, you’re writing: “Being Muslim, I felt like I lived on the margins of this culture.” I felt that way too. How did it feel then and how do you’re feeling now?

AB: I mean, it just felt like a punchline. I felt prefer it was the primary time I saw black Muslims on this culture (character) Oswald Bates from In Living Color. You know (to paraphrase): “First of all, we now have to internalize the flagellation of the matter. You know, ruling out the difficulty of world domination would only mean bypassing, sorry, circumcising my redundant, quote-unquote, digestive tract. Like what? I do not know if you happen to remember this, but on one hand it was funny, but however I felt prefer it echoed loads of representations of black Muslims.

ZK: Yes! It was embarrassing.

AB: It’s as if we were individuals who failed to match Malcolm’s eloquence, that we were unworthy heirs to his legacy, and those idiots who sometimes overused big words in an attempt to appear smarter than us. And then disillusioned women who allow themselves to act like they live in 1st or seventh century Arabia once they could have had all these modern conveniences.

That’s how I felt growing up. It was as if people didn’t understand that we were smart and that we actually carried this heritage inside us. Many of us are working class. I grew up working class. Like we’re touching on that reality, but there is a more dignified way to talk about our experiences as an alternative of just reducing us to these caricatures where we’re just silly, clumsy idiots who will spend the remaining of our lives in prison, ?

ZK: Or the one path to Islam is thru prison.

AB: Yes, and that is how I felt growing up. (But) being on the fringes of culture also had benefits because you’ll be able to see all the pieces more clearly than everyone else. I do not have this pristine, indoctrinated view of America. It also connected me to the world because Muslim communities are so scattered and we now have so few friends that race is usually a barrier. Race might be lowered within the Muslim space in a way that provides access to Indonesia, Malaysia, (the) Middle East, North Africa, , even Eastern Europe.

This is what I meant by being on the margins of culture. We aren’t mainstream, but not being mainstream gives us a novel perspective on what it means to be American.

Zainab (Zee) Khadijah Karim is an assistant professor of English at National-Louis University in Chicago and a author who has published in Ebony/Jet, MadameNoire, and Midnight and Indigo magazines, amongst others. She learned from other Black women writers who helped shape her ideologies, and now explores the facility of anger and feminism in her sub stack Crazy Feminist.

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Lifestyle

Four lifestyle habits that can help you live up to 100

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2025

IAM

A 115-year-old woman from Surrey named Ethel Caterham officially received the title The oldest alive man.

Many people reading this message may wonder what the key of Caterham is.

Although it is normally not idea to make the most of the information on health and longevity from supersenters (because they are sometimes an exception than the rule), there are some lifestyle suggestions that we can use from researching groups of long -term individuals who can help us increase our possibilities for an extended life.

(*100*)

1. Physical activity

Physical activity is sweet for you – who knew? Studies show that people who find themselves more physically energetic daily They live longer, a healthier life. One study showed that moving from physical activity to about 75 minutes every week of vigorous walking increased the expected life expectancy about two years.

But perhaps less known is how bad inaction is on your health and longevity. This is a bit difficult to explain, however the positive effects of exercises actually differ from the negative effects of inaction. This means you can have A positive effect in your health Being each more energetic and avoiding inactive.

However, nearly as good as a structured exercise, in itself it cannot balance the damage to inactivity and sitting throughout the day. Studies even show that being sitting is expounded to Higher risk of premature death for any reason.

If you want to live longer, you should try to avoid sitting for a very long time, if possible. Practical recommendations on this Include standing every half-hour, seeing someone within the office as an alternative of calling or sending E -Mail and stand in public transport during travel. That’s a plus strive to perform about half-hour of moderate exercise for many days It will help maximize the possibilities of an extended, healthy life.

2. Eat vegetables

Council many children fear: eat vegetables if you want to live for a very long time.

Last examination Then got here about 100,000 people in 30 years, said that individuals who have reached 70 years in good health (which suggests that they didn’t have chronic diseases) normally ate more fruit, vegetables, whole grain, nuts and legumes, in addition to smaller fats, red or processed meats, fried food and suggestion. Importantly, this study doesn’t say that you have to be a vegan or never eat red meats – this only identifies trends in diets related to healthy aging.

An elderly woman feeds eating an older man. — A healthy weight loss plan can be the important thing to healthy aging.
Tom Wang/ Shutterstock
(*100*)

When and the way much you eat, it can also play a job when it comes to aging. Studies of calorie and intermittent restrictions in animals have shown that each can increase life. Our initial work in humans also showed that after an empty stomach it can cause three weeks Similar, positive metabolic shifts It suits what now we have seen in animals that will live longer. However, more research is required in an extended time-frame to determine the impact on Healthspan and life in humans.

3. Sleep

The regular dream of excellent quality can also be vital health for all times and general longevity.

In the study, about 500,000 British irregular sleep patterns were related to 50% higher risk of early death compared to those with regular sleep patterns. Change employees showed the next risk of strokes, and nurses who worked on rotational changes for a long time Less healthy and had previous deaths in retirement compared to nurses who didn’t work with changes.

Although these data suggest that good quality, regular sleep is essential for good health, how much sleep you need and when you should go to sleep seems to be highly individualistic. This makes it difficult to transfer recommendations for the whole population-which is why NHS recommends that adults get between 7-9 hours of sleep.

4. Stress

Stress has a variety of influence in your health.

For example, the growing evidence indicates that the stressors of formative years (comparable to the lack of parent, neglect or abuse) can negatively affect health in later life-nave to molecular and cellular levels through Increasing inflammation levels in a way that can increase risk of bad health and premature death in old age.

And vice versa, older adults that show increased psychological resistance to stress are he’ll die less often for any reason. Eight weeks of normal yoga is enough Improve psychological immunity in older adults.

The effect of social connections might be related. Those who live more socially also live live longer. In fact, people over 65 years old who’re socially energetic daily thrice more likely Live for more five years compared to those that almost never become involved in social activities.

It is a widespread discovery that strong social networks seem Increase longevity. This may result from the way in which social connections help us relieve stressors in our lives.

The role of genetics

Although there are a lot of lifestyle habits that we can change, one thing that we cannot control when it comes to our lives is genetics. Some studies suggest that naturally occurring mutations in genes related to longevity are more common in long -term people.

Although it’s difficult to irritate the role of genetics compared to lifestyle when it comes to life expectancy, current forecasts suggest that longevity is between 20-40% related to genetics.

But good genetics are usually not all the pieces. Although Ethel Caterham reached the extraordinary age of 115-And considered one of her sisters lived on the 104th daughter of Caterham initially recognized her on the age of 71 and 83.

And even when you win a genetic jackpot and follow lifestyle, you would still be very completely satisfied that he could have an important age of Caterham on the age of 115. Mutation cells, a type of clots, completion of biological happiness. Despite this, if you want to maximize your possibilities for an extended life and remain as healthy as possible, try to be more physically energetic daily, eat weight loss plan, go to sleep and maintain low stress.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Lifestyle

Simone Biles and Jenifer Lewis receive honorary doctorates at Washington University in St. Louis

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2025

IAM

Actress Jenifer Lewis and Gymmen Simone Biles have recent titles: Doctor!

On Sunday, May 12, 68-year-old “Czarny” Ałun and 28-year-old 7-year-old Olympic gold medalist were among the many six people honored with honorary doctorates at the University of Washington in St. Louis through the school start ceremony. While Lewis received one in the sphere of Fine Arts, Biles, which was also at hand to offer the address of the beginning of the college, he received one in humanitarian letters.

From the Francis Olympic pitch on the DanForth campus, dressed in a royal college hat and a dress, and through the rain knowledgeable gymnast gave an exciting and inspiring speech of wisdom about success.

Noticing that she achieved many “news” in her gymnastic profession, she celebrated graduates who may be the primary in their families who achieved bachelor’s studies, together with the remainder, for “one of the most difficult things”.

“The world doesn’t need to be perfect,” she said News from the spectrum. “You must be brave, he needs you to care and continue, even when things do not go according to plan. So go there and write your own story, only one you can say.”

A supporter of mental health at all times, Biles also led graduates in a deep breath in order that they may fully “breathe” their last achievement and advise them to “be careful and care for themselves.”

Lewis, dating from Missouri, was also a highlighted speaker through the bronze school recognition ceremony, and even received Special spiritual tunnel Inspired by Jennifer Hudon’s viral trend. Members of lecturers and school employees serenaded Lewis with the performance of “simply the best” when she danced and threw away the high, dug in the center of the Spirit Fight line.

During her comments, addressing the graduates of the Brown Recognition ceremony, Lewis gave advice on maintaining vigilance.

“Oh, class from 2025 – one day you can fall down wild animals, so with every step you do, pay attention” she said. “You will go into an unknown world – and oh, what an unknown. You studied hard and deserved your own arsenal of tools. Go there and apply them with grace and compassion.”

For both new graduates and burned professionals, LinkedIn's job search can be a rescue line

(Tagstranslat) Jenifer Lewis

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Lifestyle

Celebrating Stevie Wonder’s 75th birthday with his greatest hits

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2025

IAM

On May 13, 1950, the star was born in Saginaw, Michigan and it was no person aside from Stevland Hardaway Judkins, often called Stevie Wonder. Stevie is a music genius that delighted tens of millions of individuals with his incredibly beautiful catalog of songs. Black company He selected 13 from Stevie’s crucial songs to have a good time the sound of an actual master and motown sound. Stevie Wonder is a legend.

Happy birthday to the true one.

He throws me off my feet

“Knocking Me Off My Feet” fell in 1976 to the legendary album Stevie, is a jazz love song, which is perfectly useful that he feels someone, looks like someone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb0_yu4g6y

Golden Lady

“Golden Lady” appeared on the stage in 1973 on the album Stevie. This song is a smooth romantic number that flies under the radar. This is certainly one of Stevie’s most sleeping love songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxctjamr3ea

If you actually love me

“If you really love me” appeared in 1971 on the album Stevie ,. It defines a key moment in his profession, through which Stevie’s sound becomes a function. The song strikes in another way whenever you realize that he finds the voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nepncukqte

Part -time lover

So “Lover part -time” appeared in 1985 on the album Stevie. This is a really perfect mixture of classic Motown Vibrations with the shiny production of the 80s synthesizer. “A lover of part -time employed” has a melody that lives in your head for a lot of days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPDM6YGSB20

Lately

“Recently” fell in 1980 as a part of the Stevie Wonder album. It is such a harsh, painful ballad that somebody you’re keen on slowly drains away. Stevie really pours his heart and vocal to this. It is so boomed you could feel any ounce of pain in his voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bybqheygs

This time in my life

“For For Fer My Life” fell in 1968 on an album of the identical title. This is a sincere love anthem through which someone finally finds his person. It is performed with harsh emotions and soul and may easily give listeners goose bumps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3qi3e40awe

Signed, sealed, delivered (I’m yours)

“Signed, sealed, delivered (I’m Yours)” fell in 1970 on the album Stevie “SIGNTED, Sealed & Delived”. This song is value adding to your playlist. He is energetic and catchy. Stevie co -produced the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6To0FVX_WFA

Master Blaster (Jammin)

“Master Blaster (Jammin ‘)” debuted in 1980 on the album Stevie Wonder. “This is a superb tribute to Bob Marley with this unique Stevie Wonder Groove Ombudn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1yieti3ubw

Superstition

Stevie abandoned “Superstition” in 1972. Stevie doesn’t stop and offers funk and soul without effort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGQV1MTOS6A

Is she not wonderful

“Not She She Lovely” dropped in 1976 as a part of the masterful album Stevie Wonder The Song Is Dedicated to his daughter Aisha And he’s entwined with a spiritual, characteristic game of Stevie harmonica. Stevie balances technical brilliance with harsh emotional honesty. This is unquestionably certainly one of those timeless gems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YGC6Rmoyf8

Don’t worry about something

“Don’t You Carth” Bout a Think “fell on the album in 1973. It has a Latin jazz atmosphere that makes you must move, in addition to these funny lyrics that may make you smile in your face. The whole song is largely a musical hug. It’s like a small pocket of the sun from the 70s, which never gets old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxsbc5p-dpu

You did nothing

Oh wounds, “You Doted Nothin” “got here to the stage in 1974. He was hidden in Stevie Wonder’s absolutely good album. Why would you switch it? Well, this can be a splendidly funny political statement that Stevie directed straight to the Nixon administration during your entire Watergate mess. Cherry upstairs? He led Jackson 5 to borrow them harmonies in spare vocals. This is Vintage 70. Protest music from Groove, which still appears to be current.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0senglelxc

Happy birthday

Stevie abandoned “Happy Birthday” in 1981 on his album. He wrote it to press MLK on his birthday to change into a national holiday. Stevie is clever in how he mixed the climate with social activism, carrying a serious message about equality. MLK Day finally became official in 1983.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfnbnj10SLW

(Tagstranslate) Celebrity Birthdays

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com