IMMC HOSTS A HISTORIC CONVERSATION THAT ADDRESSES STATEMENT: CAN MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS, AND FAITH COMMUNITY, CREATE BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO HEAL OUR CITY?
Muslim Journal Newswire
JACKSON, Miss. – The International Museum of Muslim Cultures (IMMC), 101 E. Capitol St., its satellite site, hosts a historic conversation between African American Muslim and Christian leadership around creating dynamic interfaith and broad-based community partnerships to heal the city and build a City of Jackson Beloved Community.
This work begins, according to Okolo Rashid, IMMC’s Co-founder, “with inviting individuals, the community, and community leaders to the table to join in a conversation about what it’s going to take to heal our city.”
Rashid states, “Although I know these conversations are already being held across this city, yet something is missing.”
From Rashid’s perspective, and based on her emerging research, nothing substantive is going to happen until there is a serious and candid conversation to “Rethink the Civil Rights and African American Muslim Movements as Parallel Movements to One Freedom Struggle in America.”
Mon., Feb. 21, 2022, at 6 p.m. CST, Rashid will be joined by two prominent African American Christian Ministers of Jackson: Bishop Ronnie Crudup, Senior Pastor of New Horizon International Church, and Rev. C J Rhodes of Mt Helm Baptist Church, to engage in a historic conversation that does just that.
This conversation takes place on the eve of a Resolution to support a City of Jackson Beloved Community Pilot Project, which is expected to be taken up by the City Council of Jackson.
The conversation is a fresh opportunity to take an unbiased look at “How the convergence of the Civil Rights and African American Muslim Movements produced a unique religious-based social justice model for creating the Beloved Community that Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned,” states Rashid.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described the Beloved Community as a global vision where all people can share in the wealth of the earth and poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated; racism or human hierarchy and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.
Further, disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution, equity, and healing, instead of violence. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred, and peace with justice will prevail.
Dr. King called for a radical revolution of values and a profound shift in American life, policy, and structure. He stated, “A genuine revolution of values means in the final analysis that our loyalties must become ecumenical [and inter-religious]…
“Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole…; this calls for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concerns beyond one’s race, class, and national borders to an all-embracing and unconditional love for all mankind.”
Imam W. Deen Mohammed, transformative leader of the African American Muslim Movement and reformer of the Nation of Islam, asserted: “Two leaders stand out…as fighters…who best represented the extreme poles of what [African Americans] wanted in this country… [Civil Rights represented by Dr. King and Inner Dignity represented by the Hon. Elijah Muhammad].
“Both were really on the same case…; they had inherited the works of their Father, the [enslaved] ancestry, who would not give up.”
Dr. King saw the Beloved Community as a global vision, achievable by a critical mass of people committed to education and training in its philosophy and methodology. This religious-based social justice model creates dynamic interfaith and broad-based community partnerships to tackle the devaluing of human life and restoral of inner dignity that are fundamental for addressing the social issues the City faces to build the Beloved Community.
Thus, this transformative solution-based project centers religious freedom and moral values within the fight for civil rights and human dignity, stressing the “intersectionality” of religion and government – “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” to drive a radical reform in Mississippi’s policy-based structure.
For more information, visit: www.muslimmuseum.org
Also, MMC’s Black History Month celebration includes an art and culture feature presented by Deputy Executive Director Lina Ali.
The museum has partnered with a local Jackson artist, Kwame Braxton, to produce a painting of Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first African American Muslim woman to achieve an Olympian award in the sport of fencing.
IMMC is dedicated to educating the American public about Islamic history and culture and the contributions of diverse Muslim communities to America and the world. The museum opened its doors in December 2000 and celebrated its 21st Anniversary on Dec. 30, 2021. To review its 20th Anniversary virtual celebration program, visit www.muslimmuseum.org.
Museum co-founders are Emad Al-Turk, chairman, and Okolo Rashid, president, and director of the Islamic Thought Institute (ITI).
For more information, email okolo.rashid@muslimmuseum.org. Call 601-960-0440 or 601-918-8503 (cell). Follow on social media: Facebook.com/muslimmuseum/ Instagram @immc_ms
There is not a better time than the present time to commence engaging in this Clarion Call for Unity and Brotherhood among the African American Community of Believers and all the People of Faith and Goodwill among the Global Human Family.