I found an audio interview with Dr. Sherman Jackson that was quite interesting. The interview discusses the origins of Islam, the Shari’ah (Islamic law) and the obligations it entails for Muslims, the belief that Islam and the West are on a collision course, the meaning of the word jihad, and the Muslim community in America, in addition to other topics and concepts important to an understanding of Islam and Islamic practices. This interview will provide you with a good understanding of some basic concepts. These are Quicktime movie files, so you’ll need the Quicktime Player to view them (if you have Quicktime installed your browser should be able to view them without the need to do anything further). There are 9 parts to this interview. All components of this interview are Copyright © 2005 NITLE. Yo, Sherm, if you see this don’t take it the wrong way! I ain’t tryin’ to start no fan club, man. Just you do good work. I’ll see you Aug. 6th. (more…)

As you may have seen or heard in the news, British police shot and killed Jean Charles Menezes, a man of Brazilian origin living in London. Mr. Menezes happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. In the authorities’ attempt to regain control over their situation they are throwing caution to the wind. So now not are the people of London at risk to terrorist attack but now they’re at risk of police over-reaction. I have had my own personal experience of being that wrong person at the wrong time with the police, although my situation was not under such sinister conditions of that of the late Mr. Menezes. (more…)

It seems as if my nefarious plan to attack the Salafis is working just as I had foreseen (dry washes hands and rolls eyes side to side). One blogger left some interesting comments. Check those out and then see the crafty reply by yours truly. Ha! That’ll learn ‘em!

I’ve been out of town for a few days on a shoot and have had some travel time to continue reading Professor Jackson’s book, Islam & The Blackamerican. It really is proving to be a most engaging read. I’ve reached the point in the book where Professor Jackson begins to talk about the transition from Islam as Black Religion to loosing its validity do to a number of influences. Some of those include the break-off of Warith-deen Muhammad from his father’s group, the Nation of Islam. The rise of sunni-Blackamerican Muslims and how they challenged the validity of not only the Nation, as it was viewed as straight heretical, but also Warith-deen’s off-shoot movement, since by it coming out of the Nation, it had a stigma attached to it. (more…)