47th & Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia - Obama celebration
Recently, as perhaps some of you have seen, I have been shifting the focus on this blog - refining its focus to concentrate more specifically on the religious phenomenon of Islam in America. A great deal of my writings pertain to the process of the indiginization of Islam in America. This post may depart from that slightly, though if I think you read closely enough, you will see its correlation.
No - this is not a post on how the 44th President of the United States is a secret Muslim. Barack Hussein Obama is not a Muslim. While his family may have roots in the historical Muslim world, he himself is not a Muslim. And that’s ok. As former general Colin Powell pointed out to us in his interview at Meet The Press, it should not matter that he is or isn’t Muslim.
And while it has been clearly established that President Obama is not a Muslim, this election, truly historic for America and her citizens, has presented the possibility as real. What I mean here is that for two hundred-plus of years, the United States of America has been dominated by one type of political figure: the white Christian Male. And as I stated above, the Christian part has not changed, but the white part most certainly has.
One of my greatest hopes from this election wasn’t that President Obama was going to solve the economic, environmental and other crisises that were are having. No one man can do all that. But that his election would bring about a much need psychological change to this country and perhaps even the world. To be sure, the type of change I speak of is subtle. But for the four hundred-plus years that Blackamericans have been in this country, we have never seen, let alone in recent generations, truly envisioned the possibility of a black man being the president of this country. President Obama has broken that barrier. He has illustrated that however unlikely, and however difficult, you can achieve great results. After all, these are some of the very ideals that America likes to champion around the world. And while it will take some time for the cynic in me to take his guard down, I will not attempt to hide the sense of vindication I felt when Mr. Obama won this evening.
So my little message is short and simple - to my Muslim brothers here in America, we have just watched a predominantly white audience vote in a black male with a Muslim name to the highest office of the land - mind you, just seven years since 9/11 as well [not to mention that Islamophobia is still raging strong and was even used as a tactic against his campaign]. The time has come for Muslims to truly recognize the blessings that Allah has offered us here. We have been placed within reach of obtaining great goals; for us and our children’s generation. But as always, the clock is ticking. I pray we can capitalize on this great boon we’ve been handed.
And a special note to my Blackamerican brothers and sisters in Islam. Tonight we saw the hopes and dreams of many Americans, white, black, Latino, Jewish and otherwise, all cast for one man. We must recognize that we are in the position to have the greatest effect in indigenizing Islam here in America. As we saw, unprovoked, on nation TV, general Powell came out in defense of Muslims in America. We truly must reflect and make the most of the opportunities. For we have witnessed tonight that change can and will come. The only question that remains is will we reap its benfit or curse our inability to act.
And God knows best.
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As Islam continues to sputter along in its American context, post-9/11, various Muslim organizations and groups seek to capture the eye of the masses [who are starting to look more and more like glazed donuts by the minute] by inviting them to “return to Tradition”. I have not noted the capitalized “T” without purpose. Tradition, as it is being marketed currently, is a mono-narrative. Moreover, one might even call it a counter-narrative to the one that is equally applied by the West to Islam/Muslims, in any given time or space. But this concept of Tradition is playing out to be more than simply going back to previously forgotten sources or methods. It is also being linked to privilege. A privilege that takes the form in not only in what economic access can provide but a privilege of ideals. A Believers’ country club, if you will. But one of the main issues with this exclusivity is not solely in the gated mental communities that it fosters but the very idea that Tradition is a panacea. That so long as what is being passed along is stamped with the seal of Tradition, it requires no further investigation, contemplation or scrutinization. But is this truly [the?] tradition? And to what point or end is this tradition to accomplish? What avenues is this tradition to navigate for us? Or are we instead being taken for a ride. Islam in America and more directly, Muslims in America are in dire need for a viable, conducive, productive, creative, indigenous Muslim culture. But how do we get to there from the pre-packaged Tradition we’re currently being offered?