Black History

Celebrate Black History Month: Africana Muslim conference

NASHVILLE PRIDE — From 1926 until the current date, contributions made by African American Muslims are rarely discussed in celebration of Black History Month.

Published

7 years ago

February 6, 2019

Oakland Post

By Wanda Clay

As we go into the month of February, many events will be held in an effort to celebrate what is known as ‘Black History Month.’ On Saturday, February 9, the third annual Africana Muslim conference will be held from 9 am-6 pm at the Muslim American Cultural Center, 1513 Jefferson Street in Nashville.

From 1926 until the current date, contributions made by African American Muslims are rarely discussed in celebration of Black History Month. Therefore, the sponsors of this event, the African Muslim Association of Nashville (AMAN) and Muslim American Cultural Association (MACA) have come together as a Pan African framework to create a study of Africana to “reclaim that which is lost,” as a part of the celebration of ‘African American History Month 2019.’

As the theme denotes, ‘Muslim Youth are Our Future in the World Community,’ and equipping our youth with the education of Black heritage is the focal point of this conference. However, adults can also benefit from learning. Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week in 1926, and African Americans then began to celebrate a whole month with Black History Month.

“When African American Month began, people talked about Muhammad Ali,” said Amari Al Hadid, founder of The Great Debate series and coordinator of the conference. “But that was Ali not Islam. They talked about Malcolm, but that’s Malcolm, a Black nationalist. This conference is about the Africans that were captured in tribal wars, were put in ships and brought here as prisoners of war. At least 25% of the African Americans brought here were Muslims. So when do we talk about that 25%? Approximately 10% of contemporary African Americans practice Islam. We know about Kunta Kinte, but we want to bring attention to Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Ibrahima from West Africa.”

Al Hadid and the conference developers are excited about the youth participation during the second half of the conference. Young people from elementary, middle and high schools will participate in a competition where they will recite chapters of the Quaran. About 20 students of the Bantu Community Center Weekend School will participate. They have committed the Quaran to memory, some more than half and some the entire 114 chapters. The students will also participate in a Quiz Bowl that will help in learning and understanding Muslims of African decent in the Western and Eastern hemispheres as well as on the African Continent. These students are from East Africa, Bantu, and Samoles.

While some are from refugee camps, we want our brothers and sisters from the ‘mother land’ to know us, and we want to know them because they are what we used to be. Kunta Kente was brought here as a Mandigo warrior, and he was stripped of who he was by changing his name, beaten and tortured. Why? The European kidnappers actually understood the power of Islam.”

This third year conference will consist of a ‘Great Debate,’ as well as including: Nobel Drew Ali; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz; ‘Prince Among Slaves,’ a tribute to Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Ibrahima Sori (1762-1829) from Futa Jallon, Guinea, West Africa; Quarani Recitation Contest among students enrolled in Bantu Community Center Weekend School; Africana Muslim Quiz Bowl by Middle and High school students, Bantu Community Center Weekend School and an African Marketplace.

Email greatdebateuniverse@gmail.com for more information.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Proclaims April 9 as ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’

“Today, the 100th day of the year, I proclaim 100 Black Men Day,” said Mayor Barbara Lee standing with newly appointed Oakland Port Commissioner Derek Mohammad, a 100 Black Men member. “Whereas the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area has demonstrated decades of unwavering commitment to uplifting youth and strengthening families and advancing opportunity and access in Oakland and the greater Bay Area with their signature programs…the chapter has impacted thousands of young people and contributed thousands of hours of community service…”

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2026

Oakland Post

At D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, a resolution declaring April 9 ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’ was witnessed by (l.-r.) 100 Black Men leaders Maurice Harold, Marco T. Lindsey, Danny Lee Williams, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Port of Oakland Commissioner Derek Mohammad, and Oakland Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

When Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced that she would proclaim Thursday, April 9, as “100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day,” the organization’s board chairman and owner of D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, Danny Lee Williams knew he wanted to mark the historic moment with fanfare his community could share.

Standing at the podium on the patio of his restaurant in the Oakland Hills, he welcomed about 150 members of the organization and the broader community who gathered to celebrate.

“This is a special day, and we are in the midst of our Economic Empowerment week,” he said. Williams also welcomed four vendors to sell their gifts and accessories during the event free of charge.

Lee shared how as a single parent of two boys, she was grateful to have the organization’s support in mentoring her sons.

“Today, my adult son is a member in Illinois, and I thank the organization for supporting so many Black boys.”

The idea for the proclamation originated with Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who praised the organization for its leadership and contributions to Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

“This work that we do would not be possible without partnerships with organizations like the 100 Black Men,” said Jenkins. “We’re saving lives, restoring communities, and giving people hope and opportunities.”

“This is Oakland,” said Mayor Lee. “This is what we’re about. It’s about new ideas, thinking outside the box and being who we are. It’s about bringing joy. This is our holiday.”

The mayor also thanked the organization for volunteering during Oakland Cleanup days.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran added that while many complain about problems in the city, “the 100” put in the work.

“It’s hard to be in the community and do the work, but that is exactly what the 100 Black Men does,” she said.

The organization’s economic chair and associate director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the University of California Berkeley’s Business School, Marco T. Lindsey, shared his enthusiasm for change.

“Today is the culmination of our work and something special is happening in our organization and our city,” he said. “We have a special opportunity to show up for our community now in ways that we haven’t had in the past. We have a mayor that supports us and it’s important that each and every one of us do our part. We all need our fingerprints on whatever we want to see in our city.”

Lindsey also expressed that if underserved youth and their parents had access to the resources needed for success, “Our youth wouldn’t be breaking windows and joining gangs if they had a pathway to earn $75k to $100k a year.”

The 100 Black Men were hosts of an Economic Empowerment Forum at McClymonds High School on April 11 educating students on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. On Sat., April 18, they will hold their fifth annual Career Expo at Contra Costa College 2600 Mission Bell Drive (G225) in San Pablo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 100 Black Men chapter of the Bay Area was established in 1988, one of the earliest in the nation.

For more information visit 100blackmenba.org