In the sixties you could walk to school from one neighborhood to the next and not worry about gangs. We could take short cut through cemeteries, pass Midnight Mary’s grave. The neighborhoods were all segregated, except for a few Italians, so we didn’t have to worry much about racism. Jim Crowism however was alive and well. Like most children of this period we grew up with segregation, Jim Crowism, the civil rights movement and affirmative action. History tells me The Nation of Islam was active during this period, I don’t remember them. I remember the Black Panthers feeding us breakfast. Martin Luther King was killed when I was 7.
In the 70s, I was the first of my generation to go to college. I remember that first year. It was the Blizzard of 78. I was at UConn and we had a campus wide snowball fight. UConn had less than a 5% population of Minorities at the time. The thirst for cultural identity ran rampant on campus. We founded the Black Student Association and other groups to find ourselves. Its Ironic that on this predominately white campus, in their library, I came across my first Qur’an, and my first Muslim Newspaper; The Muhammad Speaks. In doing research on the Assassination of African American Leaders, I came across all the Muhammad Speaks newspapers on Microfiche. This lead to my study of Muslims in Africa and of Muslim slaves in America. This all lead eventually to my conversion.
In the 80s hurricane Gloria hit my community like everyone else’s. It was devastating. I found it amazing like other religious people that it zigzagged away from the churches on Dixwell Ave and demolished many of the drug related areas. The 80s was the year I began prison ministry. Introducing Islam to the Incarcerated. Islam was becoming a proven tool to liberate the souls and minds of men. I was changing lives by God’s permission.
In the 90s Nelson Mandela was released from Prison, and a feeling of justice moved across my community. We all shared this feeling, then suddenly Rodney king was beaten brutally by police officers and the officers were set free without any consequences. This erased all feeling of justice in America. By 1995 the world would change momentously; the world wide web, the internet, would come into existence. This would change the Muslim world too, because we could see and talk with one another without limitations. This would become good and dangerous. The 1st act of alleged “Islamic terrorism” on U.S soil would also occur in the 90s. A Pakistani immigrant armed with an AK47 would open fire on a convoy of cars filled with CIA employees. 2 were killed, 3 others were injured. The incident occurred 1 month before the World Trade Center bombing. The 90s also brought the first mass school shooting the Columbine Tragedy. Two students would go on a shooting rampage in Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. They would kill 12 students, 1 teacher and themselves.
In the 2000s, 911 would occur. I remember defying my supervisor to rush home to my children. I wanted to make sure they were safe. I remember driving over the Sikorsky bridge, looking to the sky worried that someone may attack that company before I get over the bridge. I had the same fear in my heart as every American. The next day at work my co workers at DOC were afraid of me with that same fear. They wanted to take my keys. Suddenly I too was the enemy. I was the same person I was yesterday.
Another Mass School shooting would occur, this time close at home. Sandy Hook in Newtown Connecticut is just Miles from my home. This tragedy took the lives of 26 individuals. 20 of them under the age of 7. My wife is a Muslim, and she was a first responder. She is a Crisis Intervention chaplain and I drove her there almost every day from the beginning. The Stories of the hurt, sorrow, and pain is unforgettable. There are permanent scars etched into her spirit but they come with the service of sacrifice. People forget Muslims play an active part in making America Great as well.
When Obama became President, I too felt American. To see an African American become president was something I never thought possible. I felt a sentimental attachment to our system again even though I didn’t agree with all of his foreign policy decisions.
Donald Trump was later elected President of the United States of America. Since his election hate crimes against Muslims and people of color has risen. He has moved to impose travel Bans on Muslims countries. All of this has a direct impact on me personally, and on all Muslims.
We are Muslims in Transition, everyday people just like you. What will tomorrow bring.
