This past week, when I was in Chicago, I had the fortune of attending one of IMAN's Community Cafes. I had heard about this event from various people in years past but it always felt like one of those 'you had to be there' type things. After attending one myself, I can say, with full faith, that if you ever find yourself in the Chicago area, do try to go to an IMAN event because it is definitely something you have to experience.
The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) is a non-profit organization that works toward improving social justice by providing direct social services, encouraging arts in the community, and advocacy. The Community Cafe I attended highlighted policies to reduce youth incarceration and increase employment in the Chicago area. Crime and violence, unfortunately, seems to have become such an innate part of the city's culture that most people simply accept it as the tragedy of living. IMAN, however, embraces the problem and seeks to address it by increasing awareness and community involvement.
Sometimes, I forget what an individualistic society we live in until I'm sitting in my classroom and social issues come up as they pertain to health. For example, poverty or homelessness and health- issues that are serious and certainly complex. When we start to discuss these matters, I realize how many people are quick to place blame on the individual. I am no expert in any of these topics, but I know that the blame game is a dangerous way of thinking. It can so easily spiral into assigning value to people and lives, God forbid. I often wonder about what is missing in the classroom to yield such a mentality. It is easy to say that poor health is entirely a result of a lack of personal responsibility when we have no understanding of those suffering. Health is just one example - the mentality of assigning blame is also prevalent in issues of education, employment, and so much more. What we need is knowledge. And understanding. Understanding is what fosters human connection and provides the foundation for social justice.
Even though I only spent a few days in Chitown and had little interaction with IMAN, I couldn't help but notice the soul and earnestness that emanates from the organization and all of the people there. IMAN seeks to increase understanding amongst the community about the problems of youth incarceration and is striving to address these issues. Their passion and commitment to the prophetic value of social justice is truly humbling and inspiring, may God bless them. Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, would often say that people are as equal as teeth in a comb. In this light, the Islamic civilization came to be one of the first to implement a system of social welfare by establishing means to provide support for people in all levels of society. Even in his last sermon, we find the overarching theme to be that of social justice; how significant that his last address to mankind is one that forbids wrong-doing and injustice in all its forms. Let us never forget these tenets and the significance of a strong community in our daily lives and pursuit of knowledge.
The community cafe, whilst pushing for the legislation to reduce youth incarceration, also featured several artists of various styles and languages. There was a beautiful Moroccan singer, Malika Zarra, who sang in English, French, Arabic, and Berber. My favorite was her rendition of the popular Arab song, Leela - very soulful and earthy. The event also featured Nahshid Sulaiman (stage name: One Be Lo), a hip hop artist with very socially conscious lyrics. My favorite were his rap lines that were done in acapella. If either of them sound like your cup of tea, do check them out.
IMAN also provides many more services for the Chicago community and is a far more beautiful organization than my words could ever hope to do justice. Definitely visit their website to learn more about the work they are doing and their upcoming events: http://www.imancentral.org/
-S
Sometimes, I forget what an individualistic society we live in until I'm sitting in my classroom and social issues come up as they pertain to health. For example, poverty or homelessness and health- issues that are serious and certainly complex. When we start to discuss these matters, I realize how many people are quick to place blame on the individual. I am no expert in any of these topics, but I know that the blame game is a dangerous way of thinking. It can so easily spiral into assigning value to people and lives, God forbid. I often wonder about what is missing in the classroom to yield such a mentality. It is easy to say that poor health is entirely a result of a lack of personal responsibility when we have no understanding of those suffering. Health is just one example - the mentality of assigning blame is also prevalent in issues of education, employment, and so much more. What we need is knowledge. And understanding. Understanding is what fosters human connection and provides the foundation for social justice.
"We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity." - Malcolm X
Even though I only spent a few days in Chitown and had little interaction with IMAN, I couldn't help but notice the soul and earnestness that emanates from the organization and all of the people there. IMAN seeks to increase understanding amongst the community about the problems of youth incarceration and is striving to address these issues. Their passion and commitment to the prophetic value of social justice is truly humbling and inspiring, may God bless them. Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, would often say that people are as equal as teeth in a comb. In this light, the Islamic civilization came to be one of the first to implement a system of social welfare by establishing means to provide support for people in all levels of society. Even in his last sermon, we find the overarching theme to be that of social justice; how significant that his last address to mankind is one that forbids wrong-doing and injustice in all its forms. Let us never forget these tenets and the significance of a strong community in our daily lives and pursuit of knowledge.
The community cafe, whilst pushing for the legislation to reduce youth incarceration, also featured several artists of various styles and languages. There was a beautiful Moroccan singer, Malika Zarra, who sang in English, French, Arabic, and Berber. My favorite was her rendition of the popular Arab song, Leela - very soulful and earthy. The event also featured Nahshid Sulaiman (stage name: One Be Lo), a hip hop artist with very socially conscious lyrics. My favorite were his rap lines that were done in acapella. If either of them sound like your cup of tea, do check them out.
IMAN also provides many more services for the Chicago community and is a far more beautiful organization than my words could ever hope to do justice. Definitely visit their website to learn more about the work they are doing and their upcoming events: http://www.imancentral.org/
-S
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