Black Muslim Leadership Council builds on legacy to create a more just world

By Salima Suswell, Black Muslim Leadership Council CEO & Founder

Justice and equality are virtues that guide the heart of the Black Muslim American community. While our community has long suffered under the oppressive hand of discrimination, we have, again and again, risen above. Despite the unique challenges facing us, we have become champions in the fields of education, politics, social justice, and much more. We strive for excellence just as we strive to build a world more just for us and for those around us.

For too long, however, the unique needs of the Black Muslim American community were not being uplifted effectively by the larger Muslim American community. There was a void. This is why I launched the Black Muslim Leadership Council (BMLC): a dedicated platform for Black Muslim Americans to advance justice and equity on behalf of our community.

Founded in early 2024, BMLC quickly received national recognition as a first-of-its-kind organization led by experts in the field of organizing, with a proven track record of success in making change. This led to my being invited to meet with President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and other prominent members of the Administration to discuss domestic and foreign policy. At this meeting, I shared the concerns of our community and said in no uncertain terms that decisive action must be taken to support our people.

Sitting next to the President and advocating for my community was just one moment in a lifetime of service. In many ways, BMLC is the culmination of my professional and personal life up to the present. I was born and raised in Philadelphia’s Muslim community and the Dar-ul-Islam Movement as the daughter of community pioneers Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid (rahimahullah) and Majeedah Rashid. From a young age, the power and importance of activism and community service were instilled in me; it was a solid foundation on which I grew. For nearly 20 years, I have been a political organizer and community engagement professional, steered by the knowledge that the way to establish true and lasting change is through civic engagement.

Civic engagement is now more important than ever. I, like many of you, have been fixated on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Here at BMLC, we have been mobilizing, calling for a permanent ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages. This situation deeply impacts us: as Black Americans, our ancestors experienced genocide, suffering, dehumanization, violence, and oppression beyond measure. We identify deeply with what is going on in Gaza, and this motivates us to continue pressing for justice. This is the single most important issue in the upcoming election for many Muslims, and the President’s actions in recent months, and in the months to come, will have a direct response at the ballot box.

At this most critical juncture, BMLC is also focusing on several key domestic policy issues that impact the often marginalized Black, African, Latino, and Caribbean communities, including public safety, mental health, Black maternal health, environmental justice, affordable housing, and voting rights. As we work to mobilize our community, we will be focusing on these issues and more, sharing resources and expert advice on how to be the change we want to see.

Advocating for effective change is the job of each of us. In order to build a more equitable world, we must build. It is our job to leverage our community’s immense power to make the government change for the better. For our families and for our communities and for those we do not know, we must take action and keep the momentum up.

One election will not solve all of our problems. But each election is an opportunity to place another brick on the path to justice. As difficult as it may be to choose between two parties that have too frequently let us down, the fact remains: to give up our vote is to give up our power. When we do not vote, we are not heard.

The road to justice is long, and bumpy, and has no finish line. But it is a road worth traveling, and making better for those who will come after. Our cause is just. The needs of our community are real and pressing. Now is the time to act. On behalf of BMLC, I look forward to walking with each of you in the months and years to come as we work together to build a more equitable world.

Comment by Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص on June 12, 2024 at 8:02pm: Join BMLC for our upcoming educational workshop: “Advancing Community Through Civic Engagement” on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 2:00pm EST. If you are interested in learning more about how to get engaged with your community and how to mobilize voters, please join us for this civic education workshop. This workshop will include information on voting, the roles of elected officials and what is expected of them, how to establish policy change, and tips on how to run for office. Register today at https://bit.ly/CivicEngagementBMLC

Comment by Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص on June 12, 2024 at 8:02pm: Kofi Bilal Mahmud Eid AlFitr 1443 A.H.

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