Muslim Link is sharing Canadians’ reactions to Chelby Daigle’s article “Outrage About the Lack of Black Muslim Nominees at Awards Gala Shows Hypocrisy Not Allyship”

This is the response of Samiya Ahmed, a Toronto-based Somali Canadian community activist, who is highly involved in a variety of Muslim community spaces, including spaces that do not have much Black Muslim presence.

She co-presented the workshop “On Being Black and Muslim: Hard Truths and Healing” at this year’s Being ME-Muslimah Empowered Toronto Conference in May 2017.

"I just want a young Black Muslimah to look at my art and not feel alone or die of starvation for representation." – Somali Canadian artist Riya Jama

"When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." – Black American writer Maya Angelou

Recently, some non-Black Muslims have expressed their outrage to me over the fact that there are currently no Black Muslim Canadians nominated for the Muslim Awards of Excellence (MAX Gala) taking place this fall in Toronto.

I was even asked to come up with a list of accomplished Black Muslim Canadians in order to shame MAX organizers.

Farhia Ahmed is co-chair of the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, a mother of four, a productivity junky and lover of coffee. Here she reflects on the death on Abdirahman Abdi and its impact on Ottawa over the past year.

STANDING TOGETHER: Community gathers to remember Abdirahman Abdi, one year after his tragic death.

(Ottawa, ON): July 24th, 2017 marks one year since the death of Abdirahman Abdi. The Ottawa community will gather in Somerset Square Park for an interfaith event entitled: Standing Together to remember Abdirahman Abdi and to show solidarity with the family of a man whose life was unjustly taken in our city.

Local Somali Canadian university students have come together to organize a fundraising iftar to raise awareness and money to help people impacted by the drought and famine in Somalia. The iftar takes place on June 7.

Maymuna Mohamed represented the riding of York Centre, Ontario at Equal Voice’s Daughters of the Vote gathering in March, which brought together 338 young women between the ages of 18 and 23, representing each Canadian riding. Muslim Link had the opportunity to interview several of the young Muslim Canadian women who were selected to participate in this historic event, including Maymuna Mohamed.

Eman Idil Bare is an award-winning Canadian journalist. She is also a fashion designer who recently launched her own brand.

Muslim Link had the opportunity to interview Eman about growing up in Saskatchewan and about her work writing, which covers topics as diverse as youth radicalization, modest fashion, and anti-Black racism within Muslim communities. We also discuss with her how she is finding her footing as an entrepreneur in the world of ethical fashion.

Hafsa Madar represented the riding of Edmonton-Mill Woods, Alberta at Equal Voice’s Daughters of the Vote gathering in March, which brought together 338 young women between the ages of 18 and 23, representing each Canadian riding. Muslim Link had the opportunity to interview several of the young Muslim Canadian women who were selected to participate in this historic event, including Hafsa.

Aisha Mohamed represented the riding of Edmonton Manning, Alberta at Equal Voice’s Daughters of the Vote gathering in March, which brought together 338 young women between the ages of 18 and 23, representing each Canadian riding. Muslim Link had the opportunity to interview several of the young Muslim Canadian women who were selected to participate in this historic event, including Aisha.

The University of Ottawa Muslim Students Association (UOMSA) organized an interfaith session on campus on January 31st  to share concerns about the Trump travel ban on seven Muslim majority countries, including Somalia, and the shooting at a mosque in Quebec City that left six people dead.

Somali Canadian Filsan Nour, the UOMSA Events Officer, shared her thoughts on recent events. This is her edited speech.