With Allah’s Name, the Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer

“…O people! Indeed, your Lord is One and your father (Adam) is one. Indeed, there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety…”―The Prophet Muhammed (S) 

A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture

PRESS RELEASE:
February 19, 2015

Contact: CWSC Press
cwsconline@gmail.com

NATIONAL ― The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) founded by the late Dr. Carter G. Woodson, has for a century advanced the vision of Dr. Woodson to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.  CWSC joins ASALH,  other local and national organizations and institutions in celebrating “A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture” in commemorating Black History Month.

Through centuries of African American leaders and movements predominately inspired by the common spiritual legacy in Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), Muslims have arrived today as a diverse and interdependent part of America.

CWSC’s roots emerge from both the African American freedom struggle and Islamic influence woven into the history of blacks both before and after slavery.

Without doubt, the dominant voice of the African American experience and influence over the last 100 years has been that of our Christian brethren, while the Islamic influence in America in general and among the African American in particular has been a story essentially told outside the mainstream and consequently narrowly confined to its own ethnic and religious minority. But times are changing—doors are opening.

In 2013 at ASALH’s 98th Convention, the voices of African American Muslims were welcomed as scholars. Among the presentations was “The Unbroken Chain of Qur’anic Freedom: From Africa to New Africa,” which included the contributions of CWSC’s founding inspiration, Imam Dr. W. Deen Mohammed (ra), who was himself, an admirer of Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

The work of sharing the Islamic influence and history in America is one that we as a Muslim Intelligentsia must undertake with as much veracity and commitment as ASALH has demonstrated in its mission over the last 100 years.

While CWSC’s voice is growing in service as an intelligentsia to the American Muslim and broader American Society and Insha Allah, even unto our global village, we must not…will not forget that our beautiful human family tree lush with all its foliage, ever beckons us to respect our roots while valuing each branch and leaf.

Whether it’s ASALH, the Urban League, NAACP or CWSC, we’re connected through our diaspora, faith and aspirations. African American Muslims, like the broader American Muslim community in 2015 is an interdependent contributing voice and intellect in the fabric of this shared freedom space we call democracy. Let us continue walking through the open doors, while working to unlock those that remain closed, such that the next 100 years will find our voices not only present, but prominent.

CWSC wishes you a wonderful commemoration of African American History Month.

Some of our voices from the past…

Visit the CWSC Online Store for more African American Muslim voices!

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Community Wide Shuraa Conference, Inc. (CWSC) is a tax exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is qualified to receive bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under sections 2055, 2106, or 2252 of the Code. Contributions are fully tax deductible as allowed by law. Federal Tax Tax ID: 46-3505809. Please consider including CWSC in your estate planning.  To make a contribution by U.S. Mail: Make check payable to CWSC and mail to CWSC, 2620 Bragg Boulevard, Suite D, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303