Muslim Council of Britain > Resources > Race, Faith & Community in Contemporary Britain

Race, Faith & Community in Contemporary Britain

Essays on Black, African and African Caribbean Muslims in the UK

Black British Muslims play an important role in British society but are often poorly represented in public discourse, policy, and indeed across a range of sectors.

This landmark collection of essays from over 40 authors, launched in September 2022 as part of the Proudly Muslim & Black project, aims to bring Black British Muslim voices to the forefront and work towards increased inclusion and belonging in wider British society and within British Muslim communities.

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  1. Foreword – Lord Simon Woolley
  2. Introduction – Editorial Team
  3. Why – Zara Mohammed, MCB Secretary General
  4. Everyday Muslim – Sadiya Ahmed
  5. Black History Month – Professor Mashood Baderin
  6. Demographic Snapshot – Dr Muntasir Sattar, Lead Editor
  7. Perspectives – Rashidat Adeyinka Hassan, MCB Assistant Secretary General

3.1 Arts & Heritage

  1. Maintaining History and Heritage Through the Arts in the UK: An Overview, by Sadiya Ahmed
  2. ‘Her Story’, by Latifat Obanigba
  3. Dealing with Anti-Blackness in the Muslim Community and Celebrating African Muslim Culture at the Afro-Salamat Festival, by Abdel Karim ‘Manni’ Ibrahim
  4. Exploring What is Possible, by Na’ima B. Robert
  5. The Somali Museum UK: Heritage and Diversity, by Salma Keize Bihi
  6. Everyday Muslim: Framing and Documenting Black Muslim History in Britain, by Sadiya Ahmed

3.2 Black Lives Matter 2020

  1. Black Lives Matter in the Aftermath of George Floyd, by Soukeyna Osei-Bonsu
  2. Complicity (Post George Floyd Reflection), by Muneera Williams
  3. Black British Muslims and Police-Community Relations in 2020, Muneera Williams
  4. The Pursuit of Anti-Blackness Outside of Black Muslim Spaces, by Sultana Parvin

3.3 Criminal Justice

  1. Black Muslims and the Police, by Saffie Jallow Aidrara
  2. From Charge to Conviction – The Black Muslim’s Experience of the British Judicial System, by Fatima Muhammed
  3. Black Muslims in UK Prisons, by Abu Hajirah
  4. The impact of Immigration Policy and the Hostile Environment on Black Muslims, by Bilikisu Savage

3.4 Education

  1. Save Our Boys,: A Youth Work Intervention, by Rakin Fetuga
  2. Redirecting the Trajectory: The Importance of Black Supplementary Schools in British / British Muslim Society, by Soukeyna Osei-Bonsu
  3. Publishing Challenges for Black Muslim Writers, by Habeen Akande
  4. Is there a space for Black Muslims at University? by Bashirat Oladele
  5. What is the impact of the lack of black and ethnic minority representation in British history? by Saarah Ahmed

3.5 Employment

  1. On establishing the Black Pound, by Shamsideen Ogunmuyiwa
  2. Prejudice and Identity: Experiences of Black Muslim Teachers, by Muslima Adelani
  3. Race, Faith, Social Mobility and the Future of Professional Pathways in Britain, by Dr Muntasir Sattar
  1. Conclusions & Reflections
  2. Recommendations

Photo Gallery from Report Launch Event (22 September 2022)

Acknowledgements

The following partner organisations are acknowledged for their contribution in making this report possible: Everyday Muslim Heritage and Archive Initiative; Centre of African Studies, Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law, SOAS, University of London; Council for Nigerian Muslim Organisations; Muslim Association of Nigeria UK/Old Kent Road Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre; Civil Service Muslim Network; Black Lives Matter Redbridge; The Salaam Project; Peckham High Street Islamic & Cultural Centre; Black Muslim Forum; Being a Muslim Black Girl; Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWA UK); Barakah Cultural and Educational Association; Al-Ikhlas Islamic Society; Southwark Muslim Forum and Save Our Boys.

We welcome all comments, queries or suggestions on this report, please get in touch here.

Disclaimer

The views and contributions expressed in this collection of essays (the “Report”) are entirely that of each author and does not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Muslim Council of Britain (“MCB”). Any unauthorised copying, reproduction, adaptation and/or broadcasting of the contents of this Report will constitute an infringement of copyright. All rights reserved.

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