Why doesn’t the Muslim community look up to its black celebrities?

The Washington Post headlined an eye opening article regarding the lack of interest in African American celebrities by the American Muslim community. Although African Americans make up a majority of Muslims in the United States, and leaders from this community such as Malcolm X and Mohammed Ali have played an outsize role, the Post takes a brave look at a question that should have been asked long ago. Read more here.

“It’s hard for Muslim Americans to celebrate black Muslims’ success in entertainment — whether it’s Ali, Chapelle, Busta Rhymes, Akon, Lupe Fiasco, Ice Cube, Iman or many others — when black people are not seen on par or as equal with the immigrant Muslim diaspora due to class divides.”

Sarah Harvard of the Post asks why Muslim-born stars with South Asian heritage don’t face any backlash from the community when they leave the faith and engage in on-screen portrayals such as eating pork, consuming alcohol, “while Black Muslim entertainers are not afforded the same leniency since Arab and South Asian Muslim communities are more likely to question their religious authority or authenticity.” Click here to read more.