How did I get here?: My Spiritual Journey Towards Anti-Racism
by: Amath Diouf
Growing up, I’ve experienced racism from both white people and black people. This has made my journey towards anti-racism quite the trip. There were times where I wasn’t “culturally black enough” to the white community and yet faced the same racism as every other black person. There were also times where even with the black community, I faced racism for being “too dark-skinned.” The racial divide between white and black and within the black community left me looking for ways to define myself.
I “saw” race, but saw myself as a young man that was black, not as a black young man. This distinction helped me see myself and others as human even with apparent differences in skin color, culture, etc. I was also raised to embrace diversity as I would meet family members and friends of all races and go on family trips where I had the opportunity to diversify my social circle. This might have been why my group of friends was a range of different races. It came to my mind that there was not one race that was a monolith and race had nothing to do with the human condition that united us all, even with life’s complexities.
I did consider myself fairly open-minded and understanding, also known as “woke.” This didn’t mean that preconceived notions and biases didn’t make their way into my mind. Being ostracized at times by white and black people because of my complexion or the way I acted left a bitter taste in my mouth. These instances had changed the way I saw myself, black people, and white people. Generalizing a group of people based on a few personal occurrences wasn’t the way I wanted to see the world, but it was hard at times to rid myself of these notions. My mental and outward environment needed some looking into; this spiritual journey became prevalent upon graduating high school.
I didn’t have a good grasp of who I was as a person. I had fallen in and out of activities that didn’t strengthen my sense of self and that made it much more difficult to find my direction. It wasn’t just that I didn’t know who I was, but I didn’t know who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do in life. Going on this journey of self-discovery led me to embrace Islam in college. Becoming Muslim was pivotal in my steps towards becoming more anti-racist. Islam not only inspired me to be mindful of my impact as a steward on Earth, but it also inspired me to notice the beauty of diversity and to be aware of how I judge myself and others. When thinking of anti-racism in Islam, this quote always comes to mind:
“There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab. Neither is the white superior over the black nor is the black superior over the white — except by piety and good action.”
This was and continues to be an unequivocal reminder that to be human is to be anti-racist. To be human was to work towards self-improvement and to remember that at the end of the day, no one can truly be a just judge as we do not know a person’s full intentions or actions. These words stated by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over 1400 years ago are still reflected now as I try to navigate my life as a Black Muslim, even in the Muslim community.
Fast forward to 2020 in the United States, racial tension has been the highest that it’s ever been in the past 50 years. After the senseless killing of George Floyd, the camel’s back broke and Americans of all colors were protesting, rioting, and flipping through history to learn about the black experience in America. As I delved into history myself, two prominent figures in U.S. history stood out to me — Muhammad Ali and El-Hajj Malik el Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X.
These were two black Muslims who were black and proud and lived #blacklivesmatter before the movement took to the streets. Throughout their individual journeys, they brought self-confidence to the black community that had, like me, felt self-conscious about their skin, or other physical features. Towards the end of Malcolm’s life, he went on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, where Muslims of every ethnic group, color, social status, and culture gather together and stand before the Kaaba praising Allah (God in Arabic) together.
Malcolm X stated,
“Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this Ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.”
During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug – while praying to the same God – with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white.”
The imagery of solidarity amongst every ethnic group, color, social status, and culture is what America needed to see.
Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, both had spiritual journeys towards anti-racism where they stepped away from separatist ideologies to embrace the integration of all races as they continued to fight for human rights. This reminded me of how we are to stand up for justice, “even if it be against ourselves, parents, or relatives” (Quran 4:135). It is from Islam that these men were able to not only check society’s racial injustice but check themselves and work towards improving their own conditions. This continuously reminds me to check myself — racial generalizations are unacceptable because human beings do not represent a whole community alone, regardless of which race they identify with.
I gravitated towards Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, in particular, because I loved the brevity it took for them to be black and proud regardless of the many attacks on their character, family, and livelihood. They never wavered from self-improvement and from being leaders to the black community.
These two black American Muslims teach me that for me to be human, I don’t have to be a man that is black, I can identify as a black man and not be looked down to just because of my race. Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X’s actions also inform that for me to be a leader in every community that I serve, I cannot let racist rhetoric stop me from being there for the communities that I care for. Be it an environmentalist who encourages myself and others to be mindful of environmental racism, or as an outdoor enthusiast who amplifies the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) in the outdoor industry; I cannot stand by and be a part of the problem that perpetuates racial divide.
As previously mentioned, I am a “steward on Earth.” The best way for me to take care of my fellow humans, plants, and animals is by engaging as a member of the outdoor community. Outdoor recreation is interconnected with environmental preservation since we use the land, sea, and natural resources to explore the outer world. Experiencing the vastness of nature with its diverse flora and fauna reminds us of the diversity of humanity on earth. It seems as if the environmental sector and the outdoor industry didn’t get the memo because both communities are predominantly white with little BIPOC engagement.
Even though climate change predominantly affects people of color, BIPOC were not at the forefront even if they were the ones on the ground. Environmental racism is real and the voices of black people need to be heard. I’ve rarely seen any black people or people of color in the outdoors industry. I was not seeing the beauty of diversity in climbing gyms, at the movies, or outdoor events. I want to be a part of diversifying the outdoors and convey the message that the outdoor community, just like the environmental community, is made up of passionate, change-making, enthusiasts of all types.
I, just like millions of others in America and around the world are learning about equity, diversity, and inclusion in all spaces. We’re learning about how to fight racial injustice and stand up against systemic racism. The journey towards anti-racism takes more than social media posts, speeches, and one-time donations.
This is a life-long journey to rid ourselves of the disease of racism and get to know one another. To truly listen and move beyond the surface level conversation is where we reach the depths of humanity. I hope to continue to work towards the betterment of my mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing while on this road to being anti-racism. For anti-racism to be the new normal, this journey cannot be limited to the mind, body, and soul of one individual; it must be a journey in which our every member of our global community partakes.
Amath Diouf is a Muslim, Black, Senegalese, French American who aspires to be socially and environmentally conscious and work towards self-care and world-care insha Allah (God Willing)! He promote stewardship and health & wellness by encouraging himself and others to explore ourselves and the great outdoors. By finding ways to strengthen our inner and outward connections, he hope for us to all be better stewards on Earth.
