PRESS RELEASE
A new report has been published today by the Muslim Council of Britain in collaboration with Everyday Muslims and other partner organisations, shining a light on the heritage, perspectives and contributions of Black, African and African-Caribbean Muslims in the UK.
Race, Faith & Community in Contemporary Britain brings together a dynamic group of over 40 authors and stakeholder organizations over a three-year period. The series of diverse and reflective essays highlight perspectives across broad sectors of society, including education, employment, health, media, politics, criminal justice, sports, arts & heritage, and much more.
Drawing upon guiding principles from Quranic verses and Prophetic wisdom, the report also looks ahead to how community institutions can forge stronger connections in three categories:
- Muslim representative and communal bodies embedding leadership team diversity, ensuring visibility in the media and supporting year-round racial inclusivity initiatives.
- Mosques, schools, charities and community groups can proactively reach out to underrepresented parts of their communities for leadership opportunities, incorporate the full ethnic spectrum of Muslim role models in their educational curriculas, build in diversity awareness into the training curriculum for scholars & Imams, create anti-racism awareness opportunities and respond rapidly to incidents.
- Wider society, businesses, statutory agencies and policy makers focusing on promoting youth work and youth services such as mentoring, tackle health outcomes disparity, support business networks to spur economic growth and development and engage in advocacy and activism regarding policing policies.
MCB Assistant Secretary General, Rashidat Adeyinka Hassan, said:
“It is never easy to get people to talk about their lived experiences, especially with the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic and now with the cost of living crisis. And Britons of Black, African or African-Caribbean heritage are often disproportionately disadvantaged. That’s why I believe it’s so remarkable that so many diverse contributors have articulated in this series of essays, not only the challenges and struggles of their lived experiences but also their hopes, dreams, and ambitions for the future.
I hope this report and its recommendations are a step in the right direction to ensure all voices across our Muslim communities are heard and acknowledged in our efforts to achieve a just, cohesive and peaceful British society.”
The voices within the report reflect the immense international diversity of Black British Muslim communities, with a heritage spanning from countries as diverse as Barbados, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda and more.
Also commenting on the launch of the report, MCB Secretary General Zara Mohammed said:
“Black Muslim communities have long played an integral role in British society and yet their contributions have often been undervalued and overlooked. Often, they are seen as a minority within a minority, and sadly, marginalised – even within Muslim communities.
This Proudly Muslim & Black Report aims to help address this disconnect. Through it, we also hope to share a better understanding of the lived experience of Black British Muslim communities, as well as their aspirations across various sectors of British society; including academia, the economy, the criminal justice system, sports, and the arts.
It is high time we celebrate the contributions of Black Muslims and we must do more to tackle the scourge of prejudice within our own communities as well as wider society.”
An event marking the launch of the report will be available to watch online from 6.00-8.30 pm on Thursday 22nd September. Details at: bit.ly/pmbreportlaunch2022
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Notes to editors:
- For any media enquiries, contact: media@mcb.org.uk or call 0845 26 26 786
- The report can be downloaded at www.mcb.org.uk/report/race-faith-community-in-contemporary-britain-draft/
- The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is the UK’s largest and most diverse Muslim umbrella organisation with membership spanning national, regional local organisations, mosques, charities and professional networks. It is independent, cross-sectarian and democratic with the leadership team accountable to the membership.