About

I left England at the age of 25. By then, I had traveled across Europe, lived in the Middle East and North and West Africa, and made two short trips to the USA. Yet, when I decided to leave the UK for the United States, anti-Blackness—the inability to see and value Black humanity—was not something I had considered. I didn’t even know it was a thing.

While I had an understanding of what racism, discrimination, bias, and unkindness were, and I knew what disrespect felt like, I was unaware of the particular landscape in the USA shaped by its history of land-based chattel slavery and its enduring commitment to the ideologies that emerged from that period.

How Different Can It Be?

“It’s as if they just don’t care!”

This was the essence of a conversation I had with a beloved mentor and teacher as I shared the alienation and apathy I felt from parts of the Muslim community in the wake of yet another police killing. My teacher asked, “What do you want to do about it?”

That question marked the beginning of my journey into anti-Blackness and belonging work, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

I’ve begun a doctorate in Islamic leadership to create models for building belonging in spaces affected by anti-Blackness. I work with courageous community leaders to help infuse their spaces with a deep sense of belonging, where everyone can feel seen and valued regardless of race.

In 2025, I plan to launch a cohort for Muslim women leaders committed to internal and external change. Together, we will create a movement for community betterment with the permission and guidance of God.

Fast-forward to 2024