In light of the rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the past couple years, many Muslim Americans have been pushing back against Islamaphobia, including Carlos Khalil Guzman.
Muslims of America is Guzman’s photo series about Muslim Americans to show the community’s diversity and the “beauty and truthfulness of Islam.” Each persons photo includes a description of their favorite verse from the Qur’an, their experience being Muslim in America, and the role Islam has in their lives.
Guzman aims to show that Muslims are an integral part of American society, “beginning with African slaves being some of the first Muslims to reach this land,” Guzman wrote in his description of the project.
“We are your neighbors, coworkers and classmates. We come in all shapes and colors. We are teachers, artists, athletes, doctors, librarians, and every other profession you can think of,” Guzman said. “But more importantly we are human beings; we have dreams and aspirations and we are as much ‘American’ (for lack of a better word) as every other person living here.”
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Shadi, a college student from Massachusetts, said his favorite verse was “Heaven lies under the feet of your mother” by the Prophet Muhammad. Translated that means “Peace be upon him.” He says this verse reminds himself to be mindful of his parents and respect them.
Melanie said if she could describe Islam in one word, it would be “justice.” The CEO of HauteHijab in Michigan, which makes hijabs to “empower” women through their “inspiring stories, style, and commitment to faith,” believes that Islam demands justice in all life situations.
“The importance of vehemently demanding justice wherever you find yourself and in whatever capacity you can is an integral and crucial part of our role as Muslims here in the United States and abroad,” Melanie said.
Anti-Muslim incidents and crimes in the U.S. rose 57 percent since 2015 according to a report by the Council of American-Islamic Relations.
Just last month, a middle aged White supremacist killed two men and injured another. All were protecting two Muslim girls on a train in Portland, Oregon. About two weeks ago, a Muslim woman in Columbus, Ohio was beaten by a White male who yelled racial slurs.
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