Classes: June 3, 2024 – June 28, 2024

Resistance:

Islam and Slavery  

This four-week online course explores the complex and under-examined history of slavery through the lens of Islam. Students will engage with the literary works of prominent scholars to gain a nuanced understanding of this institution within the Islamic world. From conceptualizing “Black Orientalism”, diving into unique aspects of the African slave trade, the transformative impact of Islam on those enslaved and the ethical considerations of slavery in an Islamic framework.

Dr. Tseleq Yusef is an Assistant Professor of History at Bethune Cookman University.  His research looks at the criminalization of race and how race is criminalized.  He has also researched the origins of Muslim communities in East-Central Illinois with specific attention given to intra-faith relationships and diversity as experienced by African-American Muslim males.

Resistance: Writing Us

In this course, you will explore your thoughts about us as an African/Black American Muslim community. This engaging online course equips students with the tools to write compelling pieces for various publications. Over four weeks, you’ll gain experience in crafting:

• Scholarly Articles: Begin to master the structure and language for impactful submissions to peer-reviewed journals.
• Opinion Pieces: Learn to express your informed insights and ignite discussions through persuasive writing.
• Website Content: Discover the art of creating engaging and informative website copy.

By the end of this course, students will have confidence in submitting publishable pieces that get noticed.

Dr. Aminah Al-Deen is professor emerita of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at DePaul University. In 2006 she founded the United States’ first undergraduate baccalaureate program in Islamic World Studies. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Islamic Law & Culture. Her book publications include: African American Islam, Questions of Faith, Transnational Muslims in America, Introduction to Islam in the 21st Century, Global Muslims in the 21st century, History of Arab Americans: Exploring Diverse Roots and Muslim Ethics in the 21st Century.  Dr. Al-Deen is a Senior Fulbright Scholar, an advisory board member of the Institute for Social and Policy Understanding (ISPU), board member of The American Islamic College, executive board member of IMAN (Inner City Muslim Action Network) and the American editor for the Muslim Minorities in the West Series for Brill Publishers. She is also an editor of Anthropology and Ethnology Open Access Journal.

Documenting Resistance:

Making Movies With Your Phone   

Turn your smartphone into a mini-film studio! This engaging online course equips participants with the skills to create captivating movies using their phone. Over four weeks, students will transition from a phone photographer to a mobile moviemaker. Learners will also  understand the importance of content as more than simply entertainment but as an avenue of resistance, briefly discussing the history of film and how it has transformed into content as we know it today.

No fancy equipment is needed! This course focuses on maximizing the potential of your smartphone camera and readily available applications.

Malikah A. Shabazz is a Detroit-based content and event producer and photographer. She has worked as a television producer for a major cable network and served as post production producer for the short film BodyMore. She served as the multimedia producer for Sapelo Square, is the curator of #BilalianExperience, a platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the narrative of Black American Muslims in American Media.

Malikah is a 2021 Fellow of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau/Blackhouse Inaugural Television Screenwriting Lab for Black Muslims. She wrote, directed and produced her first short film CONSTERNATION in 2018. Her previous projects also include The Vortex and Transplants. Malikah is currently in pre-production for her next short film, Amethyst. Malikah also hosts and produces a podcast, The Creative Snug, which serves as an audio safe space for creatives to “figure it out.” In 2022 she curated her first exhibition, Jumuah at Masjid Al-Earth, as part of Design Core’s Month of Design in Detroit, MI. Her own piece, ‘The Guardian’ was a featured in the exhibition. Clients have included The Avalon Village, Dream of Detroit, Charivari Detroit, New Africa Designs, Love Is Always The Subject, and others.

Write Resistance:

Crafting Books for Children and Teens That Empower Muslim Voices   

This dynamic online course delves into writing books for young people that center on Black Muslim experiences. Over four weeks, we’ll explore the basics of storytelling for children and teens and begin a conversation about how our books can be powerful tools for resistance and positive self-identity. In the end, students will walk away with story openings and resources for entering publishing.

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is an award-winning children’s book author. Before entering the literary world, she worked as an educator for more than fifteen years, teaching children and teens in schools and alternative settings and developing foundational curricula for the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC). This work continues to influence her writing. Her picture books and middle grade fiction, which center Black and Muslim protagonists, have been recognized as the best in children’s literature by many educational institutions and reputable publications, including Time, Ebony, and NPR. She is a two-time winner of the Muslim Bookstagram picture book award and she has earned the prestigious Walter, Irma Black, and Golden Kite award honors for her work. In addition to producing children’s literature, she invests her time in the mentorship of aspiring authors through We Need Diverse Books and the Highlights Foundation. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and their two sons.