Identity Politics: A podcast on race, gender and Muslims in America

Is it possible to be "just Muslim?" In Episode 14, Sarrah AbuLughod and Shereen Yousuf reflect on Shia erasure and being invisible minorities in the American Muslim community. Guests: Sarrah AbuLughod, @SarrahABL, is the Community Engagement Manager at The Family and Youth Institute and a graduate student of Islamic Studies, Christian Muslim Relations, and Islamic Chaplaincy at Hartford Seminary. Shereen Yousuf, @ShereenYousuf, is a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture Program. She has been a community organizer within the Shia community and is deeply interested in how Muslims are negotiating their sense of belonging within American Muslim communities. Episode Details: (1:10) Sarrah recalls the first time she was labelled as a Shia Muslim. (4:00) Ikhlas and Makkah reflect on when they learned about the many ways that Islam is practiced throughout the world. (12:40) We discuss what we learned about #TeamMuslim from Mahershala Ali's Oscar Win. (18:13) Makkah asks her friend Sarrah to break down the different experiences that Shia and Sunni Muslims have in America and gets a little advice on how to frame (and not to frame) this episode. (27:54) A chat with Shereen about the big and small ways that Shia erasure occurs within our communities and what we can do about it. Episode Resources: "Shiaphobia at the Intersection and Why it Matters" www.patheos.com/blogs/hindtrospec…d-why-it-matters/ "Someone Murdered the Prophet’s Grandson and you ask why I Mourn Him?" sapelosquare.com/2016/10/12/someo…why-i-mourn-him/ "10 Tips to Make MSAs More Shia Friendly" muharraminmanhattan.com/2014/11/14/msa_tips/ After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam www.amazon.com/Shiite-Allamah-Sa…bai/dp/0873953908 The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate https://www.amazon.com/Succession-Muhammad-Study-Early-Caliphate/dp/0521646960 "Religious Authenticity in the Face of Anti-Muslim Sentiment" www.altmuslimah.com/2017/03/religio…slim-sentiment/ Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN

Where are you from? No, where are you *really* from? It's a question that many Black Americans don't always want to or know how to answer. As Black History Month winds down, Makkah and Ikhlas speak with Kameelah Rashad and Bashirah Mack about why they decided to learn more about who they are and where they come from, and the emotional journeys that ensued. Guests: Bashirah Mack, @msbmack, Social Media Coordinator for Sapelo Square. Kameelah Rashad, @KameelahRashad, founder of the Muslim Wellness Foundation and the interfaith fellow for spirituality, wellness & social justice at the University of Pennsylvania. Episode details: (1:08) Ikhlas and Makkah talk about what Black History Month means to them, the sometimes painful task of uncovering family history and being inspired by those who do the work. (13:47) Conversation with Bashirah Mack and Kameelah Rashad where they discuss everything from longing to know their history, to connecting the family tree and figuring out what to do with the information they collect. (53:03) Bashirah reveals DNA Ancestry results and you'll be surprised what she finds out. Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Check out our website: http://www.altmuslimah.com/category/culture/identity-politics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__Kytt/Heavy_Crazy_Serious/Blank__Kytt_-_Heavy_Crazy_Serious_-_08_RSPN Transition music: Emo Step Show by The Custodian of Records, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Custodian_of_Records/She_Hate_Me/Emo_Step_Show

Do you ever feel like you exist in a world that doesn't have space for someone like you? In Episode 12, Ikhlas interviews her good friend Yasmine Muhammad about her struggle to find her voice within Islam. We also speak with writers and poets Fatimah Asghar, Safia Elhillo and Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib about how and why they use their art to shine a light on experiences that young Muslims aren't always encouraged to share. Guests: Yasmine Muhammad: Sailor in the U.S. Navy, communications specialist and mother of two. Fatimah Asghar: Poet, educator and creator of the new webseries Brown Girls. Safia Elhillo: Writer, poet and co-editor (with Fatimah Asghar) of HALAL IF YOU HEAR ME, a collection of writing by Muslim women, gender non conforming, queer and trans writers. Safia’s first full-length collection, The January Children, is coming soon. Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib: Poet, essayist and MTV cultural critic. His book of poetry, The Crown Ain’t Worth Much, is available now. Episode details: (1:05) Ikhlas and Makkah talk about who you should be following on Twitter, why you should go see James Baldwin’s “I Am Not Your Negro” and the role Muslim artists play in affirming the identities of young Muslims. (11:30) Ikhlas speaks to her longtime friend from Yasmine Muhammad about growing up as an aspiring artist and not seeing herself reflected within the Muslim community. (25:00) A chat with artists Hanif, Fatimah and Safia on why they do the work they do. (31:30) We’re a little obsessed with Zayn Malik and what it means to be Muslim. (37:45) Where, unlike in your parents’ home, Fatimah talks about desire and her new web series Brown Girls. (Somehow, Zayn Malik also manages to come up again) Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-politics-podcast/id1175472910?mt=2 Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @msMakkah and @identitypolpod. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics/ Check out our website: http://www.altmuslimah.com/category/culture/identity-politics/ Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__Kytt/Heavy_Crazy_Serious/Blank__Kytt_-_Heavy_Crazy_Serious_-_08_RSPN Transition music: Broke For Free by Night Owl, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_01_Night_Owl

It's time to talk about race with one group of American Muslims we don't often hear from on this topic: white people. In Episode 11, we chat with Alex and Lauren, two young white Americans, about how being Muslim influences the way they think about, talk about and experience race. Guests: Alex and Lauren Episode details: (1:01) A look back on 2016 and how the podcast went from being a hot mess to Ikhlas and Makkah realizing they might be on to something (4:48) The #RIS2016 controversy and why racial competency is more important than ever (11:00) Making a case for why it’s time to bring white people into conversations about race in America (13:30) An interview with two young white Muslims about how being Muslim complicates their relationship to whiteness Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ident…d1175472910?mt=2 Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @msMakkah and @identitypolpod. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics/ Check out our website: www.altmuslimah.com/category/cultur…ntity-politics/ Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN Transition music: Cash Rules by Ari de Niro, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ari_de_Niro/Jules_Lives/Cash_Rules Trap Lyfe by Ari de Niro, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ari_de_Niro/Jules_Lives/Trap_Lyfe

What’s the relationship between race, religion and hip hop? Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer joins us on this episode to talk about what she calls Muslim Cool—a way of being Muslim in the U.S. that explores the relationship between Islam, hip hop and popular culture. Guest: Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer Follow @DrSuad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrSuad Check out her website: http://www.suadabdulkhabeer.com And you can buy Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States here: http://www.suadabdulkhabeer.com/muslim-cool-book/ Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-politics-podcast/id1175472910?mt=2 Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @msMakkah and @identitypolpod. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/identitypolitics/ Check out our website: http://www.altmuslimah.com/category/culture/identity-politics/ Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__Kytt/Heavy_Crazy_Serious/Blank__Kytt_-_Heavy_Crazy_Serious_-_08_RSPN Transition music: Emo Step Show by The Custodian of Records, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Custodian_of_Records/She_Hate_Me/Emo_Step_Show 05 Too Complex Instrumental by 6th Sense, CC-licensed: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/6th_Sense/Its_A_6th_Sense_Beat_Yo/05_Too_Complex_Instrumental_____6th_Sense_amp_The_Kid_Daytonamp3

Listen to four young Muslims talk about how they felt on election night, what they did after and where we can go from here. Guests (in order of appearance): Farha Tahir Joshua Wilkerson Sarina Bajwa Maryam Adamu(featuring a quote by Paul Jackson) Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @msMakkah and @identitypolpod. Check out our site: http://www.altmuslimah.com/category/culture/identity-politics/

Ikhlas and Makkah are back and excited to sit down with Asma Uddin, founding editor-in-chief of AltMuslimah to talk about hijabis on Instagram, exercising our religious liberties and what it means to aspire to be the "first hijabi" anything. Follow Asma on Twitter here: @asmauddinesq Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on Soundcloud and Stitcher so you'll never miss an episode. Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @msMakkah and @identitypolpod. Check out our site: http://www.altmuslimah.com/category/culture/identity-politics/

Ikhlas and Makkah are back with a new name, new home, and new episodes. Listen to our teaser to find out why we switched from Haya wa Iman to Identity Politics, our new home at AltMuslimah and what you can expect from this season.

Ikhlas and Makkah talk deen and dunya, how to get closer to #RamadanGoals, and struggle to remember Ramadans pre-25. Thanks for listening, here’s where you can find us: Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you’ll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN

Tune in for a conversation about love: how to find it, how to keep it, and what happens when you lose it. Ikhlas and Makkah speak to a few folks in different stages of their romantic journeys about relationships, marriage, and "Black Love," that alluring concept that Barack and Michelle have us all craving. Guests: Imam Nadim and Mu’mina Ali, Makkah's parents Ihssan Tahir, @IhssanTahir, blogger at MUSLIMnLOVE Joshua Wilkerson, Ikhlas' husband, @AskiyaAli Thanks for listening, here’s where you can find us: Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you’ll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN

On this episode, Ikhlas and Makkah speak to a few folks in different stages of their romantic journeys about relationships, marriage, and "Black Love," that alluring concept that Barack and Michelle have us all craving. Tune in for this conversation about love: how to find it, how to keep it, and what happens when you lose it.

On being “Black,” “Black Americans,” “African Americans,” and sometimes “Americans from Africa.”

On being “Black,” “Black Americans,” “African Americans,” and sometimes “Americans from Africa.”

On this episode of the podcast, formerly known as Haya wa Iman, Ikhlas and Makkah invite resident diaspora experts, Maryam Adamu and Samira Abderahman, to discuss being “Black,” “Black Americans,” “African Americans,” and sometimes “Americans from Africa.” Guests: Maryam Adamu, @maroadamu Samira Abderahman, @SamiraImam_ Thanks for listening, here’s where you can find us: Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you’ll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN IdentityPolitics PodcastMuslimsSocialJusticeActivismIslamRacismDiaspora

Ikhlas announces a new co-host and brings Nijla Mu'min onto the podcast to discuss the importance of complex Black and Muslim representation in art and her upcoming film "Jinn." Plus, a special shoutout to Ciara and Russell Wilson for renewing our faith in humanity. Thanks for listening, here’s where you can find us: Subscribe and follow Identity Politics on iTunes, Soundcloud, Acast and Stitcher so you’ll never miss an episode. And don’t forget to rate and review us: itun.es/us/oSeegb.c Follow us on Twitter: @i_saleem, @MsMakkah and @identitypolpod Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/identitypolitics Questions, comments, suggestions? Email identitypoliticspodcast@gmail.com Intro and Outro Music: RSPN by Blank and Kytt, CC-licensed: freemusicarchive.org/music/Blank__K…ious_-_08_RSPN racegendermuslimsamericablackchicagofaithspiritualityhayawaimanreligionsocietyculture