Who was the first “anti-racist”? Arguably, it was Prophet Muhammad. This topic was the focus of my trip to Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. Here I am on it’s beautiful upper campus, filmed 20 minutes or so before Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and I sat down for an hour long conversation on a range of issues including the life and legacy of Muhammad, the synthesis of civilizations, our indebtedness to those who came before us, and our higher calling as human beings. The discussion will be released at some point in the near future on YouTube. A short video on my views of Prophet Muhammad and anti-racism will also be published in the near future by the Emir-Stein Center of Zaytuna College. A very rewarding and enriching experience.
Prophet Muhammad is one of the most vilified & misunderstood individuals in the history of the world. In this talk, “Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity: Lessons for Our Time,” I will dispel misinformation about Muhammad in an accessible, appealing, & scholarly manner. I will present historical sources & stories about Muhammad’s relations with Jews, Christians, & people of various walks of life, & inspire new understandings of the life & legacy of the Prophet of Islam. I will stress Muhammad’s love of humanity through the prism of several sociological concepts including anti-racism, religious pluralism, social justice, & civic nation building. Hope to see you in Dallas!
My roots are strong and deep in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture 1 was taken recently on Hanover Street, the main street in the North End, the historic Italian neighborhood of Boston. Picture 2 was taken in St. Leonard’s Church, also on Hanover Street, where my grandmother Angelina and grandfather Joseph were married. Picture 3 was taken at the bottom of Snowhill Street, where Angie once lived in a small apartment with her parents and sisters. Picture 4 is @mv_xoxo and I on Hanover Street, soaking it all in. It is only if you know the truth about where your roots are, and where you came from, that you can truly know how to live your life. Family roots are your link to the past that provides you with important directions for the future.
