#Blackiftar Created by Samira Iman Aims to Create a Safe Space for Black Muslims & Their Friends

by Amaliah Team in Culture & Lifestyle on 22nd May, 2019

The #Blackiftar initiative was formally created by Samira Iman in 2015. It focuses the importance of creating purposeful spaces especially during months like Ramadan where the community comes alive. Delight and happiness is clear to see on Twitter. Whilst the events were created in the USA, we are creating the same spaces independently in the UK too.

The Black Iftar site states:

“Black Iftar was created with the intention of celebrating a daily Ramadan ritual, the sunset meal with Black Muslims & their friends.”

For a full interview with the founder of #Blackiftar, read a recent interview by Ikran Dahir in Buzzfeed

Samira shares on Twitter that “Black iftar is a 100% volunteer effort led by black muslim women. Literally – the hosts thought, ‘this is dope, I want to bring this to my community & city too’, & are making it happen during Ramadan, while also fasting, praying, reading Quran, working fulltime, lovin on they fam.”

The initiative has its doors open to all during the month of Ramadan, including those of other religious groups. However, #BlackIftar wanted to create a space that importantly raises awareness of the struggles Black Muslims often face in community or mosque spaces, where needs are often met to a certain ethnic demographics over the Black Muslim community or spaces have not felt inclusive. The initiative has stated on their site that this is especially true of cities in the USA like Chicago.

https://twitter.com/KameelahRashad/status/1131013541325090816

https://twitter.com/msbmack/status/1128541481114001408

https://twitter.com/msbmack/status/1128539061591924736

https://twitter.com/DawnNajma/status/1129896377415348225

https://twitter.com/_hali_1/status/1129121439909580803

https://twitter.com/DawnNajma/status/1129234267454824448

https://twitter.com/MsMakkah/status/1129099184207028224

https://twitter.com/NdidiWrites/status/1129255419640254465

https://twitter.com/DawnNajma/status/1129230660487532544

https://twitter.com/msbmack/status/1129228770156662784

https://twitter.com/KameelahRashad/status/1131013541325090816

https://twitter.com/_hali_1/status/1129121576186712064

https://twitter.com/KeiyAlexis/status/1131011707705397249

Some Muslims in the community have tried to shut down the idea of #Blackiftar but have been shut down, because there’s no space for that negativity!

https://twitter.com/afrobajan/status/1130908791963303936

https://twitter.com/ethnorealism/status/1009104823462096896

https://twitter.com/ethiopaki/status/1006010038744436738

Amaliah Team

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#Blackiftar Created by Samira Iman Aims to Create a Safe Space for Black Muslims & Their Friends

Amaliah Team

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#Blackiftar Created by Samira Iman Aims to Create a Safe Space for Black Muslims & Their Friends

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