Many community leaders and members fail to recognize race issues that are common in our faith circles today. I conducted a research on behalf of a major mosque in Toronto about 6ish years ago, and we discovered the following:
- Many brothers and sisters with an African background (some of whom were very actively involved in other Islamic organizations) refused going to their local Masjid as they did not feel a sense of belonging there.
- Even though many of the sermons are being given in English now, the conversation regarding the activities of the Masjid are still taking place in other languages.
- Leadership opportunities are often being provided on the basis of ethnic background.
- Leadership opportunities are often being provided on the basis of ethnic background.
- Masjids are becoming highway mosques, where everyone minds their own business, prays their Salah and leaves. There is little sense of brotherhood or community.
I should note that things are improving a lot since then, but unfortunately, the above points mostly still hold true.
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