The United States and Canada observe Labor Day every first Monday of September. The rest of the world honors Labor Day on May 1st. Instead of reflecting on the accomplishments and contributions of workers, we take a holiday, run errands, or shop. September’s Labor Day lacks rallies, commemorations, or political education efforts. Workers do not get a space to voice their demands or concerns. Labor Day sales do not help us connect our struggles with economic justice. Our Labor Day in September is simply a pressure release valve, a federal day off that many disenfranchised individuals do not get.
“Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, and it becomes impossible to deal with the existential problems we face.”
Maria Ressa (Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist)
This war on truth isn’t theoretical. We’ve seen it in political messaging , AI deep fakes, and media manipulation. Now that we get our information dispersed across podcasts, vlogs, and text messages it is becoming harder to tell fact from fiction. Disinformation distracts us, divides us, and discredits our movements. In today's world, elected officials share false stories about immigrants to stoke xenophobic and anti-Black sentiments to drive votes. Conspiracy theories fuel distrust and are used to undermine social justice movements. In this fast-paced Age of Information, we must learn to distinguish between propaganda and education and sensationalism and journalism.
The good news? You don't need a college degree to be media literate. Every day, people have always been truth-tellers, especially in our families and communities. Whether you're an auntie sharing news in a group chat, a teen on social media, or someone just trying to stay informed without getting overwhelmed, this guide is for you.
Juneteenth: More Than History—it’s a Movement We Must Protect
“The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world.” Malcolm X
Juneteenth marks not just the end of chattel slavery, but the beginning of a continued struggle for freedom. As federal troops enforced emancipation in Texas in 1865, systems of racial oppression evolved. Mass incarceration, labor trafficking, and border enforcement remain legal through loopholes like the 13th Amendment and state-sponsored exploitation. This regime threatens not only our civil rights, but our freedoms.
Under Siege: Erasing American Memory
The Trump administration and its Project 2025 blueprint have openly moved to dismantle institutions that preserve Black history. They have defunding museums like the National Museum of African American History, censoring school curricula, banning DEI, and even directing park rangers to flag “negative” narratives. Project 2025’s “Mandate for Leadership” calls for mass deportations and expanded executive powers, threatening immigrants and activists alike. In 2025, federal grant programs for Juneteenth were rescinded, shrinking celebrations and chilling organizers.
Modern Forms of Unfreedom
Global slavery still traps over 50 million people. In the U.S., over 400,000 are in forced labor in fields like agriculture, domestic work, incarceration, and sex trafficking . African migrants face exploitation in the kafala system—tied to employers in Gulf countries—and trafficking across international borders. This exploitation is the unpaid labor behind our smartphones, chocolate, and gold.
Our Role as MuslimARC
As a faith-rooted anti-racism collective, MuslimARC rejects the erasure of this ongoing struggle. We affirm:
- Abolition of mass incarceration and exploitative labor systems
- Divestment from racial capitalism and unjust supply chains
-
Investment in Black led freedom movements and Black Immigrant and Indigenous leadership
What You Can Do
- Speak out—call out historical erasure at Juneteenth events and in schools.
- Support DEI and grant-funded programs facing defunding.
- Divest from products built on exploitation—like cobalt, chocolate, gold, electronics.
-
Amplify Black- and immigrant-led campaigns for freedom and rights.
This Juneteenth, our struggle is not history—it’s alive. If our institutions seek to silence our stories, our answer must be louder, bolder, more united.
The fifth annual African Conference for Peace occurred in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from January 21 to 23, 2025. The forum gathered leaders and scholars to discuss the theme "The Imperative for Dialogue and the Pertinence of Reconciliations."The conference addressed challenges facing Africa, including climate change, migration, armed conflict, and the role of women and youth. A group of 22 African American Muslims led by Imam Talib Shareef of Masjid Muhammad in Washington, D.C., attended the conference. They were the first-ever African-American Muslim delegation representing the International Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation (ICPR).
On the second Monday of October, Americans celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday. Across the country, cities heeded the call from indigenous activists to stop celebrating the Italian navigator Cristopher Columbus. There is a growing discussion on indigeneity, genocide, and geopolitics over the past year. This Indigenous Peoples Day feels especially somber with climate change, genocide, and right-wing extremism on the rise. Read the full article to learn more about how we can support Indigenous Peoples where we live and globally.
[Washington, DC] – The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative proudly announces its participation in the March on Washington for Gaza scheduled for January 13, 2024. In conjunction with the march, MuslimARC has co-signed a letter addressed to President Biden, alongside 80 Muslim American, Arab-American, and Palestinian-American organizations, urging immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
By Layla Abdullah-Poulos
Nestled within the heart of the United States, the city known as Detroit holds a historical and contemporary significance that extends far beyond its geographical boundaries. Often referred to as the Motor City or Motown, Detroit bears a lesser-known moniker that encapsulates its deep-rooted significance in the struggle for racial justice: "Waawiyatanong," an Anishinaabe Native American name meaning "the place of the caribou bones." Unpacking the layers of this name reveals a narrative that intertwines Indigenous heritage, African American history, and the ongoing fight for racial equality.
We want to express our deep sorrow and outrage over the recent shooting at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. This horrifying incident, driven by hate and racism, is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address systemic racism and its pervasive impact on our communities.
For over 400 years, Black people have lived in fear of racial violence in this country. On Saturday, August 26, 2023, a white gunman opened fire at a Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida. He killed Angela Michelle Carr, 52, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., 19, and Jerrald Gallion, 29, before turning the gun on himself. The 21-year-old gunman, Ryan Palmeter, left behind manifestos detailing his racist ideologies. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the Jacksonville community. Crimes motivated by hate are not just attacks on innocent people but against communities and our pluralistic society.
On August 28, 1963, history witnessed an iconic event reverberating through generations: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Marking its 60th anniversary, this historic event was pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement, illuminating pressing racial issues such as voting rights, economic justice, and freedom. As we commemorate this milestone, we must reflect on our progress and persistent challenges while recognizing the crucial role of anti-racism training in building a more just society.
Our condolences and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Mohammad Ahmadi (62), Muhammad Afzaal Hussain (27), Aftab Hussein (41), and Naeem Hussain (25). As we await details of the case, our hearts go out to the Albuquerque community and our Shi’a family. You deserve to be safe, you deserve to be loved, and you deserve to practice your faith free from fear of religiously-motivated violence. Echoing other statements in the wake of the Albuquerque murders, we at MuslimARC build on these calls for protection to understand this act of interpersonal violence on a larger systemic level within a racial justice lens. Our response strives to offer action steps that our Ummah–particularly Sunni Muslims–can take to counter the systemic oppression of our Shi'a kindred.
