Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, November 2011, Pages 56-57
Muslim American Activism
Iftar Celebrates America's Islamic Heritage Museum
Imam Talib Shareef, a retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant and imam for the historic Masjid Muhammad in Washington, DC, welcomed guests to an iftar dinner at America's Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center on Aug. 26—one of four fast-breaking dinners hosted by the museum during Ramadan 2011.
The museum, located in the Clara Muhammad School at 2315 Martin Luther King Ave. in southeast Washington, DC, is a must-see destination for visitors to the nation's capital. Each room captures the rich heritage and valuable contributions of Muslims in America throughout history, from former African slaves to current military service members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are Muslim symbols on American tombstones dating from the 1800s, and more recently on graves in Arlington Cemetery for soldiers who fought in World War II, Vietnam and Iraq. Visitors can learn the history behind the lovely U.S. Eid stamp. They can also see a Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, cover photo depicting Muslim-American girls, their faces reflecting sorrow at a candlelight vigil following the attacks on 9/11.
Visitors can read about the history of Elijah Muhammad, an African-American religious leader who led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. The legendary professional boxer Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, has his own wall, along with other Muslim heroes.
Dianne Dale discussed her book The Village That Shaped Us, which examines the history of the Anacostia community where the Islamic Heritage Museum is located. Patsy Fletcher from the DC Historic Preservation office gave a presentation on the history of the former Clara Muhammad School (CMS) building, which now houses the museum. The CMS building was built in 1924 as a carriage and paint shop, she said, and was owned by James Beall, a descendant of the family that once owned and freed the enslaved Muslim Yarrow Marmood back in the late 1700s.
Imam Talib spoke about common concerns of Americans—Muslims, Christians and Jews alike—and the interests of human beings to serve humanity. Special guest Paul Monterio, the religious liaison associate director for the White House Office of Public Engagement, shared President Barack Obama's Ramadan greetings and expressed the President's vision of faith-based community engagement. Everyone then tucked in to a fantastic iftar dinner.
—Delinda C. Hanley
