On The Square

In this episode of On The Square, guest host Tahirah Nailah Dean speaks with Dr. Aminah McBryde on the impact of singlism on the mental health of unmarried Muslims. Dr. Aminah McBryde is a recent PhD graduate in Community Health Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and holds a Master's in Public Health from the University at Buffalo in Community Health and Health Behavior. Tahirah Nailah Dean is a writer and lawyer currently living in Oakland, California.

In this episode of On The Square, Sapelo Square’s Executive Director Latasha Rouseau talks with Tiffany Green-Abdullah, author of The Bean Pie: A Remembering of Our Family’s Faith, Fortitude and Forgiveness. Tiffany starts by sharing how her great aunt, Daisy Kennon, crafted the original bean pie recipe for the Nation of Islam, which would later become a staple in the Black Muslim community. Tiffany grew up learning about the integral role her aunt played in the bean pie through family oral tradition. Spurred by a desire to dig deeper, she began a journey that would require much reflection on the lives of her aunt, grandmother and mother. Delving into her family’s history reopened old wounds and uncovered past traumas that were lying beneath the surface. The results of her efforts is a testament to the healing power of faith and forgiveness. Guest Bio: Tiffany Green-Abdullah is a visionary leader and speaker in learning innovations, community development, and life coaching. Hailing from Chicago, she was a first-generation college student and has obtained multiple degrees, including a Bachelors in economics and a Masters of Education, both from Vanderbilt University. When she isn’t writing, Tiffany is the Chief Executive Officer at her consulting firm, Tiffany Green Consultants as well as giving back to the community through committee and board involvement. She lives in Atlanta with her son. Tiffany dreams of turning her writings into movies and television shows.

In this episode of On The Square, Sapelo Square’s Senior Editor Ambata Kazi talks with Aaliyah Bilal, author of the new book, Temple Folk, a collection of short stories portraying the lived experiences of Black Muslims grappling with faith, family, and freedom in America.Aaliyah shares her literary influences and how her interests in American Muslim history, especially the history of the Nation of Islam and its role in shaping the nation, inspired her to write the stories that comprise her collection. Ambata and Aaliyah discuss the challenges of being a Muslim writer: writing about difficult or taboo subjects, without fear or a need for approval, and away from the traps of the outside gaze. Aaliyah also shares advice for new and interested writers on how to nurture their own unique voices and perspectives and write with confidence.___________________Aaliyah Bilal was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She has degrees from Oberlin College and the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies. Her stories and essays have been published with The Michigan Quarterly Review, The Rumpus and The Chicago Quarterly Review. Temple Folk is her first book. Her website is www.aaliyahbilal.com

On this episode of On The Square, Sapelo Square’s News Editor Dr. Nisa Muhammad speaks with Yaya Fanusie, creator of The Jabbari Lincoln Files. The Jabbari Lincoln Files is an international spy thriller presented in a 10-episode podcast series. The protagonist is a Black Muslim CIA Financial Analyst who takes listeners on the ride of a lifetime through intriguing narratives and audio effects that will have you on the edge of your seat. Fanusie spent seven years as both an economic and counterterrorism analyst in the CIA. He brings his knowledge and background to life through Jabbari Lincoln, weaving the Black experience and Islam into the storyline. Without giving away any spoilers, this podcast will introduce you to your next favorite listen. It’s that good.

Aïdah Aliyah Rasheed, Special Projects Lead sits down with Bee Walker, photographer, filmmaker and one-half of Paper Monday. Within this episode, Aïdah and Bee talk about the beginning stages behind the collaborative project between Sapelo Square and Paper Monday, Preserving the Legacy Portraits and Stories Capturing Black Muslim Life.* Bee shares a specific experience that occurred when Aïdah invited her to attend Jumu’ah (Friday prayer service) at Masjid Khalifah in Brooklyn, New York. Additionally the two discuss specifics about the creative process and balancing paying bills while simultaneously honoring their main intentions as creatives in the world, striving to “make art that matters.” This conversation serves as an encouragement to Black creatives and storytellers who, like most people, have doubts about their abilities, whether they will secure adequate resources for their projects or cultivate an audience who will appreciate their gifts, to continue to push forward when obstacles may seem insurmountable. This episode also touches on the importance of telling our stories with intentionality, having faith and persevering through it all. You can keep up with Paper Monday on Instagram: @papermonday *Within the introduction of the podcast episode the website link mentioned was incorrect. The correct link is: https://www.preservinglegacy.online

In this episode of On The Square, we talk with Gilary Massa-Machado a community activist from Canada, Tahir Fuzile Sitoto, a lecturer from South Africa, and Ismael Lea South, a community and youth consultant from United Kingdom on the differences and the shared experiences of being Black and Muslim in the 21st century. Credits:On The Square’s theme music was created by Fanatik OnBeats.Artwork for On The Square was created by Scheme of Things Graphics.

In this episode On The Square, we talk about sex! Sapelo Square Senior Editor Su’ad Abdul Khabeer chats with The Village Auntie, Angelica Lindsey-Ali, a certfied sexual health educator and expert on all things sex, intimacy and womanhood from an African and Islamic perspecitve. Credits:On The Square’s theme music was created by Fanatik OnBeats.Artwork for On The Square was created by Scheme of Things Graphics.

In this episode, Sapelo Square History Editor Zaheer Ali speaks with Tulani Salahu-Din, museum specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, about Muslim artifacts at the museum and the importance of preserving Muslim material culture.

In this episode, Sapelo Square History Editor Zaheer Ali speaks with Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer about her latest work, Umi’s Archive, a multimedia research project that digs deep into the life of her mother, Amina Amatul Haqq (neé Audrey Weeks), to explore the meanings of being Black in the world. Opening contains audio from a video performance by Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer, featured in “Why Umi’s Archive?” This episode includes an excerpt from Suad El-Amin’s “Shahadah.” On The Square theme music was created by Fanatik OnBeats. Artwork for On The Square was created by Scheme of Things Graphics.

In this episode our host, Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer talks with Siddeeqah Sharif Fichman an Afro-Native Muslim and community advocate and Hazel Gómez, a faith-based community organizer, about Being Muslim on Turtle Island. This deep discussion digs into questions such as What would make a Muslim a settler or indigenous to North America? How might settler thinking shape how we live as Muslims today? What are the responsibilities of Muslims, as a whole, to the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas? During the conversation, Hazel reads the poem “Child of the Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales (shared below) and Siddeqah introduces us to the song “Bilalian Man” by Sister Khalifah Abdul Rahman.* To the question, if Black Islam had a theme song what would it be? Hazel chose “Allah” by Khalil Ismail and Siddeeqah chose “Bilalian Man” as her Black Muslim theme song. The song excerpt in the episode is sung by Siddeeqah’s mother, Sister Sabreen Sharif. For more information see sapelosquare.com/onthesquare