This is an e-mail that was circulated between a person and a few scholars. I think this issue is important and needs to be discussed further. Please take a minute and read it and lets think of way that we can combat this issue.

InshaAllah this reaches everyone in good health. By the grace of Allah (swt) many active and sincerely devoted youth have begun to connect with each other from all across the country. Through mediums such as email list servs, conferences, face book, and online forums these youth have demonstrated incredible understanding of Islam's revolutionary ideology. Often times because of their unadulterated view of Islamic tradition, they end up feeling isolated within their own communities and resort to finding young adults through other means. In the last couple of years we have begun to exchange ideas about the future of Islam in America and the necessary steps that need to be taken by communities and their respective leaders. After noticing that many of our communities are facing the same problems, and feeling that the majority have neglected to address them properly, we have decided to take our issues directly to our scholars across the board.

One of these preeminent issues is regarding race relations, and ethnocentricity. The reality of the matter is that racism exists down to the roots of many Islamic centers, pervading even up to the mouths of some religious leaders. The Caucasian, Black and African American, and Latino growing Shia communities are feeling more and more isolated as they continue to search for avenues to practice their new found faith. The masjids are increasingly becoming deficient for our new converts and reverts by failing to provide adequate resources. Often times they naturally bring with them their old styles of dress, hair, and slang. Unfortunately out of lack of insight and patience, many centers stuck in their own cultural ignorance tend to shun and look down upon such 'foreign' behaviors. Countless numbers of reverts have turned back from Islam because of this type of attitude.

As the Muslim community in America, we need to look at people for their piety and sincerity more than ever before. In a country which relatively embraces diversity more than others, we must understand that pure Islam is actually the archetype for a diverse community. If we Muslims ourselves are refusing to admit to the problem of racism on a large scale, how can we even begin to take our ummah forward in the right direction.

If we just flash back to the disaster in New Orleans, we can see clearly from the lack of response from the Shia ulema in America the misplacement of priorities when faced with real issues. Or even more recently, regarding the Jena 6 and our continual ignoring of responsibilities.

But I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise when in our own communities Black and African Americans are treated as second class citizen, often times patronized if not marginalized. Even if communities give these new reverts proper hospitality, it is very often superficial. We may smile and give them our salutations, but we would never give them our sons or daughters in marriage. Such respect can actually be considered a greater form of disrespect and sometimes is often seen as such by new members of our communities.

We humbly ask that you dear scholars address the issues at hand down to their root level. For example, comforting us by explaining the Islamic traditions regarding marriage is simply not enough anymore. This problem exists beyond not understanding Islamic teachings but actually resides in the vices of greed, racism, ethnocentrism, materialism, etc.

As Muslims in the West looking for leadership and striving to move forward, we are tired of words without actions. Discussing text book solutions is simply not enough by the Islamic standard. In the issue of racial intolerance there is no room for a lack of action. The indigenous nationalities of this land who are converting to Islam ever more rapidly, do not deserve to be treated like second-class citizens. Those of us who are immigrants or come from immigrant backgrounds will not and should not tolerate leadership that doesn't seek to promote justice and equality between all backgrounds. There is enough evidence to prove that talk without action is creating deeper rifts between the different racial and ethnic groups. We are simply humbly asking that our scholars address this issue very seriously with positive steps, and not simply sideline it as if it were not a priority.

May Allah protect us all.

Alaikum Salaam wa Rahmatullah

-concerned youth