The issue of liquor stores in poor African-American neighborhoods such as those in Oakland, California has long been an issue of contention with urban activists. Seen by many as magnets for criminal behavior and contributing to alcohol abuse among the poor, liquor stores were one of the first targets in the 1992 Los Angeles riots. It gets even more complicated when you consider that 80% of Oakland's 360 liquor stores are owned by Yemeni Muslim immigrants.

Aside from the obvious implications of Muslims selling alcohol (and in turn contributing a large share of the donations for several Bay Area mosques), this fact brings a religious dimension to a community conflict where Muslims can be found on both sides of the struggle. While a few Muslim community members (mainly African-Americans) have raised the issue of Muslims contributing to the decline of inner-city neighborhoods through their domination of the liquor store business, the war of words has never escalated into violence. For that, it took an offshoot Muslim group (well, make that an offshoot of an offshoot) to finally take matters - and several crowbars - into their own hands last week at two stores. "The suspects entered the store and questioned why a Muslim-owned store would sell alcoholic beverages when it is against the Muslim religion," Oakland police said in a statement.

Then, in full view of video cameras, the store was vandalized until broken bottles of hard liquor littered the floor. A few days later, store clerk Abdel Hamdan was kidnapped and thrown in a trunk while others lit the store on fire. Spokespeople from the Nation of Islam joined the Yemeni American Grocers Association to condemn the attacks. "That is not our way," said Nation of Islam spokesperson Tony Mohammed. "Our job is to kill the appetite (for alcohol) in the black community." After denying any knowledge of the attacks, a spokesman for the splinter Black Muslim sect that runs a bakery (their slogan: "A Taste of the Hereafter") and other small businesses in North Oakland (and apparently thinks the Nation of Islam is too soft) turned himself in to authorities.

Yusuf Bey IV - whose father founded the sect and died last year amid charges of corruption and rape - turned himself in along with an accomplice to face charges of robbery, vandalism, and making terrorist threats. While this particular string of attacks may have been solved, the larger issue of alcohol in poor neighborhoods - and Muslim complicity in its proliferation - has yet to be addressed by the larger immigrant Muslim community in a more productive manner. Barring that, more violence may be on the way.

I buy my beer from a Muslim. What's the problem? Could someone educate me, please?

Timely discussion. Just yesterday I heard a discussion on this attack on "News and Notes with Ed Gordon" on NPR, a show aimed at the African American demographic. It is archived here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5032483

Interestingly, the religion and ethnicity of the store owners isn't even mentioned by the commentators.

This comes one week after a more violent attack on a liquor store in Chicago's South Suburbs, where the Palestinian Muslim owner of the store was shot and his 27-year old daughter was killed by a masked assailant. Details here (for a while, requires registration):

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0511300217nov30,1,4655.story

Of note is that the police have NOT characterized this attack as a robbery, as they can't tell if anything was actually stolen, and the perpetrators have not yet been apprehended.

I'm curious as to which dynamic *may* be the stronger motivator here: the Muslim anger at having Muslims sell liquor, or the African American anger at seeing other people making money at the expense of flooding their communities with a societal poison?

It might be a mix of both motivators: our so called brethren in faith are sustaining themselves by poisoning our communities, from the African American point of view. Many people have exploited African American communities; it's time for Muslims to engage in ethical economics.

I think it is payback, not only for Muslims selling what they can't consume and make a living based on, but also because immigrants, especially of the Arab lands, terribly disrespecting the blacks who work for them in Penn. The immigrant owners got a history of pay bad, mouthing off, insulting, and all around being task masters to their employees. This is not about alcohol alone, but some stuff. In the east coast, like Phily, it's really bad.

Here's the time - for progressives, the muslim right wing, and all the rest of us to rally behind the Black Muslim cause. To be sure, they have been restrained - not really hurting people, and the material damage is not irreversible. You know all of you telling us how the French riots had 'a cause', and reasons - well here's the chance to practice what we preach. Lets call on the Yemeni Grocers Association to stop selling liquor in Black neighborhoods. Of course, I am not justifying property damage or robberies etc. But lets be sure where the cause is. Its not abput misplaced emphasis on private property and capitalism.

Black Pride, Black Power!

>>Lets call on the Yemeni Grocers Association to stop selling liquor in Black neighborhoods.

I would hope they would simply stop selling alcohol to *anyone*...

Alcohol in Islam is prohibited , unlawful , HARAM. it is HARAM for a muslim to sell alcohol, consume it, deliver it or have anything to do with it
The Prophet alaihi asalam cursed the people who make the alcohol, deliver it, sell it and consume it. the money that is donated to islamic causes from the sales of alcohol is unlawful and would not be accepted by Allah
Thats the islamic view then you start looking at what it does to the neighbourhoods and the poor people in those neighbourhoods whether they are muslims or not ,, you wonder why the prohibition ban on alcohol wasnt reinstated,,
im not saying smashing the store and putting it on fire is the right thing to do but there are many other civilized ways of dealing with these things..

>Here's the time - for progressives, the muslim right wing<

what theyll buy the liquor store out?? make up some BS claim that islam is outdated and start drinking like fish?? and Islam is a deen that stays in balanced does not go harshly to the right or the left so no we dont your right wing.

It is time to start to admit how common these problems are amongst our immigrant Muslims.

I was a fairly new Muslim doing some work in Chicago for a well-known Muslim production company - a terrible experience at best. I attend Jumma services in a small masjid upstairs from the so-called halal diner. They had a machine for gambling in the area where you ate. I asked the owner if the game paid ou or was just for fun and he proudly told me - no you can make money.

I brought this to the attention of the Imam and former president of ICNA who happened to be delivering the khutba that day and the solution was to show tolerance.

I reminded him that many non-Muslims came into the shop and asked what kind of example that provides for them. Nothing.

I submit that immigrant Muslims have done far more to hurt Islam in America than they have ever done good.

This is a problem that needs to be addressed and insha'a Allah, will be very shortly.

As a side note, I took Shahada in an Egyptian deli, in between the beer case and the pork sandwich bar. Despite these immigrant Muslims, not beause of them. Sincere people will always find their way.

I think the book I am writing should contain accounts of the horror stories converts have encountered dealing with immigrant Muslims - naaaa - the book would be to long.

i have many friends who have converted to islam and many of them told me that if they knew muslims before they became muslims themselves they may not have embraced Islam..
no one is perfect dont expect every muslim out there to follow the quran and sunnah and behave islamically following the islamic manners and etiquettes.. they should be but they dont in most cases they make islam look bad in the eyes of those who are around them, they dont always have to be immigrants,, the rule here is to judge the muslims by Islam and not Islam by the muslims, may Allah guide us all to the right path and inspire us to follow it.

Well, FC on this one I stand with you. This is wrong.

Tolerance means that we use wise, and better ways to preach. And I hope on this count you'll agree. So stirring up hatred against immigrant muslims, or any other ethnic/social group will be counterproductive. But we can write, preach, and organize agianst injustice. And alcohol/dope/pimping in Black neighborhoods is a form of injustice and oppression. OmarG and Ridhwaan - I think we are saying the same thing. But I explicitly talk of Black neighborhoods because thats where the oppression is. Secondly, I dont think Khomeini style politics is the answer. So 'prohibition' stuff won't work in this society right away. All thats going to happen is that everyone from the US Right to the Left will accuse us of trying to impose our values on others. But thats not the point - we want to be an agent for freedom, justice, and equality. And the least we can do is not let our own brother commit injustice on our other brothers and sisters. Secondly, the Black Muslim voice (I am not talking of NOI theology) needs to be heard and given leadership space. Try to read Brother Professor Sherman Jackson's "Islam and the Blackamerican". He talks of the same problems. And Brother Jackson is firmly grounded in Orthodox Islam.

Isn't a little bit much to be expecting all Muslims to behave in a correct Islamic manner? Sure, call on the Yemeni Grocer's Association to stop selling liquor and remind that that it is forbidden in Islam. But it's also high-time the Black community stepped up. There would be no liquor stores in these neighbourhoods unless there was demand. There is a responsibility on the 'Muslim' liquor sellers to stop as it contradicts the religion but there is an even bigger responsibility by individuals in the Black community to refrain/limit from drink or to drink responsibly like many people are able to do.

hb,

Don't quite know what the 'Black Muslim voice' is? What do you mean?

Well, bro. GM what I mean is, that the proto-Islamic NOI and others had a social message of equality, self-help, self-love, brotherhood, and community organizing. Now its great that we have a diverse community of Hindi, Farsi, Arabi, Bosniak, Turki etc. Muslims also. But it does not mean that one of the defining characteristics of Islam in America - giving a voice, and identity to the opressed - to be able to construct your communities without being bought out - should go away. See, hundreds of thousands of Blackamericans became Muslims because they wanted to be proud members of their own community - not being at the mercy of white america - to define them. Now they see Arabs and Pakistanis come in, get fairly well ahead in the rat race, while many of our Black brothers and sisters are still at the back of the bus. This hurts, and it hurts Black muslims more because it is like getting short-changed by someone you trust or love.

Also - no I am not advocating vigilantism or cultural monolithism. You cannot expect all muslims to be perfect, immigrant or native or whatever. But we can put our voice on one side of the debate. All I am saying is we should be ashamed we live in the suburbs and simply try to move up the ladder while our brothers and sisters in the ghettos suffer. It could be wonderful if we start buying from Black-owned businesses, organize with the local Black muslim leaders to have after school programs - not just Qur'an ones but also those things that make lots of Asian kids (Muslim or not) go to med school, while the people who built America on their bloodied, sweaty, broken backs are crushed.

The Black Muslim voice means that US Black history is an integral part of muslim history, just like the Ottomans, Mughals, colonialism, and Algeria. It means we address the issue of divorced or separated mothers, and kids without father figures, unemployment etc. also. It means realising that Muslim America is not white, and doesn't seem to be for the foreseeable future.

It means that getting your people to stand on their feet, and "Black is beautiful" is still a worthy cause. It is realising that even while being raised as Muslims, we too may have been infected with the disease of subtle racism, and we need to fight it, and make sure our children grow up un-affected. Do try to read Brother Jackson's book.

I don't know, hb. The whole issue of why some groups get ahead and not others is a big doozy, especially when we compare various immigrant groups with African-Americans. I didn't think I would say this, but here it goes: maybe AA's conversion to Islam to escape white America as you mentioned contrasts with the Yemeni's willingness to fully participate in the commercial sector. AA Muslims seemed not to want to do that. Perhaps catering to the needs of the majority "white" (and increasingly Latino) America is how people do well for themselves. I dunno; its a nasty world out there...

PS, all I can really add to this is that my parents raised me to be colorblind against all odds in the very racist Italian neighborhood I grew up in. I've never had a problem with mixing with AA Muslims, not least because we all spoke the same language and could relate culturally more so than with immigrants; most of my best freinds growing up were black. But, hb, while I agree fully that the Black Muslim voice needs to be heard, perhaps even take center stage, I also don't want feelings to become hardened to the point where white Muslims like myself would find it awkward to keep mixing, you know like "Black is beautiful"; togetherness is beautiful; Islam is beautiful...

Interesting discussion. I personally boycott any store or restaurant run by a Muslim which serves or sells alcohol. I agree with GM that it is also the responsibility of the locals to refrain from purchasing it. It is pathetic that the scum "unfriendly & incompetant" is using this turn of events to promote his usual brand of horse manure against immigrant Muslims.
HB, the problem with the black community is that it has no real leaders, not anymore anyway...all we hear are slogans. I worked for almost 2 years at an inner city hospital while living in the ghetto, and I can tell you alcohol is the least of their problems.

What we should do to help the Black Muslims? What we should do to help Black Muslims? What we should do to help Islam spread in America? What we should do for dawa? Listen to yourselves . . . .

What you should do is learn to butt out. This is the biggest problem from the immigrant Muslims Ò them thinking they know better and wanting to lead the way. Now I know many of you are being very sincere and you truly believe that you are helping, but you are not helping.

During the Bosnian Conflict Ò it was never a war, right? I once heard a high ranking leader of the Bosnian people speaking to raise support for their effort. People were asking if they should go and fight and the clear answer was no, stay away and let us fight our own battles. What had been happening was that hundreds of well-intentioned people were going over there and thinking themselves to be generals Ò attempting to tell the Bosnians how to run things. Much of this became apparent in private conversations.

So, just wanting to help, is not enough. Your wanting to help usually means getting in the way and screwing things up.

Let the black Muslim community work through their own problems Ò they are going at their own pace and doing a great job. Leave them alone. Helping is helping when you are asked for help. But when you are asked to help, your ego does not want to help.

Another example. The Naqshbandi Way in America. This Way was very popular amongst many American Muslims Ò mostly the older hippie generation and younger white converts. It was very grass roots and was flourishing, with many informal smaller centers opening across America. We are not going to argue the legitimacy of this Way, just recognize that it held a strong appeal to many Americans. For the most part, it was lead by indigenous American leaders at these smaller centers. Enter, an immigrant Muslim, and all of that was destroyed. One of the first things he did was insist that all of these organic, grass roots centers turn over the keys to him. The rest is a long story that will likely one day be told by these original members. We are now at the point where this immigrant Muslim has been ordered to close all of the websites representing this Way and return to the Middle East. The words out of this persons mouth were to the effect Ò Ïwhat am I going to do for moneyÓ Ò exposing his entire motivation as establishing business enterprise which is exactly what it was and still is.

He has left a destructive wake of disillusioned converts who may never regroup. Entire communities have been broken apart. New Mexico, being the clearest example.

Immigrant Muslims need to be taught to butt out. If they do not listen Ò which they have proven time again they will not Ò then yes, it is time to get tough with them.

For the most part, immigrant Muslims came here for dunya. They entered because of corrupt immigration lobbying efforts made by Multi-national corporations Ò New World Order types, that understand to establish a New World Order Ò America must be brought down. The American people never invited you to enter America. Your religion also strongly suggests that you do not immigrate to non-Muslim lands. So you are not welcome and you are not really permitted to be here. But the lure of wealth was very strong.

So great, now you are here, and you think you have a God given right to be here. Another 911 and you will find out that you really should not be here Ò but few will listen. So, please, until you figure this all out Ò butt out. We do not want your advice unless asked for it. We do not want you to stand up and speak for American Muslims. We do not want you promoting liberal Islam just because you are running away from your own religion and want everyone to follow you into hell. We also do not want your conservative Wahabbi brand of Islam or any other Islam accept the Islam that touches our hearts. At the very least, learn to behave like a guest, because as stated before, no one even invited you accept those with an agenda to destroy America Ò it is the very least you can do.

But, few will listen.

If it makes you feel any better, it is not just immigrant Muslims I am challenging. These intellectuals, doctors, Imams and big Sheikhs, who have adopted the ways of the immigrant Muslim are being challenged as well. Who will be the next ISNA poster boy? Who will be the biggest selling Islamic speaker? Who will have the biggest 501c3 non-profit? Part of the damage left by immigrant Muslim is that the converts have now adopted your foolish ways.

hb wrote:

"Tolerance means that we use wise, and better ways to preach. And I hope on this count you'll agree. So stirring up hatred against immigrant muslims, or any other ethnic/social group will be counterproductive."

------->

I'm sorry, no one is stirring up hatred and certainly no one is advocating violence of any kind - lets make that clear. It is your own perception that I hate you -- I do not. No more than a doctor hates an infection.

The cut made by immigrant Muslims is very deep - you can assume responsibility for that cut or not - the facts are clear - it is your cut. Now that cut is very dirty and I am saying it is time to heal that pain. The first step is to scrub that wound so it may heal. Yes, it may hurt - almost certainly will hurt, but it is very much required if the cut is to heal.

Immigrant Muslims have had plenty of time to clean this cut and they have selected to do nothing. If the infection just harmed immigrant Muslims - no need for us to be concerned - but it is not - it is killing many people - killing their hereafter, not just this life.

So if we need to hold you down and scrub that wound against your will - so be it. Kick and sream all you want - or GO HOME.

You are not behaving like good guests and now you a crying that people are asking you to leave their home. Stop being victis your entire life - stop blaming others for the problems you have caused.

Dear HB, GM, and gang,

I said this before elsewhere, FC is a fraud who promises some wondrous revelation, which he thinks give him some aura. His hatred is also fake. Sham.