Initiated by Donna Auston, a doctoral student in anthropology, the #BlackMuslimRamadan hashtag on Twitter aims to highlight the diversity of the black Muslim community and its practices.
Tweets consist of colorful photos of delicacies like fried green tomatoes and bean pies; reflections on what it means to be a minority within a minority in America; and hundreds of faces of black Muslims simply practicing their religion.
“The history of black Muslims in America is as old as the country itself -- but is often, like so much of black history, marginalized or dismissed”. says Donna.
As a Black Muslim, Auston didn't see her experiences reflected in media representations of Islam, especially during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. So she started the hashtag to give an alternative to the prevailing media discourse about what it means to be Muslim./ with IB Times.