American Muslims: The new niggers

By Richard Montgomery

The idea that we live in a post-racial society in America has no credibility, however there are some within the African American community who not only believe this idea is credible, but also believe they have license to turn the ugly finger of discrimination towards others. Soledad O’Brien of CNN recently aired a segment called “Unwelcome: Muslims Next Door.” The focus of this segment was to document the discrimination being expressed towards American Muslims in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. More specifically, the Muslim community in Murfreesboro is in the process of building a 53,000-foot Islamic center, which houses a school, a mosque, and a recreation center. The current mosque, which has been in the community for years, has become too small for the number of American Muslims who worship there, but the townspeople have staunchly protested the plan for the mosque’s expansion.

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Open Letter to Luther Campbell: Build the NY Mosque

By Richard Montgomery

I have toiled with whether to write this letter because of my great respect for your influence in the history of hip hop and your advocacy for free speech. However, when it comes to taking sides on the cultural issues that have arisen during the post-Obama age, I am boggled by the logic you used on the issue of the New York mosque to be built near Ground Zero. As a public figure, you have a responsibility to speak cautiously, accurately, and thoughtfully. Yet your commentary demonstrated a reckless and equally dangerous approach to weighing in on this issue, and since the project has a 2011 plan to move forward, I feel compelled to bring this issue forward before you weigh in again.

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