United Congress Community Iftar
IMAN & United Congress Premiere A Prince Among Slaves
By Kauthar Umar
This Ramadan IMAN and the United Congress of Community & Religious Organizations, UCCRO, premiered A Prince Among Slaves documentary & Ramadan Iftar, that attracted a record breaking crowd of 1400 and celebrated the true spirit of Ramadan.
With IMAN as one of its lead member organizations, the UCCRO a multicultural and grassroots alliance advancing human rights and social justice, proudly co-sponsored this event as a testament to its mission.
“It was an honor for IMAN to be among the sponsors of this preview during Ramadan,” said Rami Nashashibi, Executive Director of IMAN. “The event spoke to the overall initiative that IMAN and United Congress share in unapologetically acknowledging and celebrating faith, unity and cultural and religious diversity.”
A Prince Among Slaves documentary & Iftar proved to be among IMAN’s largest and most successful events nearly filling the AFC World Outreach Center, one of the largest community theaters on the Southside of Chicago.
Not since Alex Hailey’s Roots has a film depicting the American slave experience, been so widely acclaimed. Directed by actor Bill Duke and narrated by recording artist Mos Def, A Prince Among Slaves is a Unity Productions documentary film chronicling the true story of African Prince, Abdur Rahman Ibrahima, who was enslaved, taken to America in 1788 at age 26 and for 40 years fought to regain his freedom.
Though the story of Prince Abdur Rahman Ibrahima is widely unknown, the film resonates with many African Americans and Muslims through out the country that are touched by the prince’s struggle to win his freedom and the freedom of his children.
The film, expected to air on PBS in 2008, was premiered and accompanied by an inter-faith community Iftar reception, with special appearances by the direct descendant of Prince Abdur Rahman Ibrahima, Artemus Gaye, closing remarks from Laylah Muhammad- granddaughter of the late Elijah Muhammad, the films Producer Michael Wolfe, and Chicago’s religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
“I was tremendously blessed, as a Christian pastor, to have taken part in this,” said Pastor Ron Taylor of the Disciples for Christ Church. “There were so many people in attendance, both Christians and Muslims. Rarely do you see them come together on a Muslim holiday in a way that displays unity.”
IMAN and UCCRO have been successfully developing various ways to build trust, camaraderie and meaningful relationships between people from various faiths and cultures. The premiere and Iftar spoke to the larger vision and goals of the UCCRO.
While many in the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths work separately to address issues that are affecting the same community, Pastor Taylor urged the thousands present that night, to stand up and make an allegiance to work together on issues affecting our communities
.According to many in the audience the film portrayed the sentiments that there are more things that bring us together than separate us
.“To have the Latino, Arab, African American community together learning about a story so dear to us was wonderful,” said Zubayda Madyun, Muslim Journal Public Information/Ad Sales Representative. “When you watch the characters demanding their freedom and praying; that’s our story. That’s a human story, which affects us all.” |
