Source: Africana.com

http://www.africana.com/DailyArticles/index_20010128.htm

On January 28, 2001, Africana.com reported on "a groundbreaking $750,000 research venture called the Boston Healing Landscape Project. Funded by the Ford Foundation...and implemented by the Department of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, the project's main focus will be examining communities of African descent in the Boston area and exploring how people use...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On January 27, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported on Azizah, a new magazine for Muslim women founded by a threesome at WOW Publishing. Founder Tayyibah Taylor wants the magazine to create a feeling of identity for American Muslim women. "Editors choose articles to inspire the contemporary Muslim woman. The premiere edition includes stories on handicapped accessibility in mosques and a profile of a Muslim woman who is a family court judge in Baltimore, Md. But the pages also offer traditional women's magazine fare."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On January 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that last week 31 "Somali Muslims walked off their jobs at the Sylvest Farms of Georgia plant, saying their boss told them they couldn't leave the processing line to say a five-minute prayer at sunset, as required by their religion...Company officials refused to pay them [their last paychecks] unless they signed a form saying they quit voluntarily. Most refused to sign." Sylvest executives said that if they let that many people leave at the same...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On January 24, 2001, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Muslims and others "filed a federal lawsuit, seeking class action status," against a Chicago ordinance that bans people from wearing masks in public. The plaintiffs complained that the 1922 ordinance "violates their freedom of speech and religion...Officials speculated the ordinance may have been aimed at keeping the Ku Klux Klan out of the city during the group's heyday...But activists who regularly attend protests wearing bandanas, Palestinians wearing the kaffiyah, a type...

Source: The Washington Post

On January 7, 2001, The Washington Post reported the conversion of thousands of Latinos nationwide to Islam. Hispanics are "the country's fastest-growing ethnic group," and Islam is "the nation's fastest-growing religion." There are 1 billion Muslims worldwide, and "the Muslim population in the United States is estimated at more than 4 million, nearly six times the number in 1970." The American Muslim Council, an advocacy group in Washington, estimates that 25,000 of these are Hispanic. "The largest communities are in New York...

Source: The Washington Post

On January 7, 2001 The Washington Post reported that "in growing numbers, Hispanics, the country's fastest-growing ethnic group, are finding new faith in Islam, the nation's fastest-growing religion. Moved by what many say is a close-knit religious environment and a faith that provides a more concrete, intimate connection with God, they are replacing Mass with mosques...The steadily increasing number of Latino Muslims illustrates how deeply rooted Islam has become in the national landscape -- even spreading to communities not...

Source: Azizah

In the Winter 2001 issue, Azizah reported on the issue of accommodation for Islamic prayer in airports around the country. Many Muslims have to find a quiet corner to make salah, and a growing number of US airports are offering interfaith chapels with Islamic prayer rugs oriented towards Mecca, or even a room specifically for Islamic prayer. These additions make prayer in an airport much easier and more peaceful for Muslims, and also raise awareness among non-Muslims about the presence of their Muslim neighbors.

Source: India New England News

In January, 2001, India New England News reported on Saraswati Mandiram, the Institute of Holistic Health, Music, Yoga, Science and Philosophy, in New Hampshire. It celebrated the official anniversary of the Baghavad Gita, a text which "is central to the institute's teachings. Holistic health...does not just focus on the physical self but also on the health of the spirit, mind and emotions. One of the institute's stated goals is to provide a place of worship...that will 'explore and promote the good in both Eastern and Western...

Source: Azizah

In the Winter 2001 issue, Azizah reported on accessibility for the disabled in the Muslim community. There is a long way to go in becoming more universally accessible, but some communities do provide services including ramps, elevators, American Sign Language translators, and some Braille copies of the Qur'an. A Muslim woman tells the story of making the Hajj in a wheelchair.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 31, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that while many were celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, hundreds of Muslims gathered in the San Fernando Valley this year for Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which "commemorates what Muslims believe was God's revelation of their holy book, the Koran, to the prophet Muhammad nearly 1,400 years ago. It is a month of prayer, reflection, goodwill toward those less fortunate and fasting from dawn to dusk. Eid al-Fitr...is celebrated with family and feasts, and...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 29, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "American Muslims are slowly but steadily carving their mark on the Islamic world." Although only 3 to 10 million of the 1 billion Muslims in the world live in the United States, academic and religious freedom in America have helped to make them the "most educated, affluent and diverse Muslims in the world [and have] given them an impact greater than their numbers." The flourishing numbers of provocative Islamic thinkers in America "are tackling taboo subjects such as...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On December 28, 2000, The Times-Picayune reported the gathering 5000 of New Orleans Muslims on the West Bank to celebrate the end of Ramadan in a day of prayer, social events and feasting called the Eid-ul-Fitr. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, many meet at night to pray, and many give special gifts to charity, "believing their merit magnified during Ramadan."

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On December 28, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that about 400,000 Muslims from the Chicago area celebrated the end of Ramadan on Wednesday with communal prayer and Eid-al-Fitr, the communal feast of fast-breaking. "The monthlong Ramadan is the most holy period in the Islamic year." It "is a time of personal and communal abstention and religious discipline," which includes daily fasting from dawn to dusk. Fasting "is considered to be an effective way of cleansing the believer's heart, especially when it is accompanied by...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On December 28, 2000, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "Muslims in Milwaukee and around the world celebrated...the end of Ramadan -- the Islamic month of fasting meant to teach discipline and self-restraint." They had been fasting during daylight hours for the past 30 days. One observer of the holiday said the fast "brings about a profound sense of accomplishment" and "should bring about more compassion for the plight of the poor." The end of Ramadan is celebrated "in a special 'Eid' prayer. 'Eid' is...

Source: Daily News (New York)

On December 28, 2000, the New York Daily News reported an Islamic Circle of North America service in New York to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the three-day celebration that comes at the end of the month of prayer and fasting known as Ramadan. The service brought together 2,600 worshippers. During Ramadan "Muslims attempt to cleanse their souls by abstaining from food and drink during the day." They "begin Eid al-Fitr by giving a contribution to the needy, called zakat, followed by prayers at the mosque. The rest of the...