About CCMW

It was only 15-20 years ago when my mom and I couldn’t even walk out in the streets of Toronto peacefully in our burkas. Someone would have to call us terrorists, tell us to go back to our country or ask us why we were dressed like witches when it wasn’t Halloween. We got cursed at, people would honk, flip us off or spit on the sidewalk as we passed.

That same Canada has grown so much, and I’m immensely proud of the headway our community has made. I can’t speak of every place, but Scarborough, Ontario, has finally progressed to celebrate its diversity.

To everyone struggling with being accepted: stay kind, stay hopeful and most importantly, stay unapologetically true to yourself (as long as you are not doing anything harmful). This Earth belongs to you and you belong to it; let no one tell you otherwise. Accept your weaknesses and pursue growth with utmost humility, but never feel the need to change your true essence in order to be accepted. Stand steadfast and secure with the conviction that you too are a special creation of God. Compel the world to open its arms and embrace you. Victory to those who persevere with patience and prayer.

My name is Nawal Salim and I am an actress that wears a hijab. In July of 2019, I took a class at one of the most notable acting schools in Toronto. On the first day, the instructor wanted to take a look at everyone’s head shots and critique them. He took a look at mine and said, “I wouldn’t wear a black hijab.” I asked why and he responded, “Because their flag is black.” He was referring to ISIS. He was saying that my black hijab made me look like I was a part of a terrorist group. I wore a black hijab because it matched my outfit. I also wore a bright red shirt. In no way did my picture imply terrorist. I felt powerless because I couldn’t report the inappropriate comment to anyone, first, because it was his private school so there was no HR and second, because he is known for training talented actors and since I’m not successful yet, I felt nobody would believe my story or hold him accountable. I wasted hundreds of dollars, and hours of my time, only to feel disrespected.

Hi, my name is Mustafa Azraq. I am 25 years old and I’m a Canadian of Palestinian descent. I moved to Poland in 2016 for dental school due to the cheap tuition fee. I hadn’t experienced discrimination before, and I think it’s because of my physical appearance. Most people don’t acknowledge me as Arab when they see me. Poland is a very conservative place. The majority of the people I’ve met are very open and excited to meet someone from a different culture and religion. But there is also a larger older population that holds a lot of hatred for Muslims. I learned this the first time I left the masjid (mosque) and a group of Polish men were waiting around the corner to jump youth that had gone for Jumma (Friday) prayer. They believe we are in Poland to disunite and cause terror amongst their people. The news has really brainwashed a lot of people. Their anger towards us is so strong. Once when I left the masjid, a man approached me and asked what I was doing in Poland. I replied, I was here to study. He began to tell me that I should leave. Of course, I laughed because I refused to be intimidated. I told him instead of wasting his time with hate, he should spend time giving back to the community. One must take the time to learn about people that cause fear and anger that you can’t explain with facts. My friends and I continue to be harassed when going to the masjid, but we stay strong and continue to go to Jumma prayers.

The research I did on Black Muslims in Canada showed that our communities experience both Islamophobia from people who aren’t Muslim, and anti-Blackness from people who are Muslim but aren’t Black. The experience of anti-Black Islamophobia is dehumanizing, and it ignores the fact that enslaved Black people were most likely the first Muslims to arrive in Canada 400 years ago. This is a part of our collective Islamic history.

A racism-free world looks like opportunity and kindness. It’s a world where everyone has a fair chance to reach their full potential, and where everyone cares for the well-being of everyone else – including those different from them. It’s a world where I don’t have to worry about being light enough or White enough to access love, friendships, health, education, success, or basic dignity. It’s a world where we’re free of the stories imposed on us. Instead, others are curious to know who we truly are and all the gifts that we have to offer.

Jamelie Hassan, born in London, Ontario, from an Arab Muslim background, is a nationally and internationally recognized visual artist and an active lecturer, writer and an independent curator.

Jamelie has coordinated numerous international programs that include joint curatorial project between Canada and Jordan in 1991 and Canada and India in 2000. Her commissioned work involves highly diverse sites including ceramic murals at the Ottawa Courthouse and Land Registry, London Regional Cancer Clinic and a poster for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

Jamelie’s leadership skills are evident from the artist-run centres in Canada. She was a founding member of one of Canada’s oldest artist-run centres, the Forest City Gallery, London in 1973 – now celebrating its 40th anniversary. She is a lifetime member of Art Metropole, Toronto, and in 2001, she was awarded the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. In 1993, she was presented the “Canada 125 Medal” in recognition of her outstanding service to the community. In 2005, Jamelie was appointed adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts, University of Windsor. In addition, she has served on advisory panels and art juries for the Art Gallery of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. She was also awarded the Chalmers Art Fellowship in 2006.