YRAC SPOTLIGHT: “We See You” MALIK DIXON

YRAC SPOTLIGHT: “We See You” MALIK DIXON

By: Na’Aisha Malika B

Get to know Durham, NC native Malik Dixon. He’s a graduate of North Carolina A&T with a concentration in history and sociology. He later went to Sydney Australia to pursue a masters degree in Leadership and Management and graduated in 2007. He’s 32 and works abroad in Australia for Coca-Cola as a branding sales logistics. He states, “I’m just making sure that we maintain market share, since they (Coca-Cola) are superior and dominate the market.” In a recent interview conducted this summer Malik discussed Islam, education, philosophy and sports. Here’s the scoop.

How long have you been Muslim? Well I was born to very sympathetic household. Though I became Muslim during my sophomore year of college at North Carolina A&T. My father was always interested in the Nation of Islam.

What prompted the conversion? Actually during college I happened to be around the (amazing) poet Amir Sulaiman. To me he was like “the-dawah-package-dot-com.” His character was amazing and inspired me towards Islam.

When did you notice an interest in sports? I’ve always had an interest in playing sports, I used it more as a deterrent to keep away from other things when I was younger. Later on I ended up in international leagues. We traveled and played overseas; basketball was just always first nature. I moved to Qatar and pursued the game and ended up playing with folks from the professional leagues. But that’s not my ultimate pursuit, I’m just a black Muslim man that’s working hard, having fun, on the Deen and enjoying traveling the (spacious) globe. Right now I’m playing in a semi competitive league in Australia with an ethnically and religiously diverse team.

So what is is like in Australia? Australia’s a good place to live; the people are generally calm. I live in a very multicultural world… It’s lovely out here. People live really nicely over seas, yet for those with family, living overseas can be cumbersome. Yes, I’m single and looking to get married inshallah, I have no children. I would definitely recommend people to get out and see the world.  I’ve been to over 51 different countries. There’s so much freedom on this earth. From Croatia to Samoa to Taiwan. Everywhere. Right now I’m pretty much a permanent resident of Australia now. Allah says “the earth is spacious” so make that move if you feel the need to. I will say that moving overseas was definitely beneficial in terms of universal health care and economics. If you want to do it, just get out there and make it happen. Take your family with you and go see the world.

What is the Muslim community like in Australia? It’s pretty strong down here. There are a lot of indigenous Australians that are accepting Islam. Say for instance Boxer Anthony Mundeen or even Rocky Abdul Malik, he’s the Imam of the aboriginal Muslim community. It’s pretty mixed down here, every community has diversity.

What do you feel are the differences between the African American community compared to international ones? One of the biggest differences  I’ve noticed is that Americans have more of a sense of a true Islamic community, versus here (Australia) I feel that mosques are (utilized) for just praying. There are not a lot of activities going on for the youth and families. To me Imam Warith Deen’s whole idea was about the community life. I’ve noticed that in Muslim majority countries, they don’t really see that (community life) as something that needs to be dealt with and developed.

Why were you drawn toward Imam W.D. Community? Initially it was the closest masjid to my home,  but I found that they had more events and activities that were specific to the needs of the African American community. It was an easy situation for me; it was more relevant.

How do you feel as an African American Muslim in Australia, in terms of racism? I don’t feel indifferent towards it. (It seems) they are fascinated with us. They know that African Americans are doing the work that it takes. To me, there really isn’t a social gap here. Yes they are missing a lot of historical information about Africa and America. (I’ve noticed that) they don’t see us as (innately) ambitious. Sure the black communities all over have social problems, but they (Australians) don’t understand structural inequalities like we do. Because they don’t or never have experienced that level of structural racism. They don’t understand how a system can be set up and designed to fail people and not just how people fail. They just think an individual is “disadvantaged.” That’s what I see. It’s really disproportionate at times. Say for instance the widely used term “dark fellows” refers to aboriginal. Yet also it refers anyone that is black, they are also considered dark. Over here, the word “dark” is not loaded with as many connotations. But that’s definitely not acceptable in the U.S.

As a global community how can Muslims change the way that we are perceived? To me it’s not necessarily that serious. You don’t go have to to the extreme. Muslims are really the people next door, your neighbors. We are normal people just like everyone else. We want the same things, yet some of us don’t want to live in the sheltered Muslim microcosm. In order to differentiate we must mix it up and leave the box. Additionally Muslims must try harder to work on our global public relations, we have to work on mass communication. That’s one of our biggest issues. We are not often clear and straight forward enough, which leaves media and public speculation. That way we don’t have to detract statements, leaving more confusion. We have to do a better job of not being perceived as weird or coming across as aliens to the mass public, by relaying messages in a manner that the general public can understand. It’s religion, it’s really that simple. Speak to the people in their language, that way they can understand Muslims more deeply (and wholeheartedly).

~Interviewer & YRAC Staff member Na’Aisha Malika can be contacted at naaisha@yracmovement.com

What is YRAC Spotlight?

Join The Muslim Social Network | YOU R A CREATOR!