Say-Walahi Diaspora Youth, Islamophobia and Anti-Black Racism: Implications for Education

Abstract

This article highlights the ways in which Muslim Black/African youth situated in Toronto, Canada have constructed a unique cultural identity that merges their Islamic values with their Somali heritage, centering on the term Say-Walahi, (‘swear to God’). Over a period of 24 months, 32 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identifying Muslim youth, aged 18–22 years. Analysis from the interviews highlights the ways in which these youth experience both Islamophobia and anti-Black racism. The author suggests that we need to rethink the educational system as a means of centering the identity of Black Muslim youths in the classroom and in urban education research.