Drawing the Line
Bismillah, In the name of God.
I’m so grateful to be connected to people who stand in support of efforts, actions, and endeavors that uplift, protect, and heal communities and society at large. People who understand the immense value of human life. These are people who I have been blessed to be able to call family, companions, friends, partners, and more.
There is a sense of pride and thankfulness that I carry in knowing I’ve been able to form and maintain positive relationships with those who are passionate, intentional, and grounded in their purpose. Even though we may not always agree, what is most important is that we are able find common ground on what matters most, such as the sacredness of life, community, and dignity.
I value those who are committed to living a life with integrity, who are striving to build something meaningful for themselves, for their families, for our communities, and for others—especially the youth and the younger generations. These are the people that I choose to walk alongside.
But let me be very clear about something. I have a line, one that is rooted in my faith, my values, and my love for humanity.
I see complete and total opposition in:
Regimes and systems that justify or excuse the killing of babies, children, and innocent people
The erasure, displacement, or oppression of people
Policies that reduce life to profit margins
If you align yourself with any of those things, please understand this is absolutely unacceptable to me, and that this is a non-negotiable value. I will not be aligned, directly or indirectly, with anyone who supports or is indifferent to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, or the systemic destruction of communities for profit and power. This includes gentrification that displaces inner-city families, or foreign policies that devastate entire regions—from Gaza, to Sudan, to Congo, and beyond.
And if you support or defend the complicity of the administration in these global injustices, then understand that this is a fundamental point of disagreement between us, one that I will not overlook or brush aside. If my stance troubles you, if it feels like too much, then please, by all means, unfriend me, unfollow me, or block me. Do what you feel you need to do. Because I will not compromise on this.
I don’t expect perfection from anyone. I am not perfect, and none of us are. But I do believe we should expect the best from ourselves and from each other. At the very least, I expect the people I align myself with—whether in friendship, partnership, or community—to adhere to universal values that honor life, dignity, and compassion.
Right now, I feel moved to make this plain. I want to create an environment around myself and for the people I love, that is rooted in truth, in growth, and in the nourishment of the soul. An environment that encourages positive self-development, healing, and justice, especially for our youth and the next generations.
I speak as someone who comes from Cleveland’s inner city. As someone who loves and advocates for Black people, people of color, and for oppressed people everywhere. These are my roots. This is who I am. I see our struggles echoed across the world, in the pain of families crushed under violence and displacement, and in the apathy of those who value dollars more than lives. That’s why I say what I say here. Because I find it disturbing. I find it disappointing. And honestly, I find it tremendously heartbreaking.
We live in a society where so many people just don’t care. This isn’t new. But it still stings every time I see it. People chasing their next come-up, whether it's money, status, or temporary high. Without a second thought about the world burning around them, there’s a staggering lack of empathy and compassion. That truth has haunted me for years, but I will not allow myself to become numb to it.
I am guided by my heroes: the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), my father, Isaiah, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and others who have shown me what it means not to shy away from truth. They stood on values. They taught the importance of protecting life, honoring family, and resisting systems of oppression with strength and clarity. To live with faith, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice. Their teachings about the right to life, the right to thrive, the duty to protect our families and our communities resonate at my core. The value they placed on human life is the value I carry within me.
So as a Muslim, as a man, and as a Black American—I draw my line with that clarity.
That line is determined by my faith, my values, and my love for people. And I will stand firm on that.