Representation Matters.
As part of our Uplifting Black Muslim Youth toolkit, we have included this (ever-growing) list of individuals who have been identified as being positive role models, examples of Black Muslim excellence and have contributed to Black Muslim life in this country. It is important to surround young people with positive images and role models that they can look up to and see themselves in. This list is by no means complete nor does The FYI formally endorse any of the individuals on the list.
Role Models
Click on the names below to view the bio of the individual you are interested in learning more about. We know there are many more names to be included in the lists below. If you know of a great role model, please share their name, bio, and how they exemplify Black Muslim excellence, here.
Religious Leaders
Academics
Mental Health Professionals
Politicians
Writers
Poets
Civial Rights/Social Justice Workers
Film Producers/Movie Directors
Fashion/Designers
Comedians
Athletes
Hanafi Abdul Malik |
Johari Abdul Malik |
Shahid Abdullah |
Khalil Abdur Rashid |
Talib Abdur Rashid |
Asim Abdur-Rashid |
Musa AbdurRahman |
Abdullah bin Hamid Ali |
Zaynab Ansari |
Qareeb Beshir |
Mukhtar Curtis |
Yasin Dwyer |
Tariq El-Amin |
Ubaydullah Evans |
Sulaimaan Hamed |
Marc Manley |
Muhammad Mendes |
Abdul Malik Merchant |
Anwar Muhaimin |
Shadeed Muhammad |
Ieasha Prime |
Qasim Rashad |
Mikael Saadiq |
Jihad Saafir |
Zaid Shakir |
Talib Shareef |
Wahy-ud Deen Shareef |
Shahidah Sharif |
Mikaeel Smith |
Siraj Wahhaj |
Tahir Wyatt |
Yusuf Abdul Jami |
Shareefah Al’Uqdah |
Nadim Ali |
Raymond Brock-Murray |
Nicole Montfiero |
Aneesah Nadir |
Halim Naeem |
Kameelah Mu’min Rashad |
Sakinah Rasheed |
Girrard Tennille |
Jannah Umar |
Ulrich Vieux |
C. Islaah Abd’AlRahim |
Khadijah Abdul Haqq |
Jamilah Bashir |
El-Haj George Green |
Umm Juwayriyah |
Amir Makin |
Asiya Nasir |
Robyn Saleem |
Nicole Najmah Abraham |
Sadiyah Bashir |
Mikel Aki’lah Jones |
Tyson Amir |
Aliyah Hakim el |
Amir Sulaiman |
Tariq Touré |
Mohammed Tall |
Khalid Abdul-Fattah Griggs |
Aisha Al-Adawiya |
Margari Hill |
Ameena Matthews |
Shafeah M’Balia |
Edward Mitchell |
Saladin Muhammad |
Jihad Saafir |
Dawud Walid |
Ayana Ife |
Nzinga Knight |
Leah Vernon |
Yasmine Yasmine |
Preacher Moss |
Nadirah Pierce |
Omar Regan |