The Black Beauty Club Celebrates the Beauty of Eid

I'm a frequent attendee of Black Beauty Club events, and this past one was another highlight to add to the list. On Wednesday, April 2nd, the Black Beauty Club held an Eid celebration at the iconic SAA Club in Brooklyn, featuring delicious food, mocktails, and an insightful panel discussion. Non-Muslims were also encouraged to attend, to celebrate, learn, and show love to the community.

Panelists, L-R, Fatou Barry, Machiami Kamara, and Tahirah Folk, (Credit: J Marley)

The panel featured content creators Tahirah Folk and Machiami Kamara, as well as community builder and cultural strategist Fatou Barry. As a Black Muslim woman in America, it's too often that we are not represented in mainstream media when it comes to our religion. The few times representation is present, it's usually someone of Arab or South Asian descent, leaving many of the over 20% Black Muslim population feeling invisible and neglected. In my own home country of Senegal, approximately 95% of the population is Muslim, and in the entertainment space, there are few individuals who make it to the big screen.

Tomi on the dance floor (Credit: J Marley)

All that said, when this event was announced, I was more than ecstatic. Finally, an event where I could feel appreciated, and also see the intersectionality of my identity reflected in the panelists. Moderated by president and founder Tomi Talabi, the panel topics ranged from growing up Muslim to the meaning of Ramadan and Eid, and the biggest lessons learned during this holy month.

Machiami shared the importance of community during the special holiday: "Eid is all about community. My dad is an imam who leads Eid prayers in my community. It's always cool to see people you've known since you were young growing up and still dedicated to their community."

Tahirah agreed: "This is the one time of the year that Hijabis and Muslim women are allowed to celebrate their beauty."

L-R, Mimi's Moments, Fatou Barry, Machiami, and Tahirah (Credit: J Marley)

The panelists also discussed the biggest thing they learned during the past Ramadan. Machiami started by expressing gratitude towards the people around her: "The biggest thing I learned was being grateful... seeing people around me who want to see me happy. I don't know where I would be now without my community, friends, and family."

Fatou added: "I learned to be proud of myself. I am someone who has recovered from a lot of religious trauma. Now, being the person telling my cousin to get up and pray for Fajr, and to sit there and not miss prayers, and prioritizing my deen, I feel a sense of pride. Those are the themes that really came up for me this year."

The Black Beauty Club continues to show its support and provide a space for all people alike. This celebration honored the full spectrum of Muslim beauty—from the Black diaspora and beyond.