Catalog ID:
ORH-001-0007
Creator:
Mujahid, Isa
Archives Field 21:
AUDIO: Click to Play
Scope & Content:
Oral history interview with Isa Mujahid
Mujahid grew up on Bridgeport's North End where his neighborhood was mostly black. His grandparents both came from the South and were part of the Great Migration of black southerners who came to the North to escape Jim Crow and find better employment opportunities. They were members of the Nation of Islam and Mujahid was raised in the Muslim faith. His mother worked as an RN and his father in the hospitality industry. His elders discussed racism and discrimination against American Blacks during his childhood and Mujahid has been a life long anti-racism activist.
Mujahid went to several private schools in Fairfield, including the Jesuit run Fairfield Prep before going to Spellman College in Atlanta. He left Spellman before graduating and served in the Army, eventually being stationed in Bosnia and Kuwait. He left the Army for ideological reasons and became increasingly activist. His activism shifted toward his interest in the community run food chain and historic discrimination in U.S. land ownership and management. At the time of this interview, Isa was the owner and operator of the Sankofa Cafe. He has two children.
His involvement in the Bridgeport Muslim community has increased over time. He has visited multiple mosques in Bridgeport and has made connections with Muslims from all over the world. He discusses being a black Muslim at the time of the 9/11 attacks, being unapologetic for being visibly Muslim, and being anti-war.
Mujahid grew up on Bridgeport's North End where his neighborhood was mostly black. His grandparents both came from the South and were part of the Great Migration of black southerners who came to the North to escape Jim Crow and find better employment opportunities. They were members of the Nation of Islam and Mujahid was raised in the Muslim faith. His mother worked as an RN and his father in the hospitality industry. His elders discussed racism and discrimination against American Blacks during his childhood and Mujahid has been a life long anti-racism activist.
Mujahid went to several private schools in Fairfield, including the Jesuit run Fairfield Prep before going to Spellman College in Atlanta. He left Spellman before graduating and served in the Army, eventually being stationed in Bosnia and Kuwait. He left the Army for ideological reasons and became increasingly activist. His activism shifted toward his interest in the community run food chain and historic discrimination in U.S. land ownership and management. At the time of this interview, Isa was the owner and operator of the Sankofa Cafe. He has two children.
His involvement in the Bridgeport Muslim community has increased over time. He has visited multiple mosques in Bridgeport and has made connections with Muslims from all over the world. He discusses being a black Muslim at the time of the 9/11 attacks, being unapologetic for being visibly Muslim, and being anti-war.
Interviewer:
Beth Lazar
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