City Schools celebrates Muslim American Heritage Month as a time to recognize the history, culture, and lasting contributions of Muslim Americans to our schools, our city, and our nation. From education and public service to science, the arts, and community leadership, Muslim Americans have long played an essential role in shaping the fabric of our shared history. This month offers an opportunity to learn, reflect, and celebrate the values of faith, service, and perseverance that continue to enrich City Schools and strengthen our community today and for generations to come.
History
Muslim Americans have been part of the nation’s story since its earliest days, and include notable Marylanders such as former Maryland State Delegate Saqib Ali, civil rights leader Zainab Chaudry, and current Mayor of College Park Faizul Kabir, among many others. Community leaders, educators, and cultural organizations began organizing local and state-level observances in the early 21st century. Some organizers chose January to honor the anniversary of the death of Yarrow Mamout, an African American Muslim former slave featured in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Captured in a West African slave raid, Mamout overcame great adversity, ultimately purchasing his freedom and becoming a famous Washington financier. Schools and public institutions have adopted the celebration as a way to educate, promote understanding, and celebrate Muslim Americans’ enduring impact on American life, ensuring their stories are preserved and passed on to future generations.
Learn more
Learn more about Muslim American Heritage Month:
African Muslims in Early America from the National Museum of African History and Culture
Book List
Elementary
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K. Ali — Ages 5–8
Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow — Ages 5–8
Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi — Ages 6–9
Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes from Around the World by Charlene Smith - Ages 7-11
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi -- Ages 8-12 (Graphic Novel)
Middle
Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan - Ages 9-12
Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi -- Ages 10-14
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga — Ages 10–14
Unsettled by Reem Faruqi — Ages 10–14
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed — Ages 10–14
High
Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali — Ages 14–18
I Am the Night Sky: And Other Reflections by Muslim American Youth edited by Hena Khan — Ages 14–18+
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza — Ages 16+
Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui — Ages 13–17
Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi — Ages 14–18
Did You Know?
One of the city’s oldest Muslim communities formed around Masjid Ul-Haqq, which began as Temple No. 6 in the 1940s. The mosque and its community have been part of Baltimore’s religious and cultural history for nearly eight decades and are recognized as a local historic landmark. Is your school or student celebrating Muslim American Heritage Month? Share the story and photos with us through our City Schools Good News form.
Created by City Schools with assistance from AI.