About Amin Nathari
Amin Nathari
Author, National Public Speaker and Communications Strategist
National Representative of the Islam in America Movement (IAM)
Amin Nathari is widely acknowledged as a critically acclaimed author, lecturer and commentator, as well as one of the leading and most passionate voices of his generation on the contemporary socio-political issues of our time. Nathari specializes primarily in the analysis and documentation of events and issues that impact Muslims and the Islamic experience in America today. He is also a renowned and respected activist and leader in the Muslim American community.
FORMATIVE YEARS
Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1964, Nathari cites his experiences growing up as a child in the former Nation of Islam as his major influence. His parents were teenaged members of the organization in the 1960’s, with his father serving as a young assistant minister in the influential Newark Mosque (#25). His father then became a prominent minister establishing a Nation mosque (#82) in Elizabeth, NJ, which witnessed the transition into mainstream or traditional Islam in February 1975.
Nathari’s character was developed by the organizational values of self-reliance, awareness, identity, unity, empowerment and other living examples of social responsibility and change of the time. These ideals helped form the basis of his thoughts and ultimately, his work today. Among those influences are the social implications of the 1967 Newark riots and the election of Newark’s first black mayor in 1970. Through the various phases of evolution, transition and growth of Islam in America during his lifetime, Nathari has used the lessons learned, events witnessed and the observations made to become one of the foremost leaders of his generation.
While his faith tradition is Nathari’s foundation and source of strength, his life experiences are multifaceted and remarkable. He was one of the first Blackamericans to have a prime-time radio station show at the predominately white New Jersey College he attended as a student of journalism in the early 1980’s. After graduating and working within the community, he became disillusioned with the condition of Muslims and Blackamericans that he once knew and shunned away from community service. Nathari began a career as a professional disc jockey and dance music producer. He also started an independent record label. As the 80’s ended and the 90’s commenced, Nathari began to feel a real void in his life. He began to feel as though his peer group had not fulfilled the vision that was collectively instilled in them during those formative years in “the Nation”.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Nathari committed himself to the mission of improving the quality of life in the community through faith-based public service to humanity in 1993. As he began to reconnect with his desire to move his community to a higher level, he decided to make whatever contribution he could to that struggle regardless of the obstacles or challenges. He chose to honor the many leaders before him who struggled, strived, fought, bled and died so that he could have an opportunity to give back and make a difference. Subsequently, his new life as a committed student/teacher of Islam and community servant would allow him to utilize his full range of talent and truly live his passion. His work as an activist and author began in earnest the following year, 1994, building upon his lifelong love of reading and writing, and his formal education as a student of Communications and Journalism. He has continued at a consistent, seemingly non-stop pace ever since.
Nathari was one of the founders of the Muslim Community Center of Essex County (MCCEC), located in East Orange, New Jersey established in 1995. Under his leadership as Executive Director from 1995 until December 2000, the center was cited as a stabilizing force in the community, helping to eradicate urban blight, many of its resulting factors, and was the catalyst for the economic revitalization that is still being experienced today. Nathari also served as the Imam (religious leader) of the center’s mosque, Masjid As’habul Yameen.
Catholic Community Services of the Archdiocese of New Jersey awarded him the prestigious New Ark of Hope award in 1999, for outstanding achievements in the area of community service and leadership in the greater Essex County New Jersey area. Nathari was the first Muslim to receive such an honor and distinction.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT and EDUCATION
In addition to his public service and organizational involvement, Nathari has consistently spent his time teaching classes, facilitating discussions and conducting learning and information sessions at halfway houses, social service agencies, libraries and many other public and private venues throughout the East Coast and the United States.
Nathari has consistently endeavored to provide a correct and balanced representation of Islam and Muslims both to the media and the general public. He is one of America’s leading speakers and writers on the subject of Islam and the Blackamerican experience, and issues impacting the more than three and a half (3.5) million Muslim Blackamericans. (His work in this area is extremely important when you take into account that Islam is the world’s second largest religion and the fastest growing way of life.)
He is the Founder and Managing Director of The Sabree Group, which is comprised of several information and media entities, including Sabree Press. This independent educational and information-publishing company’s mission is defined as “dedicated to providing commentary on today’s challenges and issues and other works of contemporary scholarship, from a balanced Islamic perspective, in a language that all can understand”. Sabree Press publishes books, journals, occasional papers and articles covering a variety of subjects and topics, both in contemporary and historical thought.
His latest book titled 45, 35, Now…The Continuum of Islam in America (Examining the Evolution of the Islamic Experience in 21st Century America) was published September 1, 2011. This work highlights the 2010 anniversary of two watershed, defining moments in not just Black American history, but the history of America itself; 45 years ago, the February 21, 1965 assassination of Malcolm X, and 35 years ago, the February 25, 1975 passing of Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam and the subsequent assumption of his son (the late) Imam W. Deen Mohammed (then known as Wallace D. Muhammad) as leader of the organization. The latter event was the catalyst for what is widely considered to be the largest influx of Americans accepting and embracing traditional or “Sunni” Islam, and by most, the largest mass religious “conversion” in American history.
Additionally, Nathari is working on his memoir, (working title) Going Back to Move Forward – My Life So Far (Growing Up Black and Muslim in America) which is anticipated to be published in fall of 2012.
In addition to the afore-mentioned works, Nathari has also authored several other works, including A Message to the Grassroots for 21st Century America - What Would Malcolm Do? (2008), Muslim Unity By Any Means Necessary (2004) and Da’wah – the Invitation to Islam in 21st Century America (2001), and is a contributing writer for various publications. He is a regular guest on several radio shows, as well as network and cable television programs. A dynamic lecturer and highly sought after public speaker, Nathari has traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad, and has lectured before a broad and diverse range of audiences, both small, intimate groups as well as gatherings numbering in the thousands.
ACTIVISM and ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Amin Nathari has established an outstanding record of service to the Muslim Community and society-at-large, with his particular area of engagement being within the urban community. He continues to work tirelessly as an activist/leader.
He served briefly as Executive Director for the Philadelphia, PA chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Prior to joining CAIR in 2009, Nathari publically announced on July 4, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA the intention to begin a new endeavor to be named the Islam in America Movement (IAM). IAM is an initiative to establish and build a national organization primarily to help empower, strengthen and support the various results-oriented initiatives and projects of indigenous Muslims throughout the United States, particularly within the Blackamerican community. IAM is committed to working with individuals, groups and organizations, in developing a multi-faceted agenda for the Muslim Community in order to implement a comprehensive domestic program and to empower Blackamericans as full participants in the development of Islam in 21st Century America.
On February 21, 2010, as 2010 began a new decade in an era of change and concurrent with the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X (also known as Al Hajj Malik Shabazz), Amin Nathari announced that he would serve as the National Representative of IAM - the Islam in America Movement, and drawing from his background, life and practical experience, focus on the development and implementation of the organizational program of IAM. The priority focus of IAM at the outset is the development and implementation of a national Media, Communications and Public Relations initiative aimed at proactively engaging the American media, and reclaiming and enhancing the image, perception and representation of Islam in 21st Century America.
Additionally, after four (4) years of consultation, extensive research, planning and preparation since 2008, in the fall of 2012 IAM plans to introduce its comprehensive Action Plan, titled: A Results-Oriented Agenda – The Ten (10) Point Plan to Enhance and Improve the Islamic Experience in America.
In addition to his community service and extensive national speaking schedule, Nathari works as a Media and Communications Consultant, serving a variety of not-for profit, political and community service clients. He formerly served as Deputy Director of Communications for the city of Newark, NJ.
Continuing what he refers to as his personal Activist and Public Intellectual Project, his work as an author, publisher and activist, Nathari also plans to continue his studies in various areas, including Public Policy and Religion. He gives all credit, praise and thanks to the Creator for allowing him the opportunity to serve humanity, for his parents who helped lay the foundation upon which he stands, and his greatest inspiration and motivation; his children.
