Thursday, November 08, 2007

"Morrocan women are not solution - or the problem"

Over at Umarlee.com there is interesting conversation going on about an issue I touched on briefly last summer and that is the trend of African American brothers going to Morroco to "buy" wives.




I don't really care much to discuss the preferences of Black Muslim men. Everyone has preferences. Although, I think in this case it may look worse as well as imply different things about those Black American men who go after Morrocan sisters because they are Black Americans. There is a undeniable historical conditioning that has occur with much, if not all of Black American and it plays an important part in diciphering whether their preferences are genuine or examples of self hatred. That's another topic though.

Umar stated that many Black Muslimaat are bitter over the fact that an increasing amount of black brothers are buying Morrocan sisters. That's where I want to pick up on. There were a lot hostile comments left in the comment section on the blog I did on the case of the brother (may Allah have mercy on him) who may have been killed by his wife (may Allah have mercy on her as well) after he went to Morroco and married a young Morrocan sister. A lot of the comments were infact directed towards our Morrocan sisters. What I want to discuss is it rightly placed?

Granted, I don't get how Muslim parents can let any man; black, Arab or blue, come from a foreign land, flash some bills and then be allowed to marry their virgin daughters. I don't get it. It's shameful and an unIslamic step backwards and away from the honor, dignity and rights that Allah has given the Muslimah. I remember the one time I had attended a wedding party of a brother back in the states after 2 years of saving to get his Morrocan woman into the states. I felt a sense of shame for having come to witness the event. The sister spoke no English and looked like a deer infront of headlights in that sea of unfamiliar faces. She was alone, all alone. Granted this was three years ago and to the best of my knowledge she is still married to the brother, but I have no knowledge of the intimate details of their marriage. Have they bonded? Maybe in some way, afterall, Im sure he is taking his "rights". Though given the fact that her husband doesnt speak her language and isnt like any of the men in her family nor of those she grew up around or had even the chance to be exposed through media, I wonder how in the world she could truly find apart of him to love genuinely? And if their love is more superficial and material, are black American Muslimahs missing out?

I don't know. Different people think differently about things. I sure haven't met any Morrocan sisters married to wealthy black American Muslim men. For the most part, the brothers who I've seen going to Morroco are brothers working 9-5s or less than that, some are selling oils or incense. Is that anything to envy? And if you do as a Muslimah, what does that say about your own level of self value?

I don't think Morrocan women are the solution for black American Muslim men nor do I think they are the problem. Infact, many of the Morrocan sisters become victims just like black American sisters because for the most part, the ones are being "sold" to African American brothers are uneducated and quickly become burdenned with children and have to use government support. If anything, I think more needs to be done to protect our sisters from third world countries so that they are not falling into the hands of the brothers who need not wed in the first place.