Medina by the Bay: Scenes of Muslim Study and Survival

Medina by the Bay explores how multiracial Muslim communities in the San Francisco Bay Area survive and flourish against racial capitalist, carceral, and imperial logics, arguing that contemporary Islam emerges from the specificities of the Bay Area.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

From the Black Power movement and state surveillance to Silicon Valley and gentrification, Medina by the Bay delves into the intricate ways in which multiracial Muslim communities in the San Francisco Bay Area navigate and thrive amidst racial capitalist, carceral, and imperial logics. Through a rich tapestry of expansive histories, diverse peoples, and geographies, Maryam Kashani weaves an ethnographic screenplay of cinematic scenes, showcasing how sociopolitical forces and geopolitical agendas mold Muslim ways of knowing and being. Throughout, Kashani compellingly argues that contemporary Islam emerges from the unique contours of the Bay Area, encompassing its landscapes, infrastructures, and institutions such as its Muslim liberal arts college, mosques, and prison courtyards. By theorizing Medina by the Bay as a microcosm of socioeconomic, demographic, and political transformations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Kashani reimagines Islam as a liberatory and abolitionist theory, theology, and praxis for all those engaged in the struggle.

Introduction:
Medina by the Bay is a groundbreaking work that explores the survival and flourishing of multiracial Muslim communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The book delves into a range of issues, from the Black Power movement and state surveillance to Silicon Valley and gentrification, examining how these communities navigate and thrive within and against racial capitalist, carceral, and imperial logics. By weaving together expansive histories, diverse peoples, and geographies, Maryam Kashani demonstrates how sociopolitical forces and geopolitical agendas shape Muslim ways of knowing and being.

Survival and Flourishing:
Kashani's book offers a rich ethnographic portrayal of the ways in which multiracial Muslim communities in the Bay Area survive and flourish. The communities are characterized by their resilience, adaptability, and determination to maintain their cultural and religious identities in the face of various challenges. Kashani highlights the importance of community organizing, social support, and education in sustaining these communities. She also explores the role of religious institutions, such as mosques, in providing a sense of belonging and fostering social cohesion.

Sociopolitical Forces and Geopolitical Agendas:
Kashani's book sheds light on the complex interplay between sociopolitical forces and geopolitical agendas that shape Muslim ways of knowing and being. She argues that contemporary Islam emerges from the specificities of the Bay Area, from its landscapes and infrastructures to its Muslim liberal arts college, mosques, and prison courtyards. The book explores how these institutions and spaces contribute to the formation of Muslim identities and practices, as well as how they are influenced by broader social and political movements.

Contemporary Islam as Liberatory and Abolitionist Theory, Theology, and Praxis:
Kashani's book resituates Islam as a liberatory and abolitionist theory, theology, and praxis for all those engaged in struggle. She challenges the dominant narratives that portray Islam as a religion of violence and oppression and instead presents a nuanced and complex understanding of the religion. Kashani argues that Islam can be a source of inspiration and empowerment for those fighting against racial capitalism, carceral systems, and imperialism.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Medina by the Bay is a vital contribution to the study of Islam, race, and social justice. Through its ethnographic portrayal of multiracial Muslim communities in the Bay Area, the book offers a nuanced and complex understanding of the ways in which these communities navigate and thrive amidst racial capitalist, carceral, and imperial logics. Kashani's book resituates Islam as a liberatory and abolitionist theory, theology, and praxis for all those engaged in struggle, and provides a valuable roadmap for building more inclusive and just societies.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478025177