I am a Newark native but now call Washington, DC home. Much of my fiction includes Greater New York, Newark, and DC subject matter and themes. The two photos below give some perspective on Newark’s population density and its geographic relationship with New York City with which it shares interlocking cultural, business, communications, and transportation networks. For the past 32 years, I have used the art of words (fiction and nonfiction) to address universal ethical concerns and to promote intercultural cooperation and understanding, with an aim of effecting incremental, yet transformative, impacts on society.
Current Writing & Publishing Objectives
Fiction
Through short stories and novels, I endeavor to transform common misconceptions by revealing the links between our past, present, and evolving intercultural relationships; especially those involving marginalized communities.
Nonfiction
I am completing an illustrative book on the historical treatment of African American-related events and prominent individuals by the U.S. Mint on its coins and medals issued between 1946 through the present. I am also developing a comprehensive treatment of the work and legacy of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, who was described by Taylor Branch as the most underappreciated religious figure of the twentieth century.
Writing and Publishing:
Dash: Young Black Refugee and Migration Stories, featuring seven timely intercultural tales focused on America’s legacy of discounting the value of black lives. (Unsolicited Press: eBook Aug. 2020; paperback, April 2021).
Brotherhood of the Gods, (2001). This first of its kind Muslim American literary thriller, described as a page-turner, tells the story of a Muslim organization’s transition from nationalism to mainstream Islam.
Journal of Islamic law & Culture (1994-2013). I published this scholarly journal, the first Islamic law journal in North America, from 1994-2001. (Ownership was transferred to DePaul University in 2001 due to resource limitations.) The journal provided a unique publishing platform for scores of academics, legal experts, and activists, who made invaluable contributions to the canon of “Islam in America” scholarship.
Institute for Intercultural Relations, Inc. (1994-2021). I was the founder and executive director of this 501(c)(3) nonprofit publishing organization established to promote mutual respect for, understanding of, and tolerance of cultural differences. It sponsored publication of the Journal of Islamic Law and Culture and Kitab Literary Journal.
Education: Amherst College (B.A. Black Studies); Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.); Antioch School of Law (M.A.T. Clinical Legal Education)
Authors Guild Member Spotlight: Irshad Abdal-Haqq [Posted: August 29, 2020]
On August 19, 2020, Authors Guild spotlighted my profile on Twitter, which included my answers to a series of questions AG had asked me a few days earlier.
Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world?
The literary arts allows me to confront historical inaccuracies and social injustices in the world and conceptualize equitable solutions. Other art forms do the same but my particular artistic ability or gift is through writing. Many writers are watchers. They watch the world, perceive problems, and brings them to light. They may perceive beauty and bright it to light. Light (truth) that may spur action to address some of those problems or action to appreciate the world’s beauty.
What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? My writer’s block is usually a product of fear or insecurity–often unfounded. I try to meditate on the source of that fear or insecurity while doing other things. When I identify the source, I try to find the published work of other writers who have dealt with the same or similar issue(s). Their courage to write despite their fear inspires me to get back to work.
What is your favorite time to write?
I usually write during the morning between 7am and noon. On occasion I am compelled to write on the spur of the moment, when the spark of creativity flashes, which could be the middle of the night or the middle of the afternoon. In those cases, my “writing” may take the form of scribbling down notes on scraps of post-it notes or using a voice recorder.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers?
A quote attributed to Lydia Davis as advice to writers has resonated with me for many years: “Do what you want to do, and don’t worry if it’s a little odd or doesn’t fit the market.” From it, I created my own little mantra: “Write as you like and die happy.”
What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age?
We are in the midst of a literary and publishing revolution! It’s an amazing time. While big publishing houses continue to dominate the industry, the electronic age has gifted us the freedom to publish our work and disseminate it with or without the permission of the big publishing house gatekeepers. It’s wonderful. While I would welcome the resources and support of the traditional publishing industry, knowing I don’t need them and don’t have to accept their terms is practically nirvana for me.