On The Square EP3 - Umi's Archive

On The Square EP3 - Umi's Archive

Author: Arab Studies Institute November 15, 2021 Duration: 42:42

In this episode of On The Square, Sapelo Square History Editor Zaheer Ali speaks with Sapelo Square Senior Editor and On The Square curator Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer about her latest work, Umi's Archive. The multimedia research project digs deep into the life of Dr. Su'ad's mother, Amina Amatul Haqq (neé Audrey Weeks), to explore the meanings of being Black in the world. Dr. Su'ad shares her reasons for assembling and sharing the archive, some of her surprising discoveries, and the importance of archives to telling fuller, more nuanced histories of Black Muslim women and their communities.

To learn more about Umi's Archive and view online exhibitions, visit umisarchive.com and follow on Instagram @umisarchive.

To the question, "If Black Islam had a theme song, what would it be?," Dr. Su'ad chose Suad El-Amin's "Shahadah."

Opening contains audio from a video performance by Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, featured in "Why Umi's Archive?"

This episode includes an excerpt from Suad El-Amin's "Shahadah."

On The Square theme music was created by Fanatik OnBeats.

Artwork for On The Square was created by Scheme of Things Graphics.

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Courtesy of Maydan Podcast.


Each month, Status/الوضع assembles a vital audio journal from the Arab Studies Institute, moving beyond headlines to explore the deeper currents shaping the region and its global connections. This isn't about quick takes; it's a sustained, critical conversation built on ground-level reporting and scholarly insight. You'll hear extended dialogues with analysts, activists, and artists, alongside dispatches recorded where events unfold. The tone ranges from sharp, informed commentary to pointed satire, reflecting the complex realities it examines. The podcast deliberately blends genres-interviews feel like revealing conversations, reports carry narrative depth, and commentary is interwoven with readings of essential texts. It’s a collaborative project that values independence, offering a platform for nuanced perspectives often sidelined in mainstream discourse. By engaging with culture, politics, and society as intertwined forces, Status/الوضع provides listeners with a more complete, challenging, and human picture of the Middle East and its place in the world. Tune in for a monthly installment of substance, where critical thought meets audio storytelling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Status/الوضع
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