Amin Nathari

Author, publisher, lecturer, community servant

Amin Nathari is widely acknowledged as a critically acclaimed author, lecturer and activist, as well as one of the leading and most passionate voices of his generation on the contemporary socio-political issues of our time. Amin 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.


EARLY INFLUENCES

Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1964, Amin 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 being a young assistant minister in an influential Newark mosque. His father then became a prominent minister establishing a Nation mosque in Elizabeth, NJ, which witnessed the transition into mainstream or traditional Islam in February 1975.

Amin’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, Amin has used the lessons learned, events witnessed and the observations made to become one of the foremost leaders of his generation.

While Islam is Amin’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 show at the station of 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. Amin 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, Amin 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”.

Then in 1993, he committed his life to the mission of improving the quality of life in the community through faith-based community service. 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 allows him to utilize his full range of talent and passion. His work as a writer and activist began in earnest the following year, 1994, bringing along his lifelong love of reading and writing, and his formal education as a journalist. He has continued at a seemingly zealous, consistent pace ever since.


COMMUNITY SERVICE

In 1995, he was one of the founders of the Muslim Community Center of Essex County (MCCEC), located in East Orange, New Jersey. 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.

In 1999, Amin was a recipient of the prestigious New Ark of Hope award, given by Catholic Community Services, of the Archdiocese of New Jersey, for outstanding achievements in the area of community service and leadership in the greater Essex County New Jersey area. Amin is the only Muslim to date to receive such an honor and distinction.

Amin has been an active member of several Islamic and human and social service organizations, including the Council of Imams in New Jersey (COINJ), an organized body of Islamic religious leaders in the state, serving Chairperson and Coordinator of the Media and Public Relations Committee. In addition to his organizational involvement, he 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.

Amin 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. Sabree Press is an independent educational and information-publishing company whose 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, an e-newsletter (Making It Plain), journals, occasional papers and articles covering a variety of subjects and topics, both in contemporary and historical thought.


PUBLISHED WORKS

Amin’s most recently published book is titled A Message to the Grassroots for 21st Century America - What Would Malcolm Do? (February 2008). This work is a commentary and collection of thought-provoking essays on some of the searing challenges and issues facing the Muslim community and society-at-large today. Additionally, he is near completion of a work titled A New Vision for Islam in 21st Century America, scheduled for publication late 2008. This book promises to be a ground breaking work, and one that reflects a new paradigm for faith-based movement in America.

In addition to the afore-mentioned works, Amin has also authored several other works, including 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 host of the Living Islam show heard over WURD900AM (and streamed over the Internet), currently the longest-running Islamic talk radio show in the Philadelphia, PA - Delaware Valley, and 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, Amin 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.


Among the many lectures and presentations he has given that have had widespread acclaim and recognition:


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