How I wish that you could see through my eyes.
You probably be with both of your parents. When I was your age, I was in juvie. I didn't know what a Surah was. I didn't know what taqwa was. I didn't know what shirk was. I didn't know what tawheed was. I had never been exposed to the words of Allah. I had no knowledge of the Quran. I didn't know what haram was, I didn't know what halal was.
My ancestors had never seen a Muslim, had never seen anyone from across the Atlantic ocean, had never seen a Quran, had never held a Quran, had never heard the words of Allah, might not have even had a conception of monotheism, had never heard of Islam.
Is Islam one religion, is the Quran a message for all people and even jinns- or is Islam only for certain people? Are there multiple Islams- based on race? Is there a Somali Islam? A Yemeni Islam? A Pakistani Islam? An Indonesian Islam?
Perhaps it sounds utopian. I have this belief that Allah sent a message- the Quran- and this message was a message for all races, for all people and was a universal message and that Allah meant for the Muslims to be one ummah. When I pray next to another Muslim, I might not know what race they are- I don't stop and ask what race they are, check if they are the same race as me and then decide on that basis if they are my brother. Perhaps it sounds utopian. If they are Muslim, they believe there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, then I believe they are my brother no matter what race they are. Their race does not matter. When I see a Muslim woman, I try not to stare and I try extra hard to lower my gaze and be respectful. It doesn't matter what race she is.
Ultimately, what are we? We are so small, weak and insignificant, I think. Allah is All-Powerful.
My own desires I must put to the side and heed the words of Allah. What does Allah say?
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
-Quran 49:13
How I wish you could see through my eyes. To follow Islam, I have to go against my culture, my family, what people tell me. Supposedly a person of my race can't be a Muslim.
So it is a big deal to me when I see IslamQA say this, it means a big deal to me and I take it seriously: "There is no room for racism in Islam. The most beloved to Allah are the most pious and God conscious.
https://islamqa.info/en/12391"
This means that Islam is for all races and for all people. According to this, we are one Ummah, regardless of race or skin color:
https://islamqa.info/en/12110