“Temple Folk” (Simon and Schuster)
Open to everyone, the UMGC Europe Book Club will host its next meeting on April 24 at 12 p.m. CET via Zoom with Aaliyah Bilal’s “Temple Folk”, a collection of short stories that depict the complexities of Black Muslim life in America. Through 10 distinct stories, Bilal skillfully navigates themes of faith, family, and community. Much like the introspective journey undertaken during Ramadan, celebrated in March and April of this year, delving into Bilal’s stories allows readers to reflect on their own values and identities. Reading “Temple Folk” enacts Ramadan’s reflective spirit by exploring the complexities of American identity.
Bilal’s collection opens in 1975 with a cohort of women traveling to celebrate Savior’s Day, a Nation of Islam holiday commemorating the birth of its founder, and to see their leader, Elijah Muhammad, described as “The Messenger of the Lost-Found Nation.” By locating her characters within the Nation of Islam in terms of forging a new community from both their American and Muslim identities, Bilal sets up the central tension of the novel: exploring what we find and lose through definitions of faith, race and nation. The narrative threads that begin with the first story, “Blue,” are woven throughout the collection, keeping the ambitious array of lives thematically intertwined. And, in the next story, “New Mexico,” set later in 1975, a federal agent tasked with spying on a high-ranking member of the Nation of Islam, experiences racial discrimination as colleagues question his loyalty to democracy by conflating race and religion in predictably dangerous ways.
Author Aaliyah Bilal (Tasha Pinelo)
Each story in “Temple Folk” offers an intersectional rendering of race, religion, economics and sexuality within the Black Muslim community. In “Temple Folk”, the representations of women offer a nuanced exploration of the ‘veil’ in all its iterations. While one story critiques the equating of virtue with being veiled, another story presents it as a source of strength and agency. “Woman in Niqab,” introduces Imani who grapples with her father’s affair with a woman in a Niqab by wearing her hair uncovered, reflecting a defiance against hypocritical constraints and taboos imposed on women’s bodies. While another story like “Nikkah” journeys with a young woman preparing for marriage, grappling with her desires and expectations, seeing the veil as part of her maturation within her community. These contrasting narratives serve to highlight the diverse experiences and internal struggles of women, adding depth and complexity to “Temple Folk”.
One of the strengths of “Temple Folk” lies in its ability to present moral complexities with compassion and nuance. Bilal resists easy readings of her community without glorifying or abstracting her characters, and she was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction. “Temple Folk” contributes to the diversification of narratives about Black life in America by centering the experiences of Black Muslims, who are rarely depicted in American fiction.
Everyone is welcome to join the UMGC Europe Book Club, no need to be a student or faculty member! We have been building a community that values diversity, empathy, and literary exploration since July 2020. Our mission is simple: to read literature, to create a reliable and safe community of readers, and, most importantly, to provide a space where resilience and empathy thrive. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking to connect with fellow book enthusiasts, our club offers inclusive meaningful discussions.
“Temple Folk” (Simon and Schuster)
