By Dear Mahershala Ali,
Congratulations on your Oscar–you made history on top of history!
A while ago, I wrote to you to congratulate you on your SAG award to thank you for your speech and work. With the success of Moonlight, things are starting to look up.
Thank you for not hiding your faith and for putting yourself out there. As a Black Muslim myself, you give me hope.
To win Best Actor in a supporting role in a movie that also won Best Picture — themed towards both people of color and the LGBTQ community — is mind-blowing! Actually, what’s even more mind-blowing is that “Moonlight” is a low-budget, limited-released, queer and Black movie that is neither about racism, nor has a queer character of color die from an HIV. Instead, it features an incredible all-Black cast including an actor who happens to be a Muslim and doesn’t play a terrorist. That’s so much to take in for just one movie.
Thank you for not hiding your faith and for putting yourself out there. As a Black Muslim myself, you give me hope. “Moonlight” gave me hope. I can’t wait to see more from you in the future.
What a time to be alive!
Sincerely,
Ahlam and the #MuslimGirlArmy
P.S. Also, congratulations on your baby daughter. She’s going to be in awe when she grows up and learns what her father accomplished in the first few days of her life!