Tomorrow, September 12th, former Governor Andrew Cuomo will visit the Futa Islamic Center in the Bronx. His appearance is more than a campaign stop; it is a recognition of a community whose contributions to New York City have long deserved greater acknowledgment. For African and Muslim New Yorkers, this visit is both a symbolic and substantive sign that their voices matter in the City’s civic and political conversation. Cuomo’s willingness to engage reflects a necessary and welcome spirit of inclusion that should set the tone for all candidates seeking to lead New York City and State.
African immigrants, many of them Muslim, are essential to the New York story. Their energy, optimism, and investment in New York’s future make them indispensable stakeholders in the City’s success.They are entrepreneurs who operate supermarkets, restaurants and hair salons. They run professional practices that serve people across the five boroughs, including law firms, medical offices and accounting firms. These businesses create jobs, sustain families, and strengthen neighborhoods. Beyond their economic footprint, African immigrants are deeply engaged in civic life, faith communities, and, increasingly, in politics.
Public safety is a top concern. African families want their children to grow up in safe neighborhoods, free from violence and instability. African and Muslim leaders have worked collaboratively with the NYPD to build trust, improve communication, and ensure that public safety reflects the needs of residents. This ongoing partnership demonstrates the community’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with City institutions to create neighborhoods where everyone feels secure. Candidates for office who highlight these efforts and build on them will find enthusiastic allies.
Education is another cornerstone concern. African parents view education as the surest path to opportunity, and many embrace school choice as a way to secure the best education for their children. Charter schools, in particular, enjoy strong support, as families seek out rigorous academics and stronger structures within the educational environments to build better pathways to success. A mayoral agenda that respects parental choice while ensuring access to quality education will resonate deeply. Investing in schools that meet the needs of diverse families is not only good policy, it is good politics.
Support for small businesses is also essential. African entrepreneurs often face barriers in accessing capital, securing affordable leases, and navigating regulations. Proposals to expand micro-loans, simplify licensing, and protect immigrant-owned businesses would affirm what is already true for everyone: entrepreneurs are vital to New York’s economy and deserve every opportunity to thrive.
Representation rounds out the picture. While African immigrants are growing in number, they remain underrepresented in government. Encouraging African leaders to run for office, appointing them to city agencies, and ensuring their voices are included in policymaking are practical steps that bring us closer to a city that truly reflects its people. Inclusion at the leadership level affirms that African New Yorkers are not only participants in civic life but equal partners.
All of these issues make Mr. Cuomo’s visit to the Futa Islamic Center so important. It may be viewed by some as simply a political gesture but it is, in reality, a statement that African Muslims are central to New York’s story. It acknowledges that their concerns – public safety, education, economic opportunity, and representation – are as valid as those of every other community and group and that addressing them is integral to the city’s future. More importantly, it demonstrates a willingness to listen and engage directly. That kind of leadership deserves acknowledgement.
New York’s strength has always been its diversity and the coalitions that emerge when communities are heard and respected. The African Muslim community has already given so much through its businesses, its civic leadership, and its devotion to education and safety. With greater recognition and partnership, its role will only grow stronger.
The significance of tomorrow’s event will be evidenced by both what Andrew Cuomo chooses to say and how he delivers his message. His visit represents a step toward a more inclusive politics – one that values African Muslims as neighbors, partners, and leaders. If this spirit is sustained and expanded upon by all of New York’s political leaders, then this City will have a future where all its communities finally feel seen, heard, and empowered. That is a vision worth championing, and tomorrow’s visit is a welcome step in the right direction.
As-Salaamu Alaykum Andrew Cuomo.
____________
South African born Cape Malay Mona Davids is the publisher of LittleAfrica News and New York Voice News. She is also a founding member of the NY African Leaders Coalition.
