Table of Diversity Weekly: Ramadan
- Demetria
- Oct 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2024
When I first started facilitating DEI training, I made many mistakes! I recall facilitating a training session with a tech company with different types of diversity- racial, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, etc. I was facilitating a 3-day training for their entire staff. The second day of the training was the first day of Ramadan. At the time, I was completely unaware.
Immediately following the announcement of the upcoming training via a calendar invite, my inbox was on fire! Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing! Message after message from employees asking how I could be so unaware. It wasn't just that the training was taking place, but we were scheduled to have a series of 'lunch and learns' where staff would eat their lunch while participating in the training.
Needless to say, I was oblivious to this religious holiday and what it meant for many members of staff. During Ramadan, observers fast from dawn to dusk. Ironically, I was facilitating diversity and inclusion training and was excluding a portion of the staff. If I knew more about this important holiday, I would have done a few things differently.
I share this story for 2 reasons:
1. We aren't born experts! No one is expecting you to know everything about everyone and you will make mistakes. Give yourself permission to learn through doing and give grace when you get it wrong.
2. Be intentional in your learning and unlearning to get to a true place of inclusion. There's no magic spell for getting to a place of knowing and understanding. It's about the everyday little moments where you take a minute to read an article about another community; watch a movie with characters different from you; have conversations with people from a different background.
That's why I'm so passionate about the Table of Diversity Weekly. Both provide small, yet monumental, moments to learn. By consistently engaging in this lifestyle of continuous learning, you will make progress toward inclusion of diverse groups.
In this week's newsletter, we learn about Ramadan; the teen mental health crisis; being open-minded; and more.
Thanks for going on this journey with us! We're glad you're here!
Read. Listen. Watch.
Resources to learn more! Note! Some of the resources are from past years so the dates may be incorrect. Please refer to our emails and social media for the most up to date Ramadan dates!
Why Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islam culture
"Every year, Muslims around the world anticipate the sighting of the new crescent moon that signifies the official first day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred month in Islamic culture.
The start of Ramadan fluctuates each year because the lunar Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon. The beginning and end of Ramadan are determined by a moon sighting committee in Saudi Arabia. It begins the day after the committee spots the new crescent moon, which can be tricky since it’s quite faint and can be seen for only about 20 minutes. If the moon isn’t visible to the naked eye because of haze or clouds, lunar calculations are used to predict whether it’s in the sky."
Ramadan: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, and even amid a pandemic, most of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims will observe it in some form.
Which means there's a good chance you — or a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, your child's teacher — will be celebrating, fasting, and doing all sorts of other activities that are unique to the holy month.
But what is Ramadan, exactly? What’s the deal with fasting? And is there anything special you should do or say when you’re around Muslim friends and acquaintances during Ramadan?
How Ramadan Works: Stuff You Should Know. "It's the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, and for good reason. It was during the month of Ramadan that Mohammad began to issue the Koran."
Muslim Women Talk Ramadan. "In this episode, we are mapping the road ahead in Ramadan. Our Ramadan BFF Henrietta Szovati discusses how we go from 'doing' in Ramadan to 'being', as well as how to go on the journey from who we are to what we want to be.
This episode also features Baroness Sayeeda Warsi- the first Muslim to enter cabinet, a TV presenter, author and podcaster. We hear about her Ramadan behind the scenes, and why she's vocal about tackling Islamophobia and upholding the sisterhood."
More about this podcast!
"Muslim Women Talk Ramadan Podcast, the first of its kind, by Muslim women for Muslim women, brought to you by Muslim Mind Collaborative. Hosted by award winning author and podcaster, Sheila Janmohamed.
Ramadan is a sacred month observed by Muslims, marked by fasting, prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth. But Muslim women tell us it's not always easy. The juggling act of cooking, cleaning, work, family responsibilities, elder care, fatigue, and dehydration can feel endless- all while striving to make the most of this spiritually significant month.
The podcast will explore how to navigate every individual's personal Ramadan journey, emphasizing compassion, kindness, and self-respect. And there will be conversations with incredible trailblazing Muslim women from all walks of life, sharing the wisdom they've gained along the way."
Everything you need to know about Ramadan
The ULTIMATE Ramadan Guide
This Week's Activity
Who on your team celebrates Ramadan? I recently was asked to lead a training for a leadership team on Ramadan. I asked my contact if anyone on the 19 person leadership team was Muslim or celebrated Ramadan. Neither the Operations nor HR lead knew.
While we aren't suggesting that you plainly ask if anyone on your team is Muslim, we recommend getting to know your team and learning what's important to them. Make space to learn and talk about this sacred holiday so your team can feel safe bringing this aspect of their lives to work.
Activity: For your Muslim team members, what accommodations can you implement to ensure they can, as comfortably as possible, fast and observe Ramadan?
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