In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing uncertainties, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures (IMMC) in Jackson announces it is the recipient of a Kellogg Foundation grant of $475,000.

Along with this recent award, over the last three years, IMMC has received grant awards totaling $1,140,000 from the Kellogg Foundation. This also includes $600,000 for 2017-2020 and $65,000 in June for COVID-19 relief, which was unsolicited.

Currently, IMMC features the “Muslims with Christians and Jews: An Exhibition of Covenants and Coexistence,” which opened in June 2020, at 101 E. Capitol St., at IMMC’s satellite location in downtown Jackson. The Exhibit introduces the “peace-building leadership of Muhammad, the Prophet and Head of State, who prepared the first Constitution in history for his multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious Commonwealth.” This constitution, which may have influenced that of the U.S., is on display along with the covenants of protection extended to Jews, Christians, and others.             

The IMMC continues to display the “Legacy of Timbuktu: Wonders of the Written Word” Exhibition, at 201 E. Pascagoula St., which emphasizes Islamic West Africa’s sophisticated, highly literate culture of great scholarship, wealth and empire-building, contrasting significantly with the predominant historic narrative that begins, most often, with African enslavement in America.              

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) earlier grants have been used to utilize the power of the museum as a mobilizer for cross-racial healing, justice and human dignity, to educate the community nationwide in understanding that “human dignity is fundamental to combating injustice and achieving racial equity and healing.”             

IMMC will be hosted by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) in a virtual webinar on Dec. 17, 2020, at 6 p.m. Central, that features “Exploring African Islamic Contributions to Civilization. The webinar coincides with the museum’s national tour of its two signature exhibits. For more information, visit bit.ly/2INExe1.

IMMC is America’s first Muslim museum dedicated to educating the American public about Islamic history and culture and the contributions of diverse Muslim communities to America and the world. The museum opened its doors in December 2000 and will celebrate its 20^th anniversary virtually on Dec. 30, 2020.