1. African American Muslims

2. Islam in America Post-9/11 Islam
Disconnected from American history and culture?
Immigrants Muslim communities?
First Muslims in America were slaves
Islam as integral part of American history that is deliberately silenced

3. Elijah Muhammad Founder of Islam in 1930’s Great Migration
moved north to Detroit
learns Islam from silk peddler
different form of Islam disconnected from Middle East
Islam as source of political, social and religious liberation
What happens when your oppressor is your religious leader?
Presented an alternative ideology from same book that empowers people
Taught themes of Qur’an, but mainly re-teaching Christian Bible
Qur’an has symbolic significance

4. Nation of Islam: ELements and Ideologies
Islam in America popularized through Nation of Islam — tactics of national community, discipline, dignity, dress
“Do for self” — self reliance and economic independence, cultivation of own culture and civilization
Improve spiritual, mental, social and economic welfare of African Americans in US
Recruitment during postwar decades (WWII and Vietnam)
Conversation of inmates
Redefine “black male stereotype” of drug and gang violence
Appealed to young, economically disadvantaged, African-American males from Christian background

5. Nation of Islam & The Civil Rights Movement
Different stories and approaches from MLK and Civil Rights Movement
Separatist Movement
Called for separate nation for black Americans, as chosen people
Fruit of Islam - “Civil Rights Movement had its own army”
Uses titles/structure of military (captain, lieutenants)
Retaliation when physically threatened
Cleared entire neighborhoods of drug dealers, etc

6. After Malcolm Project at GSU

7. Warith Deen Muhammad One of eight children of Elijah Mohammad
Excommunicated twice from NOI by father
Sent to Middle East to learn Sunni Islam
Becomes national leader of NOI after father’s death in 1975
Disbands NOI in 1976; Conversion of 2 million followers to American Society of Muslims
10-15% Continue as Nation of Islam under Louis Farrakhan
Forged closer ties with mainstream “orthodox” (Sunni) Muslim communities
Still tensions between immigrant and NOI communities; classism