[NFBofSC] Black Muslims in United States History

Wed Feb 15 13:49:42 UTC 2023

Hey Steve,

Thanks for this. I have been asked to present at the event but I am not sure if I will be able to make it. I will do my best to be there. Please find an article I wrote on the subject below, and if you prefer audio, here is a link to my YouTube channel that has the audio article version.

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjYx0DixGVs&list=PLnd2g5Y5alSm6sCv2NOEV_OGRLUqAaaJ6> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjYx0DixGVs&list=PLnd2g5Y5alSm6sCv2NOEV_OGRLUqAaaJ6

A Forgotten Legacy – Muslims in Black History

By Kristopher Idrees Crawley

Introduction

Muslims have played a significant role in the African American community, yet their contributions are often overlooked and left out of the narratives of Black history. From the early days of slavery to the civil rights movement, Muslims have made invaluable contributions to the advancement of African Americans. However, their impact is often overshadowed by the dominant narrative of Black history which primarily focuses on the Christian faith. As a member of the NFB Muslims Group, and 1st Vice President of the SC Association of Black Leaders, please accept the following article as my contribution to Black History Month.

Note: The views and opinions found within this article are mine alone and not that of any group, division, chapter, affiliate, or other organization I participate in.

African Muslims in Slavery

Slavery has a long and dark history in the United States, and it is well known that many Africans were brought to the Americas as slaves. However, what is often overlooked is the fact that among those enslaved Africans were also Muslims. African Muslim slaves played a significant role in shaping the history of the United States, and their legacy is one that deserves to be remembered. 

One of the earliest recorded instances of Muslims in America was during the transatlantic slave trade. It is estimated that as many as 15 to 30 percent of enslaved Africans were Muslims, who brought their religious beliefs and practices with them. Despite facing extreme adversity and persecution, these enslaved Muslims continued to practice their faith and passed it down to their descendants.

Many of these Muslim slaves were taken from regions that are now modern-day Senegal, Gambia, and Mali and brought to the Americas as early as the 1600s. These slaves were primarily used for manual labor on plantations in the southern United States. Despite the challenges they faced, Muslim slaves found ways to maintain their religious beliefs and practices. They prayed secretly, created their own communities, and played important roles in many slave revolts.

Bilali Muhammad

Bilali Muhammad was an enslaved African man who lived in the southeastern United States in the early 19th century. He was born in West Africa, but was captured and brought to the United States as a slave. Bilali is best known for writing a religious text in Arabic, which is considered to be the first written document in the United States by an enslaved person of African descent. This document, known as the "Bilali Document," was an important artifact of the Islamic faith among enslaved Africans in the Americas.

Bilali Muhammad was a devout Muslim and his religious beliefs played a significant role in his life. He is said to have prayed and fasted regularly, and his religious observance was respected by his slave owners. Although he was a slave and subjected to the brutal conditions of slavery, Bilali maintained his faith and passed it down to his descendants, who went on to become leaders in the African American Muslim community. The Bilali Document provides insight into the religious beliefs and practices of enslaved Africans and are considered one of the most important primary sources for the study of Islam in the Americas. His writings have been widely studied by scholars of African American and Islamic history.

Omar Ibn Said

Omar Ibn Said was a West African Muslim scholar and slave who lived in the United States in the 19th century. He was born in Futa Tooro, a kingdom in present-day Senegal, and was captured and sold into slavery in 1807. He was taken to the United States, where he spent the rest of his life as a slave in North Carolina. Despite the difficult circumstances of his life, Omar Ibn Said was a deeply religious man and continued to practice his faith. He is notable for writing his autobiography in Arabic, which is a rare document from an enslaved African in the American South during this period. A translation of the document is available on NLS Bard.

Omar Ibn Said's autobiography provides a unique perspective on slavery in the United States and the experience of African Muslims in the Americas. In his writings, he described his life in West Africa before his capture, his journey to the United States, and his experiences as a slave. He also wrote about his faith, including his deep devotion to Islam and his daily religious practices. 

The Impacts of Slavery on African Muslims 

The lives of Muslim slaves were difficult and brutal. They faced physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, as well as the threat of being separated from their families. Regardless of these hardships, they managed to maintain their cultural and religious traditions. Many of these traditions, such as the use of Arabic names and the practice of Islam, are still present in African American communities today.

Although they had a significant presence, the history of African Muslim slaves has been largely forgotten. This is due in part to the fact that many slave owners sought to stamp out the religious and cultural practices of their slaves, and also to the fact that Muslim slaves were not allowed to openly practice their religion or share their stories. This resulted in a lack of documentation of their lives and experiences, and made it difficult for future generations to know about the contributions and sacrifices of Muslim American slaves.

Jerald Dirks in his book “Muslims in  American History” states “As can be imagined, the institution of slavery in the Americas was not conducive to the preservation of detailed, biographical information on enslaved African Muslims. Nonetheless, as many of these Muslims were highly educated and literate individuals, some left autobiographical sketches, and others came to the attention of whites who chose to write a brief account about them”.

After the abolition of slavery in the United States, many former Muslim slaves faced continued discrimination and segregation. The legacy of slavery and racism has had a lasting impact on African American communities, including those from a Muslim background.

Black Muslims in the 20th Century

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African American leaders such as Noble Drew Ali and W. D. Fard founded movements aimed at empowering Black Americans and reconnecting them with their Islamic heritage. The civil rights movement in America had a profound impact on Black Muslims, who saw in the struggle for racial equality a parallel to their own struggles for religious freedom and dignity. The Black Muslim movement emerged as a powerful force in the African American community. The Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad, became one of the largest Black nationalist organizations in America and was instrumental in advocating for the rights of African Americans. Malcolm X, one of the most influential Black leaders of the 20th century, was a prominent member of the Nation of Islam and his ideas continue to influence the Black community today.

The Moorish Science Temple of America

The Moorish Science Temple of America is a religious and cultural organization that was founded in the United States in the early 20th century. It is a unique blend of Islam, Christianity, and black nationalism, and has been a significant part of African American history for over a century.

The Moorish Science Temple was founded in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913 by Noble Drew Ali, who was born Timothy Drew in North Carolina in 1886. Drew Ali was a traveling salesman and circus performer who claimed to have been sent by Allah to bring a message of salvation to African Americans. He taught that black people in America were descended from Moors, a Muslim Berber people who ruled Spain and North Africa from the 8th to the 15th centuries. According to Drew Ali, these Moors were the true descendants of the ancient Egyptians, and had a special relationship with Allah.

Drew Ali taught that African Americans should reclaim their identity as Moors, and reject the names that had been imposed on them by white slave masters. He encouraged his followers to adopt Moorish names and titles, and to reject the “Black”, “Colored”, and "Negro" labels. Drew Ali's message of pride in African heritage and spiritual uplift resonated with many African Americans, who were still grappling with the aftermath of slavery and segregation. The Moorish Science Temple quickly grew in popularity, with branches opening in cities across the country. At its height in the late 1920s, it was estimated that the organization had as many as 35,000 members, 17 temples across the Midwest, and was one of the largest and most influential black nationalist organizations of its time.

Another key belief of the Moorish Science Temple is that all people, regardless of race or religion, are equal in the eyes of Allah. Drew Ali taught that Islam was the original religion of the black race, and that all other religions were corruptions of the truth. He believed that the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was a black man, and that Islam was a universal religion that was meant for all people, not just Arabs.

Despite its religious teachings, the Moorish Science Temple was not just a religious organization. It was also a political and social movement that aimed to improve the lives of African Americans and to promote black nationalism. Members of the temple were active in civil rights activism, and the organization was involved in a number of important social and political causes, such as voting rights, education, and employment opportunities for African Americans.

One of the most notable contributions of the Moorish Science Temple was its emphasis on black self-reliance and economic empowerment. Drew Ali encouraged his followers to start their own businesses, and to build a self-sufficient black community that was not dependent on white-owned institutions. He also taught that the key to black progress was education, and that African Americans needed to study science, engineering, and other subjects in order to build a better future for themselves and their children.

The Moorish Science Temple faced a number of challenges in the years after Drew Ali's death in 1929. The organization was riven by internal disputes and political infighting, and it struggled to maintain its momentum and unity in the face of these challenges. Some members left the organization and formed their own splinter groups, while others became disillusioned and dropped out.

The Nation of Islam

One challenge faced by Black Muslims in the 20th century was the rise of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black separatist movement that was both controversial and influential. The NOI was founded in the 1930s by Wallace Fard Muhammad, and it combined elements of Islam with Black nationalism and conspiracy theories. While many Black Muslims rejected the NOI's beliefs, it attracted a large following and helped to create a sense of community and solidarity among Black Muslims.

The Nation of Islam gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly among African Americans in inner cities. One of its most famous leaders was Elijah Muhammad, who led the movement from the 1930s until his death in 1975. Muhammad continued to teach the beliefs of the Nation of Islam and built a network of mosques, schools, and businesses throughout the United States.

The movement's focus on black self-sufficiency and empowerment resonated with many African Americans, who saw it as a way to escape the poverty and oppression that they faced in American society. The Nation of Islam also became known for its advocacy for black rights and for its opposition to white supremacy and racism.

One of the most famous members of the Nation of Islam was Malcolm X, who joined the movement in the 1950s and rose to prominence as a charismatic speaker and leader. Malcolm X was a fierce critic of American society  and the American government of the time, and he advocated for the rights of black people both in the United States and abroad.

Another major challenge faced by Black Muslims in the 20th century and beyond is discrimination within the larger Muslim community. Despite the fact that Islam teaches equality and that all races and ethnicities are equal in the eyes of Allah, many non-Black Muslims looked down upon their Black counterparts. This discrimination was and is often based on racist beliefs and was compounded by the larger systemic racism present in American society.

Despite these challenges, Black Muslims continued to practice their faith and make important contributions to American society. They established mosques, Islamic schools, and community organizations, and they worked to promote Islamic education and cultural understanding. Black Muslims also became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, using their faith as a source of inspiration and strength in their fight for justice and equality.

Black Muslims Today

American Muslims are one of the most racially diverse religious groups in the U.S. with no majority race. Black people make up a significant portion of the Muslim community in the United States. According to recent estimates by the  <https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/muslim-population-by-state> World Population Review, the racial makeup of Muslims in the U.S. is split as 25% black, 24% white, 18% Asian, 18% Arab, 7% mixed race, and 5% Hispanic. 

Despite their contributions, the experiences and struggles of Muslims within the black community are often overlooked in discussions of black history. This is in part due to the broader American society's lack of understanding of Islam and its place in the black community, but also to the tendency of the larger black community to marginalize the experiences of black Muslims. This marginalization takes many forms, including the exclusion of black Muslim leaders and organizations from discussions of the Civil Rights Movement and the portrayal of black Muslims as less authentic than their Christian counterparts.

The erasure of black Muslims from history is not only a disservice to their community, but also to the broader black community and to the country as a whole. The contributions of black Muslims to the black struggle for freedom and equality are an important part of the larger story of black America, and their experiences provide important insights into the intersections of race, religion, and identity.

the marginalization of black Muslims in black history is a complex issue that has been shaped by a range of historical and cultural factors. However, by acknowledging their contributions and experiences, we can help to create a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of black history in the United States. it is crucial that the experiences of black Muslims are recognized and incorporated into the telling of black history. This recognition is not only a matter of historical accuracy, but also of justice and respect for a community that has made significant contributions to American society. Only by including the experiences of all members of the black community can we truly understand and appreciate the full scope of the black struggle for equality, and the diversity of religious beliefs and practices within the African American community.

Additional Resources

A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said,
By Omar Ibn Said, NLS Bard

Black Crescent: The Experience and Legacy of African Muslims in the Americas,
By Michael A. Gomez,  NLS Bard

Islam and the Black American: Looking Toward the Third Resurrection
By Sherman A. Jackson

Muslims in American History,
By Jerald F. Dirks, Book Share.

Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South,
By Terry Alford

Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas,
By Sylviane A. Diouf, Book Share.

Sincerely,

Kristopher I. Crawley

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From: NFBofSC <nfbofsc-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Steve Cook via NFBofSC
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 6:03 AM
To: NFB of South Carolina Mailing List <nfbofsc at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Steve Cook <cookcafe at sc.rr.com>
Subject: [NFBofSC] Black Muslims in United States History

The NFB Muslims Group is celebrating Black History Month, and we are inviting everyone to celebrate with us. 
Join us for an enriching discussion on some of the great Muslims figures who were influential in the history of America. Black history matters, and we want to take some time to remember a few of the black Muslims in history. We will be discussing Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali (the greatest boxing legend), and other prominent leaders in black US history. The Black Muslims in American History event will be on Saturday February 25 at 12 PM eastern. The zoom information is posted below. 
We welcome anyone and everyone to a discussion that dives even deeper into history. 
Feel free to reach us add nfbmuslims at gmail.com <mailto:nfbmuslims at gmail.com>  with questions or comments.

With Peace, Tasnim Alshuli, Chair of the NFB Muslims Group

Topic: Black Muslims in US History event Join Zoom Meeting

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